Taiwan's NGOs quit U.S. fundraising platform over 'Chinese Taipei' designation

Taipei, May 30 (CNA) Several Taiwanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have announced plans to withdraw from U.S.-based fundraising platform GlobalGiving after it informed partners that projects currently listed under "Taiwan" would be redesignated as "Chinese Taipei."

The organizations said GlobalGiving told them the redesignation was prompted by pressure related to the platform's planned expansion into China, a move they described as a downgrading of Taiwan's status.

Among the groups leaving the platform are the Taiwan Good Rice Circle Association, the Taiwan Gender Equity Education Association, the Judicial Reform Foundation, and the Reporter Cultural Foundation, which operates an independent media outlet, The Reporter.

During an April 28 video conference, GlobalGiving informed the Taiwan Good Rice Circle Association that its listed location would be changed from "Taiwan" to "Chinese Taipei," according to a Facebook post by the organization.

Describing the move as a unilateral decision with no room for negotiation, the association said it subsequently requested the removal of its organizational profile and all fundraising projects from the platform, and decided to end all cooperation with GlobalGiving.

"Our official English name is Taiwan Good Rice Circle Association," the group said, adding that its work is rooted in Taiwan's communities, agriculture, and disadvantaged groups.

The Taiwan Gender Equity Education Association has likewise decided to withdraw from GlobalGiving effective June 1.

According to the association, it originally joined the platform to expand international fundraising opportunities while helping showcase Taiwan's civil society and achievements in gender equity education.

After learning that the redesignation stemmed from pressure from the Chinese government, however, it chose to terminate its participation.

The association said repeated attempts to seek clarification and negotiate with the platform failed to produce a satisfactory response, adding that political demands from the Chinese government rarely stop at a single concession and could eventually lead to further restrictions on Taiwanese organizations or even their exclusion from the platform.

Also ending its cooperation with GlobalGiving is the Judicial Reform Foundation, which said it would formally withdraw on June 1.

In a statement, the foundation said it had lodged a strong protest with the platform and could not accept what it described as Taiwan's downgrading under external political pressure.

While acknowledging that the decision could affect its international fundraising and cross-border cooperation efforts, the foundation said defending the independence, dignity and identity of Taiwan's civil society remained a non-negotiable principle.

Having used GlobalGiving since 2025 to provide donors in the United States and Britain with tax-deductible receipts, the Reporter Cultural Foundation also announced that it would discontinue its use of the platform.

The foundation said multiple Taiwanese civil society groups had jointly objected to the name change, but GlobalGiving indicated it would proceed with the policy.

As of press time, GlobalGiving had not responded to CNA's request for comment.