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USAID Grants 2026 Guide for Organizations Seeking International Development Funding Opportunities

Learn how organizations can find USAID grants and partnership opportunities in 2026 through Grants.gov and WorkwithUSAID, including Development Innovation Ventures, humanitarian programs, ASHA grants and other funding resources.

Organizations searching for USAID grants and international development funding opportunities in 2026 can use several official U.S. government platforms to identify current and upcoming opportunities, understand the partnership process and strengthen their readiness to compete for funding.

The official Grants.gov USAID resource identifies the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a federal grant-making agency and directs applicants to both Grants.gov and WorkwithUSAID.gov for funding and partnership resources.

USAID’s work spans areas including food security, health, education, democratic governance, women’s empowerment, climate resilience and economic development.

Organizations looking for current USAID funding should note an important distinction: the source provided is an agency and grant-program guide, not a single open Notice of Funding Opportunity with one universal deadline or funding amount. Instead, it points applicants toward official resources where individual opportunities are published and updated.

USAID Funding Opportunities at a Glance

CategoryDetails
AgencyU.S. Agency for International Development
Common acronymUSAID
Funding platformGrants.gov
Partnership resourceWorkwithUSAID.gov
Opportunity typesGrants, partnership opportunities and other funding mechanisms
Key areasDevelopment, health, food security, education, governance, climate and humanitarian assistance
Current opportunitiesPublished through official funding platforms
Upcoming opportunitiesUSAID Business Forecast
Partner preparationWorkwithUSAID.gov
Partner networkingWorkwithUSAID Partner Directory
Grant application deadlineVaries by opportunity
Grant amountVaries by opportunity
EligibilityVaries by individual funding notice
Application feesApplicants should rely on official federal notices; Grants.gov does not require paying to search for federal grants

What Is USAID?

The U.S. Agency for International Development works internationally on development and humanitarian priorities.

According to the Grants.gov USAID profile, the agency’s mission includes efforts to address extreme poverty and build resilient and democratic societies.

Its work recognizes poverty as multidimensional and addresses challenges such as:

  • Hunger and food insecurity
  • Limited access to education
  • Poor health
  • Marginalization
  • Vulnerability
  • Democratic governance
  • Women’s and girls’ empowerment
  • Economic prosperity
  • Climate resilience

Where Can Organizations Find USAID Grants?

Organizations should use official government and USAID-supported platforms instead of relying only on third-party funding websites.

The Grants.gov USAID page highlights:

Grants.gov

for federal grant opportunities and:

WorkwithUSAID.gov

as a key resource for organizations seeking to understand and pursue USAID partnerships.

What Is WorkwithUSAID?

WorkwithUSAID.gov is described as a:

multilingual, free resource hub

for organizations interested in partnering with USAID.

The platform is intended to help organizations understand the partnership process and strengthen their ability to work with USAID.

It provides resources in languages including:

  • English
  • Arabic
  • French
  • Spanish

and indicates that additional languages may be added.

What Can Organizations Find on WorkwithUSAID?

The platform includes several resources for prospective partners.

These include:

  • Partner Directory
  • Events
  • Pre-Engagement Assessment
  • Resource Library
  • Funding Essentials
  • USAID Business Forecast
  • Funding Feed
  • Sub-Opportunities

These tools serve different purposes and can be useful at different stages of the funding process.

USAID Partner Directory

The Partner Directory includes thousands of organizations and is designed to support networking within the USAID partner community.

Organizations may use the directory to:

  • Increase visibility
  • Identify potential partners
  • Explore organizations working in similar sectors
  • Build relationships before funding opportunities appear

Being listed in a directory does not guarantee USAID funding.

Pre-Engagement Assessment

WorkwithUSAID provides a:

Pre-Engagement Assessment

designed to help organizations evaluate and strengthen their readiness to pursue USAID opportunities.

This can be particularly useful for organizations new to U.S. government funding.

Funding Essentials

The Funding Essentials resources help users understand USAID funding processes and connect them with current and upcoming opportunities.

Organizations unfamiliar with federal funding may benefit from reviewing these resources before competing for an award.

USAID Business Forecast

The USAID Business Forecast is highlighted as a source for:

upcoming funding opportunities.

