About the Eurasia Foundation

Engaging Citizens, Empowering Communities

The Eurasia Foundation is a privately managed non-profit organization supported by the United States Agency for International Development and other public and private donors. Since 1992, the Eurasia Foundation has invested nearly $360 million through more than 8,400 grants and technical assistance programs in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

We believe societies function best when people take responsibility for their own civic and economic prosperity. Through cooperation based on mutual respect, our programs equip citizens to define and achieve outcomes of enduring benefit to their communities.

With offices in twelve countries of the former Soviet Union, the Eurasia Foundation relies heavily on its local staff to decide on grant awards and guide programs. Field officers award grants, manage projects and raise funds in consultation with local, independent advisory boards consisting of foreign and local experts. The decentralized format of the Foundation allows for detailed analyses of all projects, hands-on monitoring and enhanced self-sustainability of initiatives. The Washington, DC headquarters provides overall support and strict financial oversight.

Eurasia Foundation grant-making and technical assistance programs are for fully registered organizations in CIS countries and for international organizations working with local partners in CIS countries.

Over the years, the Eurasia Foundation has supported outside evaluations of its operations and programs. Through these evaluations and its own regularly scheduled internal audits, the Foundation ensures that programs are efficient and that funds are used transparently. All evaluations have offered a strong endorsement of the Foundation's mission and direction. The ongoing review process permits the Foundation to constantly assess the changing political, economic and social conditions of host countries, and the needs of grantees as they work across communities to foster civil societies.

The Eurasia Foundation cannot provide funding to political parties or movements, nor can it support activities of a religious nature.

As a matter of policy, the Eurasia Foundation accepts participation in its programs from a variety of outside organizations, including corporations, agencies and individuals. To date, donors have contributed more than $50 million, a notable amount considering the Foundation's average grant size is $20,000. Contributions are sourced locally and internationally. Village carpenters have supplied window frames for a rural orphanage and major multinationals have written quarter million dollar checks in support of higher education courses. Outside support boosts the impact of our grantees' work and directly helps foster long-lasting partnerships within and across communities.

Since 1993, the Eurasia Foundation has invested more than $4 million in the development of private enterprise, public policy and civil society in Moldova. The Eurasia Foundation opened the Moldova Representative Office in November 1997.