The Security Foundation

The Board of Directors of the International Security Foundation (ISF) is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the ISF Grants program for U.S.-based nonprofits that serve the global security community.

• Hostage US, a nonprofit supporting the families of the estimated 200 Americans taken hostage or wrongfully detained abroad each year. This is Hostage US’s third ISF grant since the program began three years ago.
• Diplomatic Security Foundation (DSF), which provides timely financial support and charitable contributions to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security and colleagues in the law enforcement and U.S. foreign affairs community. DSF received its first ISF grant in 2021.

 “The ISF Grants Program continues to have an impact for organizations beyond the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC),” Peggy O’Neill, ISF Executive Director, says. “Establishing this program in 2020, just prior to the pandemic, was part of the ISF’s strategic plan to expand our support beyond the ongoing, important funding for OSAC. Our timing proved to be critical, as many of the security industry’s smaller nonprofits had challenges – and continue to have challenges – raising funds and meeting programming goals during COVID-19.”

Peggy continues, “Hostage US and DSF continue to be leaders in the global security industry to meet the real-time needs of our community members when they or their family are facing a crisis. The past three years have truly underscored what we have always known: Ours is an industry committed not only to the communities we serve but to each other.”

How does the ISF Grants Program work?

U.S. nonprofits are eligible to complete an online application during one of two annual funding cycles: January–May 31 or July 1-November 30:

• U.S. nonprofits seeking funding must have 501(c)(3) status.
• U.S. nonprofits with an operating budget under $1,000,000 (U.S. dollars) are preferred.
• The organization must have an international focus that supports the safety and security of American organizations and personnel operating overseas.

Organizations can only receive an ISF grant once a year. Approximately 10% of the ISF program budget supports the ISF Grants Program, with the balance supporting OSAC programs.

The following projects are ineligible for ISF support:

• Projects that seek to influence legislation or election campaigns directly or indirectly; activities related to influencing government policies, permitting or regulations will not be considered.
• Grants for endowments are ineligible.