This can be strategically valuable because organizations may be able to identify anticipated opportunities before a final solicitation is released.

Potential applicants can use that lead time to:

  • Research the program area
  • Identify possible partners
  • Assess organizational capacity
  • Prepare internal documentation
  • Build project concepts
  • Review compliance requirements

The forecast should not be confused with a final funding notice. Details can change before an opportunity is officially released.

USAID Funding Feed

WorkwithUSAID also provides a:

Funding Feed

for current funding opportunities.

Organizations looking for live opportunities should review the Funding Feed and corresponding official notices carefully.

Sub-Opportunities

The platform also lists:

Sub-Opportunities.

These may be particularly relevant to organizations that are not yet positioned to compete directly for large prime USAID awards but may be able to work with larger implementing partners.

Can Small or Local Organizations Work With USAID?

The supplied source does not establish one universal rule saying every small or local organization qualifies for all USAID grants.

Eligibility is determined by each individual funding opportunity.

However, USAID’s partnership resources are designed to help organizations understand how to engage with the agency, and the WorkwithUSAID platform provides capacity-building and networking tools intended for prospective partners.

Organizations should always check the eligibility section of the specific opportunity before preparing an application.

Major USAID Grant and Support Programs

The Grants.gov agency page highlights several USAID programs and partnership mechanisms.

These examples demonstrate the range of sectors and organization types that may be supported.

Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

USAID recognizes that faith-based and community organizations often work directly with vulnerable populations.

The agency’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships works to strengthen USAID engagement with these organizations.

This does not mean every faith-based organization automatically qualifies for funding.

Eligibility still depends on the individual program.

American Schools and Hospitals Abroad Grants

The American Schools and Hospitals Abroad program, commonly known as ASHA, provides assistance to certain institutions outside the United States.

The source says ASHA supports:

  • Schools
  • Libraries
  • Medical centers

outside the United States that serve as study and demonstration centers for American ideas and practices.

ASHA assistance can support:

  • Training future leaders
  • Infrastructure
  • Education
  • Institutional development
  • U.S.-international relationships

Applicants should consult a current ASHA notice for precise eligibility and funding conditions.

Development Innovation Ventures

One of the most prominent USAID innovation programs highlighted on the Grants.gov page is:

Development Innovation Ventures, or DIV.

DIV is described as an:

open competition supporting breakthrough solutions to major development challenges.

The program focuses on interventions with the potential to improve large numbers of lives at comparatively low cost.

Who Should Watch Development Innovation Ventures?

DIV may be of interest to organizations or innovators working on evidence-based approaches to international development.

Potential fields could include solutions connected to:

  • Health
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Poverty reduction
  • Technology for development
  • Public services
  • Economic development

Applicants should not assume these examples represent automatic eligibility; the current DIV requirements govern who can apply.

Grand Challenges for Development

USAID’s Grand Challenges for Development initiative focuses on finding solutions to major international development problems.

The program is based on the idea that:

  • Science
  • Technology
  • Global collaboration

can contribute to transformative development outcomes.

USAID uses the initiative to define problems, identify constraints and support approaches that can generate sustainable solutions rather than one-time interventions.

Humanitarian Programs

USAID also administers and participates in programs connected to humanitarian assistance.

The supplied Grants.gov page highlights the:

Denton Program

which allows approved humanitarian goods to be transported using available capacity on U.S. military cargo aircraft.

The Denton Program is jointly administered with several U.S. government agencies.

It should not be confused with a conventional cash grant.

Food Assistance

The USAID profile also highlights U.S. international food-assistance programs.

These efforts are intended to respond to:

  • Food insecurity
  • Humanitarian crises
  • Chronic undernutrition
  • Agricultural and livelihood challenges

Organizations interested in food-security funding should search for current notices rather than relying only on the program overview.

Limited Excess Property Program

The Limited Excess Property Program, or LEPP, allows certain nonprofit organizations registered as Private Voluntary Organizations with USAID to access U.S. government excess property.

Examples of items mentioned include:

  • Medical equipment
  • Educational supplies
  • Computer equipment
  • School furniture

The source reports that an average of approximately $30 million worth of U.S. government excess property is transferred annually through the program.

