Global Giving: Empowering Change Beyond Borders 

In September, we hosted an engaging session for our fundholders who share an interest in learning more about global giving from other donors who are giving abroad. Attendees, with varying experiences engaging in international giving, had meaningful discussions and were inspired by our panelists, who shared insights on elevating charitable efforts across borders.  

Our panelists included Robin Bruce, President of the Dovetail Impact Foundation, Rahul Mehta, Founder of the Mehta Family Foundation, and Frost Murphy, Partner of Elite MMA and graduate of Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Next Gen Donor Institute. Each panelist shared their personal experience in supporting nongovernmental organizations overseas.  

International Giving Data at Greater Houston Community Foundation 

• From 2021-2023, the total amount of grants awarded internationally from Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation) fundholders was $23.2 million. 

• 207 individual fundholders made at least one international grant over the last three years.  

• Over the last three years, Foundation fundholders have given to 181 nonprofit grantees across 17 different countries. 

While this gives us some insight, it’s not the full picture. Many donors also provide support through remittances and other charitable avenues or directly. 

Motivation for Giving Overseas 

Leverage.  

Many times, funding can go further internationally. Murphy, who’s international philanthropy is focused on helping children with congenital heart defects get the medical intervention they need, shared an example of the cost of doing surgery on a child here in the United States, after hotel and flight can be upwards of $25,000 and that is with a significant discount provided by Houston based doctors and hospitals. However, when hospitals can deliver the same medical intervention abroad, for example in Kenya, the cost is closer to $2,500 per child. 

Bruce shared that internationally, innovation can happen quickly and so can achieving scale. For example, some of the programs they have piloted with community healthcare works have been adopted by the government in India and have achieved scale quickly, even outside of the bounds of one NGO (nonprofit). 

Need.  

While there is poverty in the United States, in other geographic regions, people are facing extreme poverty, which needs to be understood and addressed differently than poverty alleviation in the United States. Bruce shared that most of the healthcare work they fund internationally is preventative because children living in poverty abroad die from entirely preventable causes, like diarrhea. She shared a specific example of a community healthcare program in Mali where they train laypeople to deliver basic healthcare services in their own neighborhoods.  

Mortality rates for children under five dropped 86% just from someone local dropping in to check on neighbors and deliver basic care – like supplies to help with dehydration. In addition, she highlighted that these community healthcare programs continue being delivered even when political environments and regimes change, which is an ongoing challenge in many countries. 

Pipeline Creation.

In some cases, when giving globally, donors can help drive innovation locally in that region and that innovation can also have a positive impact back home in the United States. Mehta highlighted a strategic partnership he has funded between one of the university partners he works with in India and Rice University, which allows Ph.D. students to spend a pivotal six-month period at Rice.  

This collaboration not only enhances the academic experience of these students but also strengthens the workforce and innovative research in the United States by cultivating a pipeline of highly skilled talent for both countries. As a result, Ph.D. students gain access to greater economic opportunities, ultimately benefiting their professional development and the broader economy. 

5 Tips for Global Giving 

The Hardest Part is Getting Started.

If donors are interested in giving internationally, they should be encouraged to “dip your toe in the water” to learn about and understand different issues and the context of the country or region in which they wish to give. There can be some trial and error, but over time, donors can learn what works and what really resonates. Mehta shared that he has what he calls “battle scars,” from trial and error, but his deep commitment and the impact he has seen by creating educational programs in new fields that do not exist in India keeps him going.  

Narrow your Focus. 

Some people will narrow their global giving to a geographic region or a specific need. For example, HeartGift, the nonprofit Murphy is affiliated with, focuses on congenital heart defects in children. Their impactful work extends across almost 40 countries, making a significant difference in the lives of countless young patients and their families worldwide.  

Whereas, the Mehta Family Foundation’s primary philanthropic focus is in India, seeking to elevate the students of India’s academic institutions to new levels of excellence to drive innovation, propel economic growth, and position India as a global technology leader. 

Be Entrepreneurial.

Building a network initially can feel like a risk, but once created, use those connections to vet other nonprofits or issue areas impacting a region.Once more established in your global funding strategy, having team members who live within the regions you are trying to ignite meaningful change is invaluable. Bruce shared that when Dovetail Impact Foundation started engaging in more international giving, they gave their first gift to HOPE International because of a trusted contact. Fast forward to today, Dovetail has over 120 different partners, all with a broad focus on poverty alleviation through healthcare, education, livelihoods (economic mobility), and justice.  

