United States Institute for Peace Solicited & Unsolicited Grants Programs

Website: http://www.usip.org/gf.html

Unsolicited Initiative

The Unsolicited Grant Initiative will be open on the basis of a single application deadline per year. We will accept for consideration applications that fall within USIP's general mandate, which focuses on preventing, managing, and resolving violent conflict and promoting post-conflict peace building outside the borders of the U.S. The closing date for receipt of Unsolicited Grant applications is October 1. Award announcements will be made by March 31.

The Unsolicited Initiative is open to any project that fits within USIP's general mandate of international conflict resolution.

Unsolicited awards are offered across a broad range of relevant disciplines, skills, and approaches. Topic areas of interest to USIP include, but are not restricted to:

• International conflict resolution
• Diplomacy
• Negotiation theory
• Functionalism and "track two" diplomacy
• Methods of third-party dispute settlement
• International law
• International organizations and collective security
• Deterrence and balance of power
• Arms control
• Psychological theories about international conflict
• The role of nonviolence and nonviolent sanctions
• Moral and ethical thought about conflict and conflict resolution
• Theories about relationships among political institutions, human rights, and conflict

Most USIP grants are one to two years in duration. Most awards fall in the range of $25,000 to $55,000, although somewhat larger grants are also awarded. The amount of any grant is based on the proposed budget and on negotiations with successful applicants. When applicants are employed by an eligible institution, such as a college or university, USIP prefers that grants be made to the institution rather than to the individual. USIP does not favor having public monies entrusted to it applied to costs not directly related to the project. Applicants are thus advised to eliminate indirect costs in their budget submissions.

For complete information on the Unsolicited Grant Initiative including types of projects funded and the review process please visit http://www.usip.org/grants/unsolicited.html

Solicited Initiative

Starting in October 2006, the Grant program launched a new Solicited Grant Initiative with the following elements:

Funding for conflict prevention, conflict management, and post-conflict peacebuilding in Colombia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sudan. Preference will be given to applications submitted by non-profit organizations based in those countries or to groups that partner with them.

Funding for projects relating to Iran. Priority will be given to initiatives focusing on Iranian relations with the West and with its neighbors in the region, and on Iran’s role in regional and international affairs.
The amount of all awards will be based on the proposed budget and work plan, and on negotiations with successful applicants.

For eligibility and information on the review process please visit http://www.usip.org/grants/solicited.html