Who Gives, Who Gets, and How do We Know? The Promises and Limitations of Administrative Data for Cross-border Philanthropy Tracking

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.