How to Donate to Guatemala from the US or Abroad

How do I donate to Guatemala from the US?

Start with a Smile Project (Proyecto Sonrisas in Spanish) takes money donations through its GoFundMe fundraiser. The steps:

1. Open the fundraiser and click Donate now.
2. Enter an amount. The minimum is $5.
3. Check the optional tip to GoFundMe. It goes to the platform, not to the project, and you can set it to zero.
4. Pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover. On US fundraisers you may also see Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or Venmo if they are set up on your device.
5. To keep your name off the public page, tick the box that hides it.

You don't need an account, and you get an email receipt when you finish, according to GoFundMe's guides on how to donate and payment options.

Can I donate from Canada or another country?

Yes. The fundraiser runs in US dollars, but GoFundMe shows the donation form in your local currency and charges your card the equivalent. GoFundMe doesn't charge a conversion fee, though your bank may, so check your card's foreign transaction terms (GoFundMe, international donations).

GoFundMe can't process donations from 16 countries, among them Cuba, Russia, China and Nigeria. Canada, Mexico, Guatemala and the EU countries are not on that list. If a fundraiser has monthly giving turned on, you can choose it at checkout, but GoFundMe charges donors an extra 5% on each recurring gift (recurring donations). A single gift avoids that fee.

Is a donation to Guatemala tax deductible?

Not in this case. Start with a Smile is a nonprofit community initiative, but it is not a registered NGO and does not issue tax-deductible receipts. Its GoFundMe is a personal fundraiser, and GoFundMe says donations to personal fundraisers are generally treated as personal gifts, aren't guaranteed to be deductible and don't come with a tax receipt (tax information for donors).

In the US, IRS Publication 526 lists contributions to specific individuals and to foreign organizations, other than certain Canadian, Israeli and Mexican charities, among those you can't deduct. In Canada, a gift only counts for the tax credit when it goes to a qualified donee that issues an official donation receipt (Canada Revenue Agency). If the deduction matters to you, ask your tax preparer before you give.

How much does it cost to ship a box to Guatemala?

Under the USPS price list in effect since October 4, 2026, a 20 lb box to Guatemala by Priority Mail International costs $186.60 at the Post Office counter, and a Large Flat Rate Box, which holds up to 20 lb, costs $132.05. Private carriers set their own rates.

Then the box clears Guatemalan customs. The SAT, Guatemala's tax and customs agency, calculates import tax on the value of the goods, not their weight (Prensa Libre), and USPS doesn't offer prepaid duties for Guatemala (USPS country conditions). Any duty falls on whoever picks up the box.

If nobody in your family or group is flying down soon, a GoFundMe gift skips both the postage and the customs line. To weigh the trade-offs, read bring donations or buy in Guatemala.

What can I bring to Guatemala in my suitcase duty-free?

Customs treats your personal luggage differently from things you bring to give away. According to the SAT's traveler's baggage guide, clothing and personal items enter duty-free. Gifts such as school supplies or toys also enter duty-free up to $500 per traveler, as long as these three conditions are met (SAT):

• the goods aren't for sale, judged by their quantity and type;
• you have spent at least 72 hours outside Guatemala;
• you haven't used the exemption in the previous 6 months.

Above $500, you pay whatever taxes customs assesses. Every air traveler must file the Regional Traveler's Declaration (Declaración Jurada Regional de Viajero), which you can complete online up to 15 days before arrival (SAT FAQ). Declare what you carry: leaving goods off can mean fines or seizure.

Weigh your bag before you leave. On Delta, for example, the standard checked bag limit is 50 lb, about 23 kg (Delta). For packing ideas, see what to bring to Guatemala to donate and what not to bring.

Where do I drop off donations in Antigua Guatemala?

Every handoff is arranged by message before your trip:

1. Make room in your suitcase and pack items from our How to help list.
2. Message us on WhatsApp at +502 5562 3313, email amaliajarquin@gmail.com or use the contact form, with your dates and what you are bringing.
3. We agree with you on how to receive it in Antigua Guatemala.
4. Amalia and the volunteers hand it to the children.

The project works with 7 schools in Las Delicias del Jobo, Taxisco, Santa Rosa, where more than 700 children ages 6 to 16 study, and every December 24 it makes a Christmas delivery on the road to Tecpán. Deliveries are posted with photos on Instagram and Facebook, and our guide to what happens to your donation walks through the whole path.

Not traveling? Give on GoFundMe. Traveling? Message us and we'll coordinate your in-kind donation.