WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing an executive order banning nonprofit organizations from granting funds outside the United States, a source familiar with the discussions told The Post on Tuesday.
The order would target so-called “501(c)(3)” organizations, referring to the section of the Internal Revenue Code governing tax-exempt entities.
Some of the largest 501(c)(3) groups have been founded by Trump’s most well-known critics, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and Open Society Foundations, created by left-wing billionaire George Soros.
The order has not yet been finalized, the source said, due to internal debate within the administration about whether to go through with it.
“There’s definitely an effort to limit and scrutinize federal tax dollars being shipped overseas, ramp up scrutiny of foreign acquisitions, protect intellectual property and critical supply chains. And we’re seeing it across various departments,” a source close to the White House told The Post.
Trump has already taken steps against organizations sending U.S. money abroad. His administration shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and removed many AmeriCorps volunteers after an inspection by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Currently, 501(c)(3) organizations are permitted to provide grants to foreign entities as long as the funds are used for charitable purposes. U.S.-based nonprofits can act as intermediaries, channeling American donations to support international causes.
For example:
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DirectRelief, one of the top 10 largest 501(c)(3)s by donations, sends billions in medical aid to countries affected by war and natural disasters.
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Americares, which receives over $1 billion in donations annually, gives grants to support healthcare efforts in Ukraine, Haiti, and the Palestinian territories.
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The Gates Foundation distributed $3 billion in 2023 alone to 135 countries, focusing on global health and gender equality.
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Open Society Foundations funded projects in more than 100 countries in 2023 and held $130 million in “impact investments” in 2022.
Religious nonprofit organizations would also be restricted under the rumored order. In 2023, World Vision International sent over $70 million to Ukraine, $11 million to Mexico, and $25 million to Colombia in aid.
The potential executive order comes amid reports that Trump is also considering revoking Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, following its refusal to audit faculty and students for “viewpoint diversity” and to take stronger action against antisemitism on campus.
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