Over the past several years, access to financial services have become increasingly difficult for civil society organizations that must conduct international financial transactions in order to operate overseas where their work is needed most. Financial institutions may delay, or refuse to make, transfers between organizations. Sometimes, nonprofit organizations (NPOs) are turned away as customers or have their accounts closed. Remittance services that facilitate fund transfers between diaspora populations and their families are threatened by the international banking system’s growing unwillingness to provide these services.
The U.S. government has said that banks should not “de-risk” but that policy has not been translated into concrete action or regulatory standards that remove current disincentives for banks to provide services to international NPOs. As a result, money will be taken out of transparent, regulated channels, making life more difficult for legitimate NPOs and easier for terrorist financiers.
Featured Resources
C&SN Submits Input for UN Study: Counterterrorism Impacts on Civil Society
On Feb. 28, 2023, the Charity & Security Network (C&SN) submitted input to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D.
Webinar Report – “A Layered Disaster: Supporting Long Term Recovery in Turkey and Syria”
On Feb. 17, 2023, C&SN attended the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s webinar, “A Layered Disaster: Supporting long-term recovery in Turkey and Syria.” In light of the Turkey-Syria earthquake, the webinar discussed the impact on the
Human Rights Coalition Deplatformed After Lawfare Attack
The Alliance for Global Justice (AfGJ) - a U.S.-based activist network that provides fiscal sponsorship and fundraising services for a global alliance of peace and justice organizations, including those in Palestine - has been the
C&SN’s Year in Review: 2022
As we come to the end of 2022, at C&SN we want to take this opportunity to share some key accomplishments across our numerous issue areas as we seek to protect and advocate for the
C&SN Submits Comments for FATF Update to Best Practices Paper on Combatting the Abuse of NPOs
In Oct. 2022, in response to a call for input, the Charity & Security Network (C&SN) submitted comments to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as part of FATF’s “project to review and update the
Financial Access and De-Risking: Moving Toward Solutions for Nonprofit Organizations
This issue brief summarizes systemic financial access and de-risking challenges faced by nonprofits, identifies the sources of these challenges, addresses impacts on nonprofit operations, and explores solutions for addressing these challenges. The brief updates a