Political and economic globalization present benefits and also complexity and risks that affect us all.
With 3.5 billion people living in poverty and 2.4 million children dying from malnutrition annually, these global issues and other interconnected challenges, such as climate change, health crises, and geopolitical conflict, demand coordinated responses, with governments, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) playing crucial roles.
These compounding challenges greatly increase the need for globally engaged U.S. public service leaders committed to fostering peace and international collaboration, now and in the future. RFG recognizes that job trends will ebb and flow, and regardless of short-term changes, there will continue to be ongoing needs over the long term in the U.S. for globally engaged international affairs public service leaders.
Over the next four years, RFG will expand its impact through strategic grantmaking and partnerships with graduate schools and mission-aligned organizations that prepare leaders to meet global challenges—those who serve the public good, resolve conflict, alleviate poverty, and guide policy at home and abroad.
RFG will also champion a modern and inclusive vision of global public service—one that recognizes that American leadership extends far beyond federal agencies to innovative NGOs, influential think tanks, pioneering academic institutions, and forward-thinking state and local governments that engage globally.
Guided by this vision, RFG will target its investments to build a diverse, dynamic, and enduring pipeline of globally engaged leaders who work in service to the public to resolve conflict, alleviate poverty, and lead policymaking on both the domestic and global stages.
Priority 1:
Support graduate student education
- Establish and maintain partnerships with select graduate schools
- Provide fellowships, including tuition subsidies, for U.S.-based international affairs graduate students
Priority 2:
Support experiential learning, career advancement, and narratives of public service
- Provide grants to organizations that specialize in providing experiential professional learning and other career advancement opportunities to inspire interest in and bolster the professional advancement of globally engaged students and professionals
We provide graduate school education fellowships
That provide financial support for graduate school tuition and related expenses in the fields of international affairs and public policy.
Foster experiential learning and network development
We provide grants to organizations that provide experiential learning and career advancement opportunities for globally engaged students.
We reinforce professional development and career advancement opportunities
That help propel young people into leadership roles, so that their contributions can help shape a more peaceful, sustainable, prosperous world.
We build lasting relationships among the RFG network
We convene and cultivate RFG fellows, alumni, schools, grantee organizations, partners, and other leaders in the field.
Champion global public service
RFG communicates its impact and showcases stories of its fellows and successful international affairs leadership.