Level-Set & Think Long-Term

Your definition of accountability may look different. It is important to talk with the Executive Directors you are working with about how long it will take to see the impact of their work and what their timeframe is. Sometimes, progress may feel slow, so it is important to understand the leading indicators that tell you if things are headed in the right direction.  

Stay Connected.
Each panelist shared personally inspirational stories about how they stay connected to the work they are doing abroad. Murphy shared his personal experience of hosting a child in his home while they received and recovered from surgery in Houston. 

Comparably, Bruce shared that, recently, Dovetail has shifted to hiring portfolio directors that are from and live in the regions they fund and who understand the fundamental needs and the context of the people living in those regions because they are also from the community. 

Other Resources Shared 

• Paragon Philanthropy: A public database that helps donors meet the requirements for direct cross-border grantmaking and provides specialized back-office support. Foundation DAF fundholders can access Paragon services for equivalency determination as well. 

• Global Giving Tracker through Indiana University – Indianapolis – Lily Family School of Philanthropy 

Transforming Lives Around the World 

Throughout this discussion, many attendees shared their experiences of giving abroad. It was inspiring to witness the synergy unfold as new ideas emerged on scaling global impact, and meaningful connections were made to support and propel one another’s global giving forward.  

At Greater Houston Community Foundation, we’re proud to be a trusted partner for individuals and families dedicated to making a difference both locally and abroad. We believe that every person has the power to create positive change, and we’re committed to helping you achieve your philanthropic goals in our community and beyond. 

If you’re already a fundholder, we sincerely appreciate your trust and commitment to making an impact. If you’re ready to embark on your philanthropic journey, we invite you to continue the conversation with us! Contact Jennifer Touchet to learn more about how we can assist you in fulfilling your philanthropic ambitions here at home and around the world. 

Meet the Minds that Shaped the Discussion: 

Robin Bruce, President of the Dovetail Impact Foundation

Robin Bruce serves as President of the Dovetail Impact Foundation where she’s honored to partner with exemplary entrepreneurs confronting the most significant challenges of our day. Prior to joining Dovetail in 2017, Robin spent four years as the CEO of the Acton School of Business, an award-winning entrepreneurial MBA in Austin, Texas. In her role, Robin had the privilege of walking alongside extraordinary individuals in their journey to become principled entrepreneurs. 

Robin holds an MBA from The Acton School of Business and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. She received Texas Business Hall of Fame’s 2010 Award for entrepreneurial achievement. Robin and her husband Taylor live in Austin, Texas with their three children and a giant goldendoodle named Cooper. Come to Robin for conversations about neighborhoods, the best hiking trails, and heroes like Fred Rogers! 

Rahul Mehta, Founder of Mehta Family Foundation

Rahul Mehta founded the Mehta Family Foundation to advance initiatives in education and healthcare. Some of the foundation’s projects include the Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to promote biosciences, the Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine at IIT Kanpur for research at the intersection of engineering and medicine, and the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IIT Guwahati to apply AI to solve societal problems. In addition, the foundation has supported the Mehta Family Engineering Research Center and the Mehta Family Community Pavilion, both at the University of Houston. Prior to creating the foundation, Rahul built four successful startups without external funding. They were subsequently acquired by Platinum Technology, HP, Veritas, and Brocade. 

Rahul has served on the board of several local nonprofit organizations, including DePelchin Children’s Center, Ronald McDonald House, Bo’s Place, Krist Samaritan Center, ALF, and Methodist Hospital West in Houston, Texas. 

Frost Murphy, Partner of Elite MMA

Frost Murphy, a proud third-generation Houstonian, resides in Memorial with his wife Lauren and their two children. As an accomplished entrepreneur, Frost’s ventures span across the real estate, oil and gas, and fitness industries, where he consistently demonstrates a passion for innovation and growth. 

Beyond his business endeavors, Frost dedicates significant time to philanthropy. He plays a pivotal role in the expansion and development of several nonprofits, including HeartGift, Greater Houston Community Foundation, and Kickstart Kids, where his leadership continues to impact the community profoundly. 

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation: 

• Where High-Impact Philanthropy Happens: A Personalized Approach to Giving
• How to Give Back to Your Community
• Why Donating Appreciated Stock Makes Financial Sense
• The Importance of Charitable Giving in Financial and Estate Planning
• How to Start a Scholarship Fund

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