Who gives, who gets, and how do we know? The promises and limitations of administrative data for cross-border philanthropy tracking

Abstract

Cross-border philanthropy occurs across multiple dimensions simultaneously. Seemingly domestic actors become players in international spheres, shattering the idea of a domestic/international dichotomy with clear lines delineating these spaces. This line blurring obscures monetary flows and highlights questions regarding nonprofit accountability in a transnational context. We present a study tracking money from US INGOs to Israeli NGOs, demonstrating the advantages and challenges to a big data approach and highlighting the importance of local partners.