Peacebuilder Grant Fund

Sustaining critical peacebuilding expertise and global impact when it matters most.

Support for Peacebuilding

The peacebuilding field is facing unprecedented disruptions precisely when the world needs it most. In an era of rising global instability and conflict, our critical challenge is sustaining vital peacebuilding initiatives and supporting the dedicated experts volunteering their time and talents to see this work through. The Peacebuilder Grant Fund (PGF) was established by Pragmatic Panic to ensure these essential activities continue uninterrupted, bridging the gap so that decades of progress are not lost.

Purpose and Strategic Focus

The PGF provides short-term grant support for impactful time-bound peacebuilding initiatives. It enables a highly coordinated effort that leverages the deep knowledge, credibility, and professional networks of seasoned peacebuilding and conflict management experts.

Through the PGF, we are actively funding projects designed to:

  • Deepen strategic partnerships across the globe.

  • Inform policy options through rigorous analysis and expertise.

  • Convene and influence high-level international forums.

  • Expand the reach of peacebuilding to U.S. audiences.

  • Demonstrate the ongoing relevance of this critical work.

Global Reach, Concrete Impact

PGF projects span critical global regions and thematic areas, proving that a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding cannot be paused. By selecting projects connected to proven peacebuilding experts and institutions, we ensure that every donor dollar is maximized for impact.

The fund enables modest grants to be leveraged for publications, policy options, and field training across multiple continents—ensuring the continued influence of world-class peacebuilding experts despite the disruptions in the field.

The People Behind the PGF

Program Leadership

Shira Lowinger, Pragmatic Panic Senior Financial Advisor and Grant Administrator

The PGF Council

The Council provides strategic oversight, ensuring all funded initiatives align with the core mission of sustaining critical peacebuilding work.

  • Ambassador George Moose, Former Chair of the Board and Acting CEO of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

  • Judy Ansley, Former Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor at the National Security Council, and Former Chair of the Board of USIP

  • Allison Blotzer, Senior Advisor of Strategic Initiatives at Spirit of America, and Former Chief Financial Officer at USIP

The PGF Review Committee

To ensure the utmost integrity and impartiality in our selection process, the PGF Review Committee rotates over time. This dedicated group consists of former USIP peacebuilding practitioners and operations experts, regional experts, and conflict resolution specialists who rigorously evaluate all project proposals based on their potential for concrete impact and strategic impact.

Completed Peacebuilder Grant Fund (PGF) Projects

The PGF currently supports a diverse portfolio of strategic, time-bound initiatives led by proven peacebuilding and conflict management experts.

21st Century China-India Great Power Competition: The Shadow of the 1962 Border War

Project Lead: Andrew Scobell, Adjunct Professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University, and Former Distinguished Fellow for China at USIP

This PGF-funded publication challenges the misconception that China overlooks India as a peer competitor, revealing instead a deep-seated rivalry with profound implications for global security. By re-examining the 1962 border war’s lasting legacy, the research provides a critical roadmap for understanding the escalating risk of conflict between these two countries.

Publication Details: Andrew Scobell and James Char, eds., 21st Century China-India Great Power Competition: The Shadow of the 1962 Border War (Georgetown University Press, 2026)

2026

Vietnam-U.S. Young Professionals Peace Dialogue

Project Leads: Friends of Pariaman, Inc. and Andrew Wells-Dang, Former Senior Program Officer, Vietnam for the United States Institute of Peace

The Peacebuilder Grant Fund awarded the grant to Friends of Pariaman, Inc., representing the Southeast Asia Peace Institute (SEAPI), to recruit students and conduct the first in a series of planned online dialogues on strengthening people-to-people relations between the United States and Southeast Asia. The first dialogue included U.S. and Southeast Asian students and young professionals (aged 18-35). In addition to Americans and Vietnamese, participants from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand were eligible to join.

2026

Understanding Public Attitudes in Venezuela

Project Lead: Mark Feierstein, Senior Advisor at the Albright Stonebridge Group.

This project successfully integrated the voices of ordinary Venezuelans into international policy deliberations through a comprehensive national public opinion survey. In partnership with the Zampa Foundation and renowned Caracas-based firm Delphos, the initiative conducted 1,000 face-to-face interviews to gauge attitudes on peace, democracy, and the rule of law.

The project provided critical data to the U.S. Government, NGOs, and allied partners, ensuring that "day after" planning and transition strategies were grounded in the actual priorities of the Venezuelan people. By bridging the gap between citizens and policymakers, the survey fostered a more informed and durable approach to the country’s political and economic future.

Russia-China Relations and Its Role in Conflict

Project Lead: Mary Glantz, Former Senior Advisor for Russia and Europe at the United States Institute of Peace.

This project advanced the understanding of the Russia-China strategic partnership through deep-dive research and high-level policy engagement. Lead researcher Mary Glantz, alongside team members Elizabeth June and Catherine Dale, produced a comprehensive 37-page analysis concluding that Russia’s pivot toward China is primarily driven by its ambition to construct and lead a multi-polar world order.

On February 10, the team hosted a successful roundtable at George Washington University, presenting these key findings to an audience of scholars, policy analysts, and government officials. This event facilitated a vital re-engagement between former USIP experts and the broader policymaking community. The feedback gathered from this exchange is being incorporated as the team prepares the research for formal publication.

2026

2026

Resilience Training for Early Career Peacebuilders in El Salvador and Guatemala

Project Lead: Miriam Psychas, Former Program Officer for the Latin America Program at the United States Institute of Peace.

Supported by Pragmatic Panic’s Peacebuilder Grant Fund, this project successfully piloted a specialized 9-hour methodology in emotional awareness and stress management for 25 peacebuilders in El Salvador and Guatemala. Through intensive day-long sessions at CECADE and Universidad Landívar, the initiative provided critical self-care tools to a diverse cohort of journalists, indigenous leaders, and human rights defenders. The trainings addressed high-stakes challenges ranging from institutional financial crises to the personal toll of forced exile and political persecution.

By lowering the barrier to mental health resources, the program equipped participants—many of whom had little prior exposure to these topics—with practical techniques for emotional regulation and institutional resilience. This pilot demonstrated that even brief, focused interventions can create essential spaces for reflection, ultimately helping frontline advocates sustain their vital work in increasingly volatile environments.

2026

Partner with Pragmatic Panic.

While the Peacebuilder Grant Fund is not currently accepting public donations, we welcome strategic conversations with institutional partners, foundations, and philanthropists aligned with our mission.

Looking to learn more about this program? Please submit a message below and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.