Reports

The Changing Landscape of Nuclear Security Philanthropy: Risks and Opportunities in the Current Moment 

In June 2021, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation - one of the largest philanthropic funders of nuclear security-related work - announced that it would withdraw from the field. This report was commissioned by the Patient Philanthropy Fund and is meant as a guide as new funders consider moving into this space.

Guiding Principles for Funding Locally-Led Peacebuilding

Local leadership is vital for effective and sustainable peace. Peacebuilding results are often the strongest when local peacebuilders define problems and solutions, and determine outcomes, goals, and timelines. Based on their experience supporting locally-led peacebuilding in conflict zones around the world, members of PSFG's Locally-Led Peacebuilding Working Group offer these core principles and strategies as a practical resource for supporting locally-led peacebuilding, and as an opportunity for continued dialogue and learning among funders and with local peacebuilding partners. Indeed, these guiding principles can be the basis of best practices for all funders, not just those who focus on locally-led peacebuilding. Read PSFG Managing Director Cath Thompson’s op-ed on this topic.

2019 Peace and Security Funding Index Vol. II

On November 19, 2019, in partnership with Candid (formerly the Foundation Center and GuideStar), we released the fifth edition of the Peace and Security Funding Index and its corollary report. We updated the Index to include 2017 and 2018 grants, and launched the first-ever Peace and Security Funding Map.  

2019 Peace and Security Funding Index

In partnership with Candid (formerly the Foundation Center and GuideStar), we released the fourth edition of the Peace and Security Funding Index and its corollary report. In 2016, the latest year complete data is available, 326 foundations invested $328 million across 2,605 grants in support of peace and security work.

2018 Peace and Security Funding Index

In partnership with the Foundation Center, we released the third edition of the Peace and Security Funding Index and its corollary report. In 2015, the latest year complete data is available, 336 foundations invested $351 million across 2,908 grants in support of peace and security work.   

Supporting Local Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Foundations

This report summarizes the findings of a research collaboration between PSFG and PSFG member Peace Direct. The research aimed to uncover the extent to which PSFG members fund local organizations; highlight the achievements of such funding; identify best practices; and articulate limitations and challenges. 

Using interviews and survey responses from over 30 different foundations, PSFG and Peace Direct gathered insight on the value of funding locally, and the ways in which funders can be effective partners to local organizations.

2017 Peace and Security Funding Index

In partnership with the Foundation Center, we launched the second edition of the Peace and Security Funding Index and its corollary report. In 2014, the latest year complete data is available, 290 foundations supported over 1,800 organizations with $357 million spread across 2,773 grants.

Launching the Peace & Security Funding Index

On April 5, 2016, PSFG launched the first-of-its-kind Peace and Security Funding Index in partnership with the Foundation Center and released a report on the Index’s key findings. We undertook this project to better understand who is active in the peace and security funding field, and how this funding was being deployed and utilized.

In 2013, 288 foundations supported over 1,200 organizations with more than $283 million spread across nearly 2,000 grants. Our research found that peace and security funders are making important contributions to global peace and stability, despite making up less than 1% of total foundation giving.

Peace and Security Funding Index: An Analysis of Global Foundation Grantmaking 

On June 7, 2016, Carnegie Corporation of New York hosted a group of over 40 funders, policymakers, and practitioners for a discussion on PSFG's Peace and Security Funding Index, and what the results mean for the peacebuilding sector.

PSFG presented the report’s key findings, showcasing where peace and security funders are having an outsized impact on global peace and stability. Following the presentation, participants discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the field of peace and security. Peacebuilding experts discussed the current state of peacebuilding as a pillar of the peace and security field, opportunities for private foundations to fill gaps in the field, and next steps.

The Role of Funders in Conflict

In 2014, PSFG convened a series of conversations around the role of funders in conflict. Our white paper and accompanying chart summarize these discussions, and recommend next steps to improve the efficacy of funders working in conflict and post-conflict settings.

In addition to summarizing the discussions, the white paper recommends next steps to improve the efficacy of funders working in challenging conflict and post-conflict settings. We see this paper as the starting point for continued engagement on this topic and look forward to future collaboration. 

Lessons in Collaboration: A Tool for Convenors

Collaboration is critical to solving today's toughest challenges. The Connect U.S. Fund - a donors' collaborative launched to support and facilitate collaboration - published a white paper on lessons learned from its decade in the field.

Philanthropic Investments in the Emerging Field of Women, Peace and Security

The report discusses the origins and components of this new field. Based on extensive data collected by PSFG, the report presents a snapshot of private foundation giving in the women, peace, and security field.

This was made possible by support from the Women Donors Network's "Women Building a Just Peace" Circle.

2012 Colloquium on Peacebuilding Effectiveness Summit

The Purdue Peace Project (PPP) and the Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG) co-sponsored the Colloquium on Peacebuilding Effectiveness (COPE) in Washington D. C. Leaders from experienced organizations around the world gathered in order to discuss the current state of the peacebuilding field. The organizations represented practitioner, policymaker, and funder perspectives. Participants discussed (1) the nature of peacebuilding work; (2) how its effectiveness is, and should be, defined; and (3) principles that should be considered when doing and funding peacebuilding work. This report summarizes those discussions.

Note: This report was supported (but not written) by PSFG. 

Peace and Security Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations, 2008 - 2009

This report presents a detailed view of peace and security grantmaking in 2008 and 2009, examining the sources, recipients and purposes of foundation support. Its analysis is based on a database of over 2,000 individual grants from 91 foundations, totaling over $257 million. This report includes profiles of the top grantmaking foundations and tables of funding for strategies by foundation.