International philanthropy – 2% of total personal giving – is growing slowly, but not yet adequately. It is impeded in two ways: inimical tax regulations – no tax incentives for giving abroad unless through domestic – US 501c3 – public charities; and the war on terrorism – American donors should be very careful where their money goes, and for what purposes. That said, there are still plenty of opportunities, and strong reasons for considering them. If “philanthropy” is conceived narrowly, as the rich giving to the poor, that is certainly worthy as far as it goes; but if we take the larger view, that it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of life," it has, from its ancient Greek inception, integral associations with freedom and democracy – the assumption of public responsibilities by private citizens. In that case, we should be promoting philanthropy abroad as an expression of classic American foreign policy interests. Our government, at arm’s length, should grant tax incentives. Authoritar ian states apparently tolerate American philanthropy within their borders – they do not understand it (or they understand it only in the narrow sense). We know better; we know it promotes liberty, both here and abroad.