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.
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.
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.
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 Innovator in 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.
Headquarters: Baltimore, Md
USAID grant funding: $88.8 million
12. ACDI/VOCA
Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
USAID grant funding: $87 million
Headquarters: Bethesda, Md.
USAID grant funding: $86.7 million
14. JSI Research and Training Institute
Headquarters: Boston, Mass.
USAID grant funding: $85.4 million
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
Headquarters: San Francisco, Calif.
USAID grant funding: $56.6 million
Headquarters: Arlington, Va.
USAID grant funding: $53.4 million
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