Contributions to International Organizations- CIO

The Department of State administers Contributions to International Organizations (CFDA 19.790), a program that funds U.S. membership assessment fees to 43 international organizations and the United Nations through direct payments made by agreement rather than competitive grant awards.

This program does not operate as a traditional grant opportunity. No application process exists; the Department of State pays assessment fees only for memberships the United States has already established in approved international organizations. Payments are made to cover annual membership dues, typically on a one-year basis, though some arrangements extend longer. The program functions as a mechanism to meet existing U.S. treaty and membership obligations rather than to solicit or fund new initiatives from external applicants.

Because funding flows directly to international organizations as membership fees rather than through a competitive grants process, this program is not a pursuit vehicle for typical grant applicants. The Department of State manages all payments through a shared financial system and maintains compliance with auditor requests on spending. Only organizations for which the United States already holds active membership receive payment; no new memberships are established through this funding line.

Business development professionals should treat this program as outside the scope of grant pursuit. The program finances standing U.S. commitments to multilateral institutions, not projects, research, services, or capacity-building activities that would generate competitive opportunities for nonprofit organizations, universities, state and local governments, or private firms. Applicants seeking federal funding for substantive work should focus on other Department of State grant programs or those administered by other federal agencies aligned with their actual activities.