Unfortunately not.  U.S. taxpayers may not take a charitable contribution deduction for gifts to charities that are not recognized by the IRS.  Therefore, even if the gifts actually go to a charitable organization, a contribution to a foreign charity is generally not deductible.  This is why so many major foreign charities, like universities or medical centers, will establish U.S. a “friends of” charity in the U.S. so that U.S. citizens can make a gift to the “friends of” organization and take a deduction while essentially assuring that the money will be used for the benefit of the foreign charity.  It is also why many U.S. corporations with international reach will set up a U.S. corporate foundation to make gifts abroad.  The U.S. corporation could not deduct a direct gift to a foreign charity, but can deduct a gift to a U.S. private foundation, which can then make a gift for charitable purposes abroad.

In addition, an individual would also have to obtain a receipt for an actual cash gift (by coins or currency) to any charity, including a U.S. charity, in order to claim a deduction.  Most of the collection boxes we saw on the trip had no one issuing receipts.