Cross-Border
Due Diligence
for Grantmakers
ENABLING SAFE, DIRECT, AND COMPLIANT PHILANTHROPY WORLDWIDE
Paragon Philanthropy supports responsible, transparent cross-border grantmaking by providing risk-based due diligence aligned with global standards.
A Risk-Based Approach to Cross-Border Grantmaking
Effective cross-border due diligence requires judgment, proportionality, and a clear understanding of risk context. In philanthropic grantmaking, both insufficient diligence and excessive diligence can create material harm, exposing funders to legal, financial, and reputational risk on one hand, while unnecessarily delaying or constraining mission-critical funding on the other. Paragon’s approach is grounded in risk-based escalation, applying deeper review only when warranted by specific indicators and aligning diligence depth with the nature of the activity, the operating environment, and the funder’s obligations. This discipline supports defensible decision-making across jurisdictions while preserving flexibility, efficiency, and mission alignment.
End-to-End Due Diligence for Global Funders
We serve private foundations, donor-advised fund sponsors, corporate and government-linked funders, universities, and international NGOs with regranting portfolios, providing the procedural assurance and operational clarity that make direct giving possible. Our work spans the full spectrum of cross-border grantmaking integrity, including grantee vetting, sanctions and PEP screening, risk assessment, mission alignment analysis, and tailored research. Across jurisdictions and time zones, we help clients navigate regulatory complexity and reputational risk so that philanthropic capital flows safely, efficiently, and to mission-aligned partners worldwide.
Our Approach
Exclusive Focus on Philanthropy
Paragon is a specialized philanthropic services company dedicated to responsible cross-border giving. We combine compliance rigor with cultural understanding to help funders support mission-aligned organizations, protect their reputation, and reduce exposure to sanctions, corruption, and reputational risk.
Specialized Risk Expertise
Our processes are guided by frameworks from the IRS, OFAC, FATF, and FCPA, as well as global standards from the OECD, EU, UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia. We support funders in meeting both U.S. and international requirements, including procedures such as Expenditure Responsibility and Equivalency Determination, while maintaining alignment with broader global best practices. We provide compliance support and facilitation, not legal advice, enabling funders to meet obligations with confidence.
Rapid Turnaround, Without Compromise
We deliver due diligence results quickly and accurately through streamlined workflows, multilingual coordination, and continuous oversight across time zones. Clients rely on our responsiveness without sacrificing rigor.
Regional and Cultural Fluency
Our team brings extensive experience in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, with working capacity in Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and deep familiarity with local philanthropic and regulatory contexts.
Trusted Experience
We have completed thousands of cross-border due diligence reviews for leading foundations, donor-advised fund sponsors, and globally recognized philanthropic institutions, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, and Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust.
Boutique Scale, Global Reach
As a boutique firm, Paragon provides highly personalized service, direct access to senior experts, and the agility to adapt to each client’s needs. We serve clients across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, and Australia.
Paragon Philanthropy equips global grantmakers with the risk-based due diligence infrastructure to fund confidently and responsibly across borders.
“Paragon surpasses other providers I’ve seen with their level of due diligence and delivers much more than basic vetting. I have recommended Paragon to other grantmakers for their extensive service offerings, exceptional customer service, reasonable fees and timeliness. Working with Paragon, our foundation benefits from time and cost savings along with peace of mind.”
Colin Richardson
Director of Grants Administration
The San Francisco Foundation
“We have been working with Paragon for a couple years now and couldn’t be more pleased with the relationship. Paragon relieves us of all the burdensome requirements associated with processing international grants. Because Paragon is so thorough, professional and responsive, I can count on the work being performed accurately and in a timely manner. They are also simply a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Paragon Philanthropy.”
Pegine E. Grayson
Senior Vice President/Philanthropic Services
Whittier Trust
Selected Clients
The Rockefeller Foundation
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Chicago Community Trust
Zoetis Foundation
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Marin Community Foundation
Douglas B. Marshall, Jr. Family Foundation
Rodan + Fields Prescription for Change Foundation
Whittier Trust
Communities Foundation of Texas
Ready to approach cross-border giving with confidence?
Let’s discuss how to apply risk-based due diligence to your next international grant.