2009 Annual Grant Competition

• Guidelines for Online Submission
• Review Process
• Eligible Grant Recipients
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ'S)
  

October 2008 Annual Grant Competition Awards

In March 2009, the USIP Board of Directors approved 24 annual grant competition awards.

Annual Grant Competition Facts

• USIP normally receives between 200 and 300 proposals annually and gives awards on average to 15 percent of the applicant pool.
• The awards generally range from $50,000 to $120,000.
• The deadline is October 1, 2009. 

The Annual Grant Competition supports innovative peacebuilding projects involving research, the identification of promising models and effective practices, the development of practitioner resources and tools, the development and delivery of education, training and dialogue programs, and the production of films, radio programs, and other media. 

The 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;
• Women and girls in conflict and peacebuilding;
• Rule of law and transitional justice;
• 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 assessment of the earlier grant will also be conducted. USIP's Board of Directors makes final decisions on awards.

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.

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.

The Grant Program funded the
documentary "In Rwanda We Say...
The Family That Does Not Speak
Dies," which recently was awarded
an Emmy for best documentary.

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.

American and foriegn individuals and nonprofit organizations may apply. Individuals whose proposals are funded will be required to identify a nonprofit organization to receive and manage the grant monies. 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.

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.

This grant funded report
featured survivors of violence in
Northern Ireland.

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.