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Through a program of grant-making and operational activities designed to foster stronger collaboration among foreign policy advocacy groups, the Connect U.S. Fund seeks to promote a vision of responsible U.S. global engagement in an increasingly interdependent world.  This objective is critical to promoting international peace and stability and to sustaining U.S. influence over time, and can best be achieved when U.S. actions are widely perceived as legitimate and responsive to the compelling interests of major stakeholders in the international community.

The Connect U.S. Fund made direct grants totaling more than $1.3 million to 26 projects in 2004 [PDF] and $1.75 million to over 11 projects in 2005 [PDF]  and almost $450,000 to 17 projects in 2006.  In 2007-2008, Connect U.S. Fund has thus far made direct grants totaling around $2.7 million to 27 projects [PDF] through its Global Security and Cooperation Initiative, and 11 projects through its Rapid Response Fund [PDF].

Major Grants Program: Global Security and Cooperation Initiative

Status: Closed.  Letters of Inquiry will be accepted online starting on July 3, 2008.  Deadline for submission of letters of inquiry is July 16, 2008 at 11:59pm PST. Before applying, please read the 2008-09 Global Security and Cooperation Initiative Request for Letters of Inquiry [PDF].

The public debate leading to the U.S. political transition in 2009 presents an historic opportunity to make serious progress on key policy issues critical to responsible global engagement. This will be the major goal of the Connect U. S. Fund over the 2007-2009 period, through its Global Security and Cooperation Initiative. The Initiative includes $5-$6 million in grant making and operational activities, and currently focuses on policy issue areas that include include 1) Human Rights: Reestablishing U.S. Credibility and Leadership; 2) Promoting Effective Regimes Relating to Non-Proliferation;  3) Civil-Military Relations and Building Civilian Capacity for Stability Operations, Economic Recovery and Development; and 4) Development and Climate Change: Promoting Equitable Policies and Building Institutional Capacity.  Read more.

Questions? Please read the 2008-09 Global Security and Cooperation Initiative Request for Letters of Inquiry [PDF] and the Frequently Asked Questions [PDF] guide first.  Questions about the administrative or technical aspects of the grant review process can be raised with the Tides Foundation, at connectus@tides.org. Questions about substantive policy issues should be raised with Francesco Femia at ffemia@connect.us or 202-721-5616.

Rapid Response Program

Status: Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Before applying, please review the Request for Proposals [PDF], which is the main guide for the drafting of a proposal, and Connect U.S. Fund Executive Director Eric Schwartz’s letter further describing the rationale and expectations behind the fund.

Rapid response grants of up to $25,000 are designed to enable organizations to respond and act on unique, time-sensitive, and unforeseen opportunities for advancing more responsible U.S. foreign policy. Grant requests are therefore considered promptly, and the rapid response grants do not have to be in line with the funding priorities articulated for the Global Security and Cooperation Initiative.

Questions about the administrative or technical aspects of the grant review process can be raised with the Tides Foundation, at connectus@tides.org. Questions about substantive policy issues should be raised with Francesco Femia at ffemia@connect.us or 202-721-5616.