PI/1695
2 December 2005
Domini Foundation, UN Foundation Establish Global Giving Fund to Match Contributions to Wide Range of Urgent Humanitarian, Development Issues
NEW YORK, 1 December (UNFIP) -- The United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) is pleased with a new partnership, which will enable prospective donors interested in making holiday contributions or claiming year-end tax deductions to give to urgent global causes and have the funds matched up to 100 per cent.
For the first time, the newly-launched Domini Global Giving Fund (www.dominiglobalgiving.org) allows individual contributors to support United Nations humanitarian and development programmes such as solar-energy entrepreneurs in Africa, clear minefields in Viet Nam, protect sea turtles and mountain gorillas, eradicate polio, reduce measles deaths, and prevent the spread of AIDS. The Domini Global Giving Fund was launched by the United Nations Foundation and the Domini Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Domini Social Investments, a leading manager of mutual funds for socially responsible investors.
"This new, innovative fund will enable donors to maximize contributions for issues they care most about", said Kathy Bushkin, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the United Nations Foundation. "The Domini Global Giving Fund will increase donors' giving power, effectively stretching their donated dollars." "The Domini Global Giving Fund offers United States donors a simple way to make a difference to our global community", said Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments LLC, who pioneered the field of socially responsible investments. Ms Domini was honoured this year as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Under the programme, donors can direct monetary grants to one or more of the following programmes: Clean Energy for Africa; Clear Landmines; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Measles Initiative; Polio Eradication; Protect Earth's Wilderness; Protect Marine Life in the Eastern Pacific; Save the Coral Reefs; Stop Child Marriage; World Heritage Partnership: Congo Wildlife Protection; and Crisis Response Fund. (The Crisis Response Fund does not receive matching funds.)
Like a private foundation, a donor-advised fund allows donors to deduct contributions for the year in which they are made; avoid paying capital gains tax on contributions of appreciated securities; and trim the value of their estate, therefore, reducing potential liability to estate tax. In addition, a donor-advised fund offers tax deductions on contributions that exceed those of private foundations, and is generally easier to set up and administer.
Through the Domini Global Giving Fund, donors may give to United Nations-supported programmes and organizations that have a proven record of achievement. Grants made through this innovative donor-advised fund help safeguard children's health and protect the environment worldwide. Donors' grants to specific programmes may be matched up to 100 per cent. Unlike other charitable organizations, the United Nations Foundation does not use any of the donors' grant money for transaction or processing fees.
The Domini Global Giving Fund is not affiliated with, and is not expressly endorsed by, the United Nations. The Domini Foundation and the United Nations Foundation are not affiliated.
For more information contact: Elizabeth Alexander/Amy DiElsi, tel.: 202-887-9040, e-mails: ealexander@unfoundation.org , adielsi@unfoundation.org at the United Nations Foundation; or Traver Mulligan, Programme Officer, e-mail: mulligan@un.org/Camilla Schippa, Outreach Officer, e-mail: schippa@un.org , tel.: 212-963-3441 at UNFIP.
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