Top USAID grant implementers: A primer

The U.S. Agency for International Development awards billions in grants each year, mostly to nonprofit organizations. In fiscal 2012, USAID contributed $8.9 billion in grants, 51 percent of which were awarded under cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements allow USAID limited participation in the recipient’s project. In line with the USAID Forward reform agenda’s goal of broadening the agency’s partner base, USAID has opened a number of new grant-making channels in recent years. For instance, through its Development Innovation Ventures program alone, USAID is currently supporting development projects in 19 countries. Aimed at identifying and scaling up innovative development interventions, the program has received more than 3,000 applications since its launch in October 2010. USAID has also committed to award more of its grants to local organizations, again in keeping with USAID Forward. In fiscal 2012, groups based outside the United States received only 14 percent of the agency’s grant funding. USAID has set a target of channeling 30 percent of its overall assistance to governments, local businesses and local nongovernmental organizations by 2015. Here are the top USAID-funded grant implementers, based on data from USASpending.gov for fiscal 2012. In addition to implementing organizations, multilateral agencies including the World Bank and the World Food Program also receive grants from USAID. 1. FHI 360 Founded: 1971 Headquarters: Durham, N.C. CEO: Albert Siemens USAID grant funding: $360 million Drawing on its expertise in health, education, environment, economic development and civil society, FHI 360 provides services including capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, research and social marketing. Now working in more than 60 countries, FHI 360 was known as Family Health International or FHI until its 2011 acquisition of AED. 2. Catholic Relief Services Founded: 1943 Headquarters: Baltimore, Md. President and CEO: Carolyn Woo USAID grant funding: $172 million The official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, Catholic Relief Services has worked in more than 100 countries since its founding. CRS focuses its work on six areas: emergencies, hunger, education, health, peace-building and U.S. advocacy for social change. 3. Jhpiego Founded: 1973 Headquarters: Baltimore, Md. President and CEO: Leslie D. Mancuso USAID grant funding: $169.2 million With experience working in more than 155 countries, Jhpiego designs and implements solutions to improve the health of women and their families. Jhpiego’s work focuses on areas including maternal and family health, family planning and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS prevention and care, and malaria prevention and treatment. Jhpiego’s parent organization, the Johns Hopkins University, is ranked 11th on this list. 4. Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening Founded: 1995 USAID grant funding: $149.2 million The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening comprises three U.S.-based democracy groups: International Foundation for Electoral Systems, International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute. Each of the three groups has an equal stake in the consortium. In fiscal 2012, USAID funded CEPPS’ activities in a host of countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Georgia, Libya, and South Sudan. 5. RTI International Founded: 1958 Headquarters: Research Triangle Park, N.C. President and CEO: E. Wayne Holden USAID grant funding: $137.7 million With a staff exceeding 3,700, RTI International provides research and technical services to governments and businesses in more than 75 countries. Governance and economic development, international education, global health, and information and communication technology are among RTI International’s areas of expertise in its international development practice. 6. Save the Children USA Founded: 1932 Headquarters: Westport, Conn. President and CEO: Carolyn S. Miles USAID grant funding: $123.7 million Serving more than more than 78 million children in 2012, Save the Children USA’s programs worldwide include emergency response, child protection, education, health and nutrition, and hunger and livelihoods. Save the Children USA is one of 30 member organizations of Save the Children International. Save the Children was named a Devex Top 40 Development Innovatorin 2011. 7. Mercy Corps Founded: 1979 Headquarters: Portland, Ore. CEO: Neal Keny-Guyer USAID grant funding: $116.7 million Since its founding, Mercy Corps has provided $2.2 billion in relief and development assistance to people in 114 countries. Mercy Corps’ programming spans a wide range of sectors including agriculture, education, emergency response, health, and women and gender. 8. International Relief and Development Founded: 1998 Headquarters: Arlington, Va. President and CEO: Arthur B. Keys Jr. USAID grant funding: $108.9 million Specializing in conflict and post-conflict environments, International Relief and Development has delivered $3 billion in development assistance over the past 15 years. With a presence in 42 countries, IRD implements programming in six areas: infrastructure, civil society and governance, conflict mitigation, emergency response, food and agriculture, and health and hygiene. 9. Pact Founded: 1971 Headquarters: Washington, D.C. President and CEO: Mark Viso USAID grant funding: $99.4 million Operating in more than 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, Pact works with its 1,000 local partners to empower communities, effective governments and responsible private institutions. Pact’s programs focus on governance, health, economic development and natural resource management. 10. PSI Founded: 1970 Headquarters: Washington, D.C. President and CEO: Karl Hofmann USAID grant funding: $92.1 million Counting more than 8,000 staff, PSI implements programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health in 69 countries. In 2011, PSI was named a Devex Top 40 Development Innovator. 11. Johns Hopkins University Headquarters: Baltimore, Md USAID grant funding: $88.8 million 12. ACDI/VOCA Headquarters: Washington, D.C. USAID grant funding: $87 million 13. University Research Co. Headquarters: Bethesda, Md. USAID grant funding: $86.7 million 14. JSI Research and Training Institute Headquarters: Boston, Mass. USAID grant funding: $85.4 million 15. Intrahealth International Headquarters: Chapel Hill, N.C. USAID grant funding: $80.5 million 16. Global Communities (formerly CHF International) Headquarters: SilverSpring, Md. USAID grant funding: $78.5 million 17. Education Development Center Headquarters: Newton, Mass. USAID grant funding: $64.8 million 18. Abt Associates Headquarters: Cambridge, Mass. USAID grant funding: $64.6 million 19. The Asia Foundation Headquarters: San Francisco, Calif. USAID grant funding: $56.6 million 20. Counterpart International Headquarters: Arlington, Va. USAID grant funding: $53.4 million Read more: ▪ Top USAID contract awardees: A primer ▪ Top global development organizations: The Devex lists See our 2011 ranking of USAID’s top NGO partners. Check out more funding trends analyses online, and sign up as an Executive Member to receive the information you need for your organization to thrive.