This figure relates to property transferred across the program and is not a grant amount available to each organization.

Ocean Freight Reimbursement Program

The Ocean Freight Reimbursement Program provides competitive support to certain U.S. Private Voluntary Organizations.

The source states that approximately:

50 U.S. PVOs each year

receive small competitive grants to reimburse transportation costs for donated commodities sent abroad.

Examples of donated goods may include:

  • Medical supplies
  • Agricultural equipment
  • Educational supplies
  • Building equipment

Does USAID Offer Grants to NGOs?

USAID works with a wide variety of development partners, and certain funding opportunities may be open to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations.

However, there is no universal rule that every NGO qualifies for every USAID grant.

Each Notice of Funding Opportunity specifies the eligible applicant categories.

NGOs should carefully review:

  • Eligible organization type
  • Country requirements
  • Registration requirements
  • Program objectives
  • Cost-sharing requirements
  • Required experience
  • Submission rules

before applying.

Can International NGOs Apply?

Some USAID opportunities may permit international organizations or organizations established outside the United States, while others may restrict eligibility.

The general USAID agency page does not provide a universal international-NGO eligibility rule.

Applicants must therefore read each funding announcement separately.

Can Local Organizations Outside the United States Apply?

Potentially, depending on the opportunity.

USAID works internationally and its partnership resources are designed for a global development community, but eligibility remains opportunity-specific.

Organizations should never assume that a program is open globally simply because USAID works internationally.

Can Startups Apply for USAID Funding?

Some USAID innovation programs may be relevant to private-sector innovators or organizations developing scalable solutions.

For example, Development Innovation Ventures focuses on breakthrough solutions to major development challenges.

However, a startup should verify whether its legal structure and project satisfy the requirements of the particular solicitation.

Can Universities Apply?

Some USAID funding programs may include universities or research institutions among eligible applicants.

The agency also supports programs involving education and research.

Nevertheless, eligibility must be confirmed from the individual Notice of Funding Opportunity.

What Sectors Does USAID Fund?

USAID’s overall portfolio covers many development areas.

The Grants.gov profile references work involving:

  • Food security
  • Global health
  • Climate change
  • Energy
  • Education
  • Democracy
  • Human rights
  • Good governance
  • Women and girls
  • Economic prosperity
  • Resilience

Individual funding opportunities may focus on only one narrow issue within these larger areas.

USAID Africa Funding Opportunities

USAID has a dedicated:

Bureau for Africa

among its organizational units.

Organizations working in African countries should monitor country-specific and regional opportunities rather than assuming there is one general “USAID Africa grant.”

USAID Asia Funding

The agency structure also includes a:

Bureau for Asia.

Funding opportunities may be organized by:

  • Country
  • Region
  • Sector
  • Development objective

USAID Europe and Eurasia Opportunities

USAID lists a:

Bureau for Europe and Eurasia.

Organizations interested in opportunities in these regions should monitor official USAID and Grants.gov listings.

USAID Latin America and Caribbean Funding

A dedicated:

Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean

is also listed within USAID’s structure.

USAID Middle East Funding

USAID also lists a:

Bureau for the Middle East.

Again, funding is normally issued through specific programs rather than one unrestricted regional fund.

Global Health Grants

USAID has a:

Bureau for Global Health.

Organizations working on health programs should monitor current opportunities relevant to their location and technical area.

Humanitarian Assistance Funding

USAID also has a:

Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

Humanitarian funding often has specialized requirements because programs may operate in crisis or emergency environments.

Environment and Food Security

The agency structure includes a:

Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security.

This may be relevant to organizations working in areas including:

  • Agricultural resilience
  • Food systems
  • Environment
  • Climate
  • Natural-resource management

depending on current opportunities.

Democracy and Human Rights Funding

USAID also lists a:

Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance.

Organizations working in civic participation, governance and rights-related fields may wish to monitor relevant funding opportunities.

How to Find Current USAID Grants on Grants.gov

The official USAID page provides a dedicated route to:

Recent Grants on Grants.gov.

Organizations can use Grants.gov to review individual funding announcements.

