Where can I find information on nonprofits and their roles/responsibilities in a time of international terrorist threats?

Navigating the complicated and constantly evolving post-9/11 legal landscape can be daunting for nonprofit organizations with international programs. For help, you might want to refer to the following Web sites and publications:

• Baron, Barnett F. "Philanthropy and Homeland Security." Foundation News & Commentary 45 (May-June 2004) p. 30-3. Baron analyses the USA PATRIOT Act and its impact on international grantmaking.

• Jones, Jeff. "Nonprofits Fear False Accusations of Terror Grants." NonProfit Times 17 (1 May 2003) p. 1, 4, 6. Describes laws and voluntary guidelines issued by the federal government to prevent charitable donations from funding terrorism. Discusses how these measures are affecting international grantmaking. Sidebar lists additional resources to help nonprofits comply with guidelines.

• Lyman, Timothy R., Michael G. Considine, and Jennifer L. Sachs. "International Grantmaking after September 11: Dealing with Executive Order 13224 and the USA Patriot Act." International Dateline 64 (Fall 2002) p. 1-4. Explains the provisions of laws passed after September 11 that impact funders, and outlines how grantmakers can best comply with the new regulations.

• "Nonprofits Resist Terrorists Checklists: However, Charities May Not Have a Choice for Long." Corporate Philanthropy Report 20 (May 2005) p. 1, 3. Outlines the various regulations that nonprofits must comply with, including the USA PATRIOT Act and "Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities," issued by the Department of the Treasury. Meanwhile, many nonprofits launched a lawsuit to challenge the stipulations of the Office of Personnel Management and the Combined Federal Campaign.

• "OPM Issues Much-Anticipated Terrorist Checklist Guidance." Corporate Philanthropy Report 20 (January 2005) p. 3. A new release by the Office of Personnel Management explains requirements for applicants to the Combined Federal Campaign; nonprofits will need to check two terrorist watch lists. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the agency, claiming that the regulations make compliance difficult.

• "Philanthropy and Homeland Security." A panel discussion presented by the Center for Democracy and the Third Sector and UCLA’s Center for Civil Society. March 11, 2004.

• Ramos, Edgardo, Timothy R. Lyman, Patricia Canavan, and Clifford Nichols III. Handbook on Counter-Terrorism Measures: What U.S. Nonprofits and Grantmakers Need to Know. Hartford, CT: Day, Berry & Howard Foundation, Inc., 2004. Provides an overview of Executive Order 13224, the Patriot Act, and other regulations that may effect international grantmaking.

• Schneiderman, Martin B. "Seeking a Safe Harbor." Foundation News & Commentary 45 (May-June 2004) p. 34-41. Foundations that give abroad can utilize technology to facilitate their compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Schneiderman lists some of the services that check potential recipient organizations, and also offers advice about the changing oversight concerns in the field. Includes resource list.

• Visser, Tim and Kay Guinane. Patriot Games: The USA Patriot Act and its Impact on Nonprofit Organizations. Washington, D.C.: OMB Watch, 2003.

• Wilhelm, Ian. "Operating Under a Cloud: Scrutiny of Muslim Charities Raises Knotty Questions." Chronicle of Philanthropy 17 (23 June 2005) p. 37, 39-40. As the federal government continues to search for nonprofits that are supporting terrorism, many Muslim charities are finding that they are the subjects of excessive scrutiny. The article explains how KinderUSA has been dealing with a recent federal inquiry and describes how the inquiry has affected its fundraising efforts. Contains a chart with information on five government investigations of charities with alleged ties to terrorism.

To find other resources that can help answer your question, try searching the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (CNL), the Center's bibliographic database, for books and articles. You could start by searching on the keyword "Patriot Act." Possible subject headings include "Laws regulating philanthropy--(2000-2009)," "Terrorism," and "Foundations--grantmaking--international."

Please see our "How to Search the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature" for hints on how to conduct the most efficient search.

Many of the books and articles found through CNL can be located in Center Libraries and some Cooperating Collections. It is best to call ahead to verify a specific library's holdings. Journal and periodical articles, but not books, can be obtained through interlibrary loan at your local Cooperating Collection.

Can't find the answer you're looking for in our FAQs? Ask our Online Librarian.