The USIP Annual Grant Competition funds projects focused on preventing, managing, and resolving violent conflict and promoting post-conflict peacebuilding in settings outside the borders of the U.S. Awards support activities that apply across a broad range of relevant disciplines, skills, and approaches. USIP welcomes proposals of an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary nature.

Topic areas of interest to USIP include, but are not limited to:

• Conflict analysis and prevention;
• Mediation and conflict resolution;
• Postconflict peace and stability operations;
• Religion and peacemaking;
• Rule of law and transitional justice;
• International organizations and collective security;
• Economies and conflict;
• Social, psychological, and physical impacts of war and conflict;
• Media and conflict.

Review Process

The Annual Grant Competition review process involves (1) initial examination of applications by USIP staff, followed in most cases by (2) external peer review, and (3) further consideration of the panels' recommendation by USIP's executive officers. For previous grantees, an independent evaluation of the earlier grant will also be conducted. USIP's Board of Directors makes final decisions on awards.

USIP does not take positions on policy issues pending before Congress, the executive branch, or other domestic or international bodies, and does not fund "Track 1" (official) mediation of international disputes. USIP will not fund grant proposals of a partisan political nature or proposals that would inject the grantee or USIP into the policy processes of the United States government or any foreign government or international organization. In addition, in accord with the United States Institute of Peace Act, Section 1709(b), USIP will not use political tests or political qualifications in selecting or monitoring any grantee. Projects that lead to policy recommendations for governments, international organizations, or nongovernmental organizations are welcome, even encouraged, although such recommendations will be those of the grantee and not USIP.

Eligible Grant Recipients

USIP may provide grant support to nonprofit organizations and individuals-both U.S. and foreign-including the following: institutions of post-secondary, community, and secondary education; public and private education, training or research institutions, and libraries.

Individuals seeking funding must identify a nonprofit organization (i.e., educational institution, research institution, civil society organization, or NGO) that will receive, administer, and report on the use of grant funds on behalf of the applicant.

Support for degree work is not eligible in the Grant Program. Inquiries about support for dissertation research should be directed to USIP's Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar Dissertation Program.

Only one application per competition may be submitted by the same project director.

Unsuccessful applicants of previous Grant Program competitions may not submit the same application unless it has been substantially revised.

USIP will not accept applications that list as participants, consultants, or project personnel members of USIP's Board of Directors or staff. In addition, any application that lists USIP as a collaborator in the project will not be accepted.

Individuals who are currently working as USIP contractors may not be eligible to apply for grant support. To determine eligibility prior to submitting an application, please contact the Grant Program staff.

Applications must be submitted in English.

Most USIP grants are one to two years in duration. Most awards fall in the range of $40,000 to $120,000. Proposed grant budgets are reviewed by USIP staff, and are subject to modification. When applicants are employed by an eligible institution, such as a college or university, USIP requires that grants be made to the institution rather than to the individual. Applicants are advised to eliminate indirect costs in their budget submissions, as USIP does not favor having public monies entrusted to it applied to costs not directly related to the project.

Apply to the Annual Grant Competition

Note: The deadline for applications to the Annual Grant Competition is October 1, 2008, and cannot be extended for any reason.

All projects must be submitted on an application form. The Annual Grant Competition application is available in Word format for downloading, and includes all necessary application instructions and forms.

Download Application Guidelines and Forms: (Word Document - 296 KB): http://www.usip.org/grants/index.html 

After downloading, please review the section "Instructions, Forms, and Proposal Submissions" before submitting your application.

If you are unable to download the application guidelines and form, please contact the Grant Program staff so that these materials can be mailed to you.

Request the Application Guidelines

For more information, contact the staff of the Grant Program. If you prefer a hard copy of the application guidelines please contact the Grant Program:

Via e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Via telephone: 202-429-3842
Via fax: 202-833-1018

Via postal mail:

United States Institute of Peace
The Grant Program
1200 17th Street, NW Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036-3011

Donor website: http://www.usip.org