When evaluating an opportunity, focus on the sections covering:

  • Opportunity number
  • Funding agency
  • Program description
  • Award ceiling
  • Award floor
  • Estimated total funding
  • Eligibility
  • Application deadline
  • Required documents
  • Cost sharing
  • Contact information

Not every USAID opportunity will use identical terms.

Does USAID Have One Annual Grant Deadline?

No.

The source does not establish one universal annual USAID grant deadline.

Different opportunities are released at different times and can have different application periods.

Organizations should therefore monitor funding platforms regularly.

How Much Money Can USAID Grants Provide?

There is no single USAID grant amount.

Funding varies substantially by:

  • Program
  • Geography
  • Project scale
  • Organization type
  • Funding mechanism

Applicants should only quote a funding amount when it appears in the specific official opportunity they are discussing.

Preparing for a USAID Grant

Organizations should avoid waiting until a major funding opportunity is published before beginning preparations.

A stronger preparation process may include the following.

Understand the USAID Partnership Process

Use WorkwithUSAID resources to understand how the agency works with partners.

Assess Organizational Readiness

The Pre-Engagement Assessment can help organizations identify possible capacity gaps.

Review Upcoming Opportunities

Monitor the USAID Business Forecast.

Identify Potential Partners

Use the Partner Directory and other networking opportunities.

Monitor Current Funding

Regularly review:

  • Grants.gov
  • USAID Funding Feed
  • Sub-Opportunities

Build Internal Systems

Organizations seeking U.S. government funding may need strong systems for:

  • Financial management
  • Procurement
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Compliance
  • Reporting
  • Safeguarding
  • Project management

Specific requirements should always be taken from the relevant funding announcement.

How to Apply for USAID Funding

A general process may look like this:

Step 1 — Find an Appropriate Funding Opportunity

Search official USAID and Grants.gov resources.

Step 2 — Read the Entire Notice

Do not apply based only on the title.

Review the full funding notice.

Step 3 — Confirm Eligibility

Determine whether your organization type and location qualify.

Step 4 — Review Registration Requirements

Federal funding applications may require organizational registrations.

Follow the exact instructions provided in the opportunity.

Step 5 — Understand the Program Objectives

A proposal should respond directly to the development challenge USAID is trying to address.

Step 6 — Prepare the Technical Proposal

Follow the required format and page limits.

Step 7 — Prepare the Budget

The budget should align with the proposed activities and the solicitation requirements.

Step 8 — Submit Before the Deadline

Do not wait until the last day because technical or registration issues can prevent submission.

Documents Organizations May Need

There is no single document checklist for all USAID grants.

Depending on the opportunity, applicants may be asked for materials connected to:

  • Organizational registration
  • Technical proposal
  • Budget
  • Past performance
  • Key personnel
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Organizational capacity
  • Compliance
  • Certifications

Only the current funding notice can provide the definitive requirements.

How Competitive Are USAID Grants?

The general USAID Grants.gov page does not publish one agency-wide acceptance rate.

Competition can vary significantly by opportunity.

Factors may include:

  • Number of eligible organizations
  • Funding amount
  • Geographic scope
  • Technical complexity
  • Number of anticipated awards

Organizations should therefore focus on meeting the specific evaluation criteria instead of relying on unsupported claims about a universal USAID acceptance rate.

Common USAID Grant Application Mistakes

Applying Without Confirming Eligibility

An otherwise strong application may be rejected if the applicant is not an eligible entity.

Using an Outdated Funding Announcement

Always confirm the current opportunity number and deadline.

Assuming USAID Funds Every Development Project

USAID funding is tied to specific priorities and solicitations.

Treating the Business Forecast as a Final Solicitation

Forecast information may change before an opportunity is officially released.

Assuming Partner Directory Registration Guarantees Funding

It does not.

Ignoring Sub-Opportunity Funding

Smaller organizations may overlook partnerships or subcontracting opportunities that could provide an entry point into USAID programming.

Inventing Funding Amounts

The agency does not have one standard grant value.

Paying Unofficial Agents for Guaranteed USAID Funding

No legitimate third party can guarantee an award.

Use official government platforms when verifying opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is USAID?

USAID is the U.S. Agency for International Development, a U.S. government agency involved in international development and humanitarian work.

