Middle East Partnership Initiative (19.500)
Middle East Partnership Initiative (Assistance Listing 19.500) is run by the Department of State. It awarded $115 million in 80 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.4 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $341,545. Half of the 80 awards fell between $161,087 and $2.0 million, and they ranged from $3,071 to $12.9 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$115 million
- Grant awards80
- Typical award$341,545
- Awarded in FY 2025$16.7 million
- Size rank772 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements (discretionary grants), project grants (cooperative agreements)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $31.6 million in fiscal 2021 to $16.7 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 772nd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 98% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 7 states and territories.
What the program funds
The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative supports organizations and individuals in their efforts to promote political, economic, and social engagement in the Middle East and North Africa.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education; public international organizations; and small businesses with functional and regional experience. Each solicitation outlines who is eligible and what types of experience are needed to apply for funding.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) addresses U.S. national security and economic objectives by advancing stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa region. MEPI leverages strategic partnerships and cost sharing agreements with the interagency, international organizations, governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations, to maximize efficacy and efficiency of assistance funding. MEPI projects partner with governments, civil society, international organizations and the private sector to improve governance and strengthen institutions, asserting U.S. leadership and influence and fostering U.S. economic opportunities. Among other activities, these projects include supporting legal, economic, and regulatory reforms to improve the business-enabling environment; advancing transparent and efficient governance; and strengthening partnerships between citizens, civil society, the private sector, and government institutions in the areas of governance, civil leadership development and civic education.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
From $10,000 to $9,600,000; average approximately $3,100,000.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Middle East Partnership Initiative (19.500) awarded$115 million across 80 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University of Beirut | 8 | $30.1 million | |
| Lebanese American University | New York | 6 | $24.5 million |
| The American University in Cairo | New York | 6 | $20.8 million |
| Family Health International | North Carolina | 3 | $12.5 million |
| World Learning Inc. | Vermont | 4 | $4.2 million |
| National Center for State Courts | Virginia | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Georgetown University | District of Columbia | 2 | $3.8 million |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | New Jersey | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Organis Cooperation Developp Economique | 1 | $2.0 million | |
| National Democratic Institute for International Affairs | District of Columbia | 1 | $1.8 million |
| America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. | District of Columbia | 2 | $1.7 million |
| Correlation One Inc | New York | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Association Jeunes Leaders de Monastir | 1 | $551,117 | |
| Visionaire Media Inc | New York | 1 | $500,000 |
| Small Enterprise Assistance Funds | District of Columbia | 1 | $500,000 |
| The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) | 1 | $500,000 | |
| Center for International Private Enterprise, Inc. | District of Columbia | 1 | $447,481 |
| Aai Foundation | District of Columbia | 1 | $442,755 |
| Questscope for Social Development | 2 | $402,529 | |
| United Nations Development Programme | New York | 1 | $370,000 |
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 71% of the money, nonprofits 21% and businesses 1.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 24 | $81.6 million | 71% |
| Nonprofits | 16 | $24.7 million | 21% |
| Other | 33 | $6.5 million | 5.7% |
| Businesses | 7 | $2.1 million | 1.9% |
By state
6 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 17 | $47.7 million |
| North Carolina | 3 | $12.5 million |
| District of Columbia | 9 | $7.6 million |
| Vermont | 4 | $4.2 million |
| Virginia | 1 | $3.7 million |
| New Jersey | 1 | $2.5 million |
| Indiana | 1 | $92,623 |