Welcome to The Connect U.S. Fund. Promoting a network in support of responsible U.S. global engagement through grantmaking, policy advocacy and community-building.
Nancy Soderberg Joins Connect U.S. Fund as President; Eric Schwartz Confirmed as Ass't Secretary of State for PRM
Current Priority Issues
U.S. Global Engagement
In today’s interdependent world, the U.S. confronts extraordinary international challenges, requiring cooperative, principled and farsighted leadership and a recognition of the strong connections between global issues.
Human Rights
We support efforts to restore American credibility in human rights by rejecting torture, honoring our own and international laws on detainees, and rejoining the world in support of key human rights treaties and principles.
Non-Proliferation
The United States can and must do more to prevent the spread and use of deadly nuclear weapons, but this requires that we work in partnership with other countries.
Climate Change & Development
Climate change is affecting our planet and the lives of people around the world – particularly the world’s poorest and most disenfranchised.
Effective Foreign Assistance
The U.S. military recently has taken on a greatly expanded role in humanitarian missions, recovery and development, as civilian institutions and agencies have failed to meet new challenges.
Advocacy Best Practices
Connect U.S. works to ensure that the whole of advocacy is greater than the sum of its parts and that advocates have the tools and skills they need to be most effective.
Events
Develop & Sharpen Your Message Webinar
Jul 13, 2009, 02pm EDT
Community Media Workshop
A compelling message moves your audiences to action... but even before the Internet, "message" was much more than words. Learn the elements that will help your organization craft powerful messages concisely and convincingly--from concept to wordsm...
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Crisis and Opportunity: A 3-D Approach to Humanitarian Aid in Pakistan
Jul 14, 2009, 09am EDT
SAIS, Nitze Building
Rebecca Winthrop, fellow in global economy and development at the Brookings Institution and former head of education at the International Rescue Committee; Azhar Hussain, vice president for preventative diplomacy at the International Center for Re...
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The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court
Jul 14, 2009, 10pm EDT
PBS
The national PBS broadcast of "The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court" on the P.O.V. series (check local listings). This award winning feature-length documentary unfolds like a dramatic global thriller looking at the firs...
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USITW: Talking about Nuclear Weapons Policy: Lessons from Recent Public Opinion and Messaging Research
Jul 16, 2009, 10am EDT
The Connect U.S. Fund (also via webinar)
Join us in person or online as USITW presents insights from its work to date on nuclear weapons policy and messaging and discusses some of the points of tension and d...
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Upcoming Events
Blogs
Climate Legislation in the Senate: Markup Delayed Until After August Recess
Francesco Femia Jul 10, 2009, 11am EDT
The Washington Post reports that Senate climate legislation, originally scheduled for an early August markup, will have to wait until after the August recess. Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate's Environment and Public Work's Committee, stated "We don't have to rush it through." The Guardian reports that the G8 meeting in L'Aquila has concluded with a $15 billion proposal to reduce the emphasis on emergency food aid to the developing world in favor of "long term spending to build up agricultural capacity." The G8 (+5) also agreed to complete the Doha Development Round in ... Laura Rozen reports on The Cable that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will announce a Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), to be led by Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew and Director of Policy Planning Anne-Marie Slaughter. Secretary Clinton will speak about the initiative, modeled after the Quadrennial Defense Review, at a town hall meeting today.G8 to Back President Obama's Plan for African Farming Fund
Francesco Femia Jul 10, 2009, 11am EDT
QDDR to be Announced Today
Joanna Hecht Jul 10, 2009, 10am EDT
Posner nominated for DRL; Rapp for War Crimes Ambassador
Heather Hamilton Jul 09, 2009, 06pm EDT
As has been expected, the White House announced President Obama's intent to nominate Mike Posner as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Mike is currently the President of Human Rights First, a Connect U.S. Fund grantee.
Also of interest for human rights advocates: Stephen Rapp, currently chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, has been named Ambassa...
US Climate Change Policy in the Wake of Waxman-Markey: Where Things Stand
Francesco Femia Jun 30, 2009, 03pm EDT
Summary: The United States is once again engaged in the international effort to combat climate change, but significant domestic political obstacles are limiting the degree to which the Administration and Congress can both meet international expectations and adjust to scientific realities. While positive first steps have been made, including the passage of major climate legislation in the U....
Latest Blogs
Member Spotlight
Purnima Chawla
Center for Nonprofit StrategiesResources
Adventures in Finding the Best Service for our Webinar Needs
We were very excited to partner with U.S. In The World to present a monthly briefing series on public opinion and messaging. We wanted USITW information and perspectives to...
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April 2009: Best Practices on Nonprofit Survival in an Economic Downturn
The Peace and Security Initiative has compiled an extensive list of management and fundraising resources, fundraising trainings, leadership workshops, and other resources f...
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The Datebook: A Calendar of U.S. Global Engagement
Like many of our community members, the Connect U.S. Fund has been looking over the horizon at some important international meetings and events for 2009 and beyond. To keep...
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Presidential Action Tracker
This regularly updated resource tracks the official actions of President Obama on the issues of relevance ...
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Key Foreign Policy Appointments in the Obama Administration: Daily Tracker
A list of the key foreign policy-related appointments and potential appointments in the Obama Administration, including source information, upda...
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Latest Resources