Does USAID provide grants?

Yes.

Grants.gov provides a dedicated USAID agency page and links to recent USAID grant opportunities.

Where can I find USAID grants?

Current opportunities can be found through official resources including Grants.gov and WorkwithUSAID funding tools.

Is WorkwithUSAID free?

Yes.

It is described as a multilingual, free resource hub for organizations seeking to partner with USAID.

Does WorkwithUSAID provide current funding opportunities?

Yes.

The source identifies its Funding Feed and Sub-Opportunities resources for current opportunities.

Where can I see future USAID opportunities?

The USAID Business Forecast is highlighted as a source for upcoming funding opportunities.

Can NGOs apply for USAID grants?

Some opportunities may be open to NGOs, but eligibility varies by individual solicitation.

Can nonprofits outside the United States apply?

Potentially, depending on the particular program and eligibility rules.

Does USAID fund startups?

Some innovation-focused programs may be relevant to eligible private-sector innovators, but applicants must check the specific funding notice.

What is Development Innovation Ventures?

DIV is an open competition supporting breakthrough solutions to significant global development challenges.

What is the USAID Business Forecast?

It is an official resource that helps organizations identify anticipated USAID funding opportunities.

What is the Partner Directory?

It is a WorkwithUSAID resource containing thousands of organizations and designed to facilitate networking.

Does joining the Partner Directory guarantee funding?

No.

Does USAID fund faith-based organizations?

USAID maintains a Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, but individual funding eligibility depends on the particular opportunity.

Does USAID fund schools and hospitals?

The American Schools and Hospitals Abroad program provides assistance to certain eligible schools, libraries and medical centers outside the United States.

Does USAID support humanitarian organizations?

USAID operates humanitarian assistance programs and maintains a Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

Is there one USAID grant deadline?

No universal deadline is stated. Each opportunity has its own application period.

How much are USAID grants worth?

Amounts vary by individual opportunity.

Where can I see USAID grant spending?

The Grants.gov profile links to USAspending.gov for USAID grant-spending information.

Why Organizations Should Monitor USAID Funding

USAID funding can be relevant to organizations working across a broad range of international development issues.

The agency’s portfolio includes work connected to:

  • Global health
  • Food security
  • Climate and resilience
  • Education
  • Governance
  • Human rights
  • Humanitarian assistance
  • Economic development
  • Women’s empowerment

Just as importantly, USAID provides multiple tools that help organizations move from simply searching for grants to becoming better-prepared partners.

WorkwithUSAID offers preparation resources, a Partner Directory, learning opportunities, funding guidance, a Business Forecast, a Funding Feed and sub-opportunity listings.

This means organizations can monitor both current funding opportunities and potential future opportunities while improving their institutional readiness.

Final Thoughts

Organizations seeking USAID grants in 2026 should avoid treating USAID funding as one single grant program.

USAID supports numerous initiatives and funding mechanisms across international development and humanitarian sectors, including Development Innovation Ventures, American Schools and Hospitals Abroad, Grand Challenges for Development, humanitarian programs and other partnership opportunities.

The most useful starting points are official platforms.

Grants.gov provides access to recent USAID grant opportunities, while WorkwithUSAID.gov offers free resources to help organizations prepare for partnership, identify upcoming opportunities through the Business Forecast, review current opportunities through the Funding Feed and explore sub-opportunities.

Organizations should carefully evaluate each funding notice because eligibility, award size, geographic requirements, deadlines and required documents vary from one opportunity to another.

For NGOs, nonprofits, universities, humanitarian organizations, development institutions, social-impact organizations and eligible innovators, building familiarity with the official USAID funding ecosystem before a major solicitation appears can make it easier to identify relevant opportunities and prepare stronger applications.

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Ken Tafadzwa Mareyangepo is a media and communications professional and graduate of Midlands State University, where he studied Media and Society Studies with a focus on film, video, and photographic arts . With a strong interest in storytelling, digital media, and content creation, he brings valuable skills in communication, visual content, and audience engagement. As an Admin at Opportunity Feed, Ken contributes to curating and sharing global opportunities, helping connect students and professionals to jobs, internships, scholarships, and fellowships worldwide.

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