Questions to Ask Before Accepting an International Gift

I have a friend, a veterinarian, who told me that one of the first things she was taught about cats is that they are not small dogs. Even though both are companion animals, the similarities between cats and dogs are only fur deep. This anecdote came to mind last month when discussing the challenges of negotiating life income gifts from donors abroad. Because outright gifts to charity are universal, and bequests to charity nearly so, it is tempting to think that split-interest agreements, like charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and pooled income funds, are just as ubiquitous. Think again. Among the nearly 200 countries on the planet, only a few have charitable gift opportunities similar to American charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts. Even when split-interest gift arrangements are allowed, there can still be striking differences. For instance, Canada offers immediate charitable gift annuities but does not allow donors deferred gift annuities or flexible gift...