Eugene Tempel and Una Osili have an article in the recent Nonprofit Times that examines how recent trends in immigration might affect the U.S. nonprofit sector.  

Their analysis provides additional nuance to the previous postings on remittances.  They too highlight the $200 billion worth of private transfers for 2005, as estimated by the World Bank, from immigrants to family members or hometown projects in developing countries. Yet they point out that, according to a report authored by Jessica Chao for the Council on Foundations, “immigrants often might not recognize informal giving as philanthropy, but rather consider it to be part of an individual’s social obligation to family and community networks.”

They point out that such informal giving among immigrants seems to persist over time. Interestingly, this occurs while immigrants are also just as likely to give to U.S. charitable organizations, and in similar amounts, as native-born Americans.   

I wonder if there’s been any analysis about what this means for U.S.-based international development and humanitarian NGOs.  When making their charitable contributions, are immigrants more likely to support international causes than native-born Americans?  If supporting international causes, do they choose to support U.S.-based international NGOs at higher rates than others, or do they prefer to develop their own organizations and projects that utilize their social networks and knowledge of their home communities, and give to organizations based there?  

Or do they tend to give to nonprofits focused on domestic issues, like native-born Americans?  (Private contributions toward international causes has held pretty steadily at 2% over time.)

If anybody knows of research that might apply, please let me know.  If such a division between remittances and charitable contributions does exist in immigrants’ minds, organizations could be missing an opportunity to have the two enhance each other.