The Connect US Fund Grants Program: Global Security and Cooperation Initiative

The Connect US Fund Grants Program: Global Security and Cooperation Initiative

While significant progress has been made in recent years toward more responsible U.S. global engagement, there remain significant obstacles to reestablishing U.S. leadership and credibility on the world stage. The financial crisis, the persistence of opposition to our vision, and divisions within civil society have demonstrated that the road ahead will be difficult. In addition, the United States continues to confront extraordinary political, economic, security and humanitarian challenges. In order to implement new policy directions, the President and Congress will have to advance and put into practice a compelling foreign policy vision of responsible U.S. global engagement in an increasingly interdependent world. With the 2009 Global Security and Cooperation Initiative, the Connect U.S. Fund embarks on a program designed to influence U.S. foreign policy at the outset of the new Administration.

It will promote effective responses to critical global issues, conducted in cooperation others in the international community and in a manner that is widely perceived as legitimate, and demonstratesforesight and responsibility to future generations.

The Initiative currently focuses on policy issue areas that include
1) Human Rights: Reestablishing U.S. Credibility and Leadership;
2) Promoting Effective Regimes Relating to Non-Proliferation;
3) Modernizing the Foreign Policy Toolkit: Ensuring Civilian Capacity to Conduct Diplomacy and Development;
and 4) U.S. Participation in International Climate Change Agreements.
The focus will be on advocacy efforts between November 2009 and November 2010.

The Connect U.S. Fund has released its 2009-2010 Global Security and Cooperation Initiative Request for Letters of Inquiry [PDF], which addresses the context for the grant-making program, issue priorities, focus of grant-making and instructions for submission of letters of inquiry.

2009 Timeline:

* July 8: Release of Funding Guidelines and RFLOI -- LOIs accepted via online form
* August 3 (11:59pm Pacific): Letters of Inquiry due
* Late August: Requests for Proposal and declination letters distributed
* Late September: Proposals due
* Late October: Final decisions made and grantees notified

Letters of Inquiry will be accepted online starting on July 8, 2009. Deadline for submission of letters of inquiry is August 3, 2009 at 11:59pm Pacific.

http://www.connectusfund.org/grants/major