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While significant progress has been made in recent years toward more responsible U.S. global engagement, including a prohibition on U.S. government-sponsored torture, reengagement in international climate negotiations and multilateral human rights institutions, the conclusion of a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia, and the initiation of reforms aimed at correcting the civil-military imbalance in U.S. foreign policy, there remain significant obstacles to reestablishing U.S. leadership and credibility on the world stage. The continuing financial crisis, the persistence of opposition to our vision, stark divisions within civil society and the U.S. Congress, intense issue competition from domestic priorities, and the tendency of policy-makers and the public to turn inward during difficult financial times, have demonstrated that the road ahead will continue to be challenging and require the active engagement of the NGO community. 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 2010-2011 Annual Major Grant-Making Program, the Connect U.S. Fund embarks on a program designed to influence U.S. foreign policy in the third year of the Obama Administration. We seek to support activities that promote cooperative U.S. global leadership to address critical global issues, including nuclear proliferation, climate change, human rights and development (see RFLOI below for more detail). The focus will be on advocacy efforts between November 2010 and November 2011.
The Connect U.S. Fund has released its 2010-2011 Annual Major Grant-Making Program 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.
2010 Timeline
April 22: Release of Funding Guidelines and RFLOI;LOIs accepted via online application form (below)
May 24: Letters of Inquiry due at 11:59 p.m. PDT
Late June: Requests for Proposals and declination letters distributed
Late July: Full proposals due
Mid-Late October: Final decisions made and grantees notified
Letters of Inquiry will be accepted online starting on April 22, 2010. Deadline for submission of letters of inquiry is May 24, 2010 at 11:59pm PST.
Questions? Please read the 2010-2011 Annual Major Grant Program Request for Letters of Inquiry [PDF] and the Frequently Asked Questions [PDF] guide first. Questions about the administrative or technical aspects of the grant review process can be raised with the Tides Foundation, at connectus@tides.org. Questions about substantive project or policy issues should be raised with the Connect U.S. Fund Program Officer, Francesco Femia at ffemia@connectusfund.org or 202-721-5616.