Tracing Philanthropy Across China, the U.S., and Latin America: A Journey of Unlearning and Discovery

“As a fluent Chinese, English and French speaker, why did you apply to an organization that works with Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking nonprofits?”

Almost halfway through my internship at The Resource Foundation, the messy answer I offered in my interview soon gave way to a more honest reflection. Until this summer, “philanthropy in Latin America and the Caribbean” was a world behind a veil for me.

I know how philanthropy plays out in China. Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organizations (GONGOs), the name itself a contradiction, saturate the so-called civil society, but no one complains of the government injecting philanthropic donations into social welfare by its playbook. As for international NGOs, the government hounds the trails of foreign money until understaffed and overwrought nonprofits fall into a trap and give up. I have seen it happen with my mother’s NGO, which once sent humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities abroad.

I have seen philanthropy take many forms in the United States, from church tithing traditions and corporate fundraising campaigns to major philanthropic pledges from business leaders and government foreign assistance programs. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to engage with leaders such as David Green of Hobby Lobby, whose family has dedicated significant resources to charitable work. Most recently, I was able to establish a scholarship at my former high school, selecting its first recipient this past March.

I am learning how philanthropy plays out in Latin America and the Caribbean. Only after reading through 500+ pages of reports on philanthropy in the region can I dare claim that I know a little. I know now that in some LAC countries, nonprofits can be dissolved at the discretion of a court or an authoritarian leader and that for most LAC countries, high custom rates deter major cross-border donations. I also know now that many families and businesses in the region make it their responsibility to support local development.

With this newfound understanding, brushing aside all the work TRF does to support and equip local leaders, I respect how TRF enables donors to KNOW what is behind philanthropy in the region. By using their expertise, TRF not only helps donors identify organizations that align with their funding goals, but more importantly, uncovers the veil over Latin America and the Caribbean and reveals the nuance, complexity, and local brilliance often overlooked by outsiders. 

Elaine Gao
Intern, The Resource Foundation
Princeton University, Class of 2028