USRF has established three areas of funding priority:

1) Rule of Law (ROL)

Support for outreach, education, and training in international and domestic law, expertise and best practices that build the capacity of Russians to develop and sustain laws, institutions, and jurisprudence that protect citizens’ rights and that will enable good governance at the local, regional, and national levels.

USRF is committed to protecting the vulnerable and advancing pro-democracy institutions in Russia as well as capacity building for Russian attorneys.

ROL Funding Priorities Include:

• Providing legal assistance and defending the rights of civic actors and victims of the regime in Russia including anti-war voices.

• Advancing pro-democracy institutions and initiatives in Russia at the local, regional, and national levels; and empowering people across the regions to make their own decisions.

• Establishing a network of Russian lawyers both inside and outside the country to strengthen connection and cooperation within the legal community as well as with civil society.

• Supporting Russian lawyers who are working under challenging circumstances, including facing threats to their wellbeing and safety.

• Raising legal awareness among people and building the capacity of Russian lawyers in international legal proceedings and other universal mechanisms including the UN system.

2) Media & Free Enterprise (MFE)

Support for independent Russian media in efforts to reach audiences inside and outside of Russia, develop IT infrastructure and innovative technological approaches, and establish sustainable business models. Support for pro-democracy Russian exile communities through training in legal, regulatory, economic, and business practices that strengthen free enterprise and private entrepreneurship.

MFE Funding Priorities Include:

Media

• Support for independent Russian media efforts to reach wider audiences

• Assistance in developing new business models

• Support for development and adoption of innovative technologies and IT infrastructure by independent Russian media

Free Enterprise

• Assistance in development of entrepreneurial ecosystems for innovation-driven startups and enhancement of business skills of anti-war, pro-democracy Russian exile community

• Support for development of strategic collaboration between relocated businesses and nonprofits; assistance in establishing partnerships between businesses and civil society

• Support for empowerment of the anti-war, pro-democracy Russian exile community through social responsibility programs and philanthropy

3) Civil Society & Expertise (CSE)

Support for pro-democracy Russian civil society groups and networks inside and outside Russia, including opportunities for training and capacity building. Support for teaching and professional development aimed at increasing expertise on Russia in the United States.

CSE Funding Priorities Include:

Civil Society

• Support for community building and capacity building events, including anti-war initiatives, by Russian pro-democracy diasporas outside Russia

• Support for pro-democracy civil society initiatives inside Russia

• Support for projects which aim to build strong networks of Russian civil society inside Russia and abroad

• Projects engaging and/or targeting younger audiences in Russia

Expertise on Russia

• Support for U.S. universities' educational and professional development projects which aim to bring up the next generation of Russia experts

• Support for projects designed and implemented by U.S. universities, thinks tanks, and professional associations that contribute to a better understanding of the Russian society in the West

• Projects which engage Russian scholars-at-risk who had to leave Russia because of their anti-war position

Proposals are selected on a competitive basis. The final decision is made by the USRF Board of Directors. Approved proposals will be executed via a grant agreement signed between USRF and the applicant.

USRF welcomes proposals from organizations both in the United States and abroad.

The applicant should have at least a two-year financial history confirmed by reports to tax authorities that have jurisdiction over the applicant, and an established track record in successful project management and implementation.

Preference will be given to the projects with efficient budgets that achieve best value at the lowest cost. There is no limitation for the amount of the proposed budget, but it should be based on the proposed activity. The main measure for evaluating a budget is its efficiency. The budget should be as realistic as possible, including the cost share portion, which should be calculated based on the most likely situation, and as it relates to fundraising needs met by other sources. 

The cost share budget can be in kind or in cash.

• In cases where a donor organization transfers money to your account and you use this money for a co-funding of the project, we can recognize it as cash cost share.

• When a donor/sponsor pays some expenses related to the project or provides some services or goods for free, we can recognize the cost of such a contribution to the project as in-kind cost share.

For example, if tickets for participants are paid out of your own funds, from your bank account, this may be recognized as cash cost share. If you or your sponsor provide, for example, equipment for the event, then the approximate cost of renting such equipment may be recognized as in-kind cost share.

In general, it is not very important for us if the contribution from other sources is in-kind or cash, we mainly would like to get a clear explanation of the sources and nature of the co-financing of the project supported by the USRF.

Project budgets should be detailed and self-explanatory, and supported by a detailed budget narrative. Applicants are required to use the standard budget lines provided in “How to Apply”, but you can add a budget item if none of the standard items are suitable for the proposed expenses.

Please see the sample forms below for further details:

Sample Budget
Sample Budget Narrative

2025 | Applications for the June 2025 grant cycle will be due on April 1, 2025.

To get started, please read our Instructions and Best Practices Guide. This document is for your guidance.

Please also consult our “sample” forms when completing the budget and budget narrative portion of the application:
Sample Budget
Sample Budget Narrative

Applications must be submitted using the following forms:

1) Application – consisting of the applicant’s information, project narrative and budget narrative (submit in Word format, NOT PDF).

2) Proposed budget template (submit in Excel format, NOT PDF).

To submit an application, please send the above documents via e-mail to grants@usrf.us. Applicants should refer to our Application Submission Checklist while compiling/before submitting your full application.

At a later stage, applicants will also be asked to complete and return the required due diligence documentation.