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Conflict and Development Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.8M
Grant Range
$88K - $0.4M

Conflict and Development Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately $762,000 (2023 tax year)
  • Total Assets: $39,100,580 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not specified (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $87,000 - $371,000 (based on 2023 grants)
  • Geographic Focus: International (Ukraine, Rwanda, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Ghana)

Contact Details

Address: 502 Florence St, Castroville, TX 78009-4002
Phone: 210-219-1318
Email: CDF@condev.org
Website: www.condevfoundation.org

Overview

The Conflict and Development Foundation is a Texas-based private foundation established to study and address the relationship between conflict and international development with the goal of eliminating hunger, poverty, and violence in the developing world. With total assets of approximately $39.1 million as of 2023, the foundation supports research, scholarship, and practice of international agriculture development and natural resource management. Taking inspiration from the legacy of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize laureate who demonstrated that agricultural development and food security could prevent violence and civil unrest, the foundation employs an interdisciplinary approach combining agricultural science, political science, and economics. The foundation emphasizes field-oriented work grounded in agricultural traditions, community-centered solutions valuing local insight, market-driven private-sector approaches, and applied science transfer following the land-grant model. In 2023, the foundation distributed approximately $762,000 in grants to support projects in Ukraine, Texas A&M University research programs, Rwanda, and Colombia.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through preselected charitable partnerships rather than open grant competitions. Important: The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Recent grant activities (2023 tax year) include:

  • Ukraine Humanitarian Aid: $370,708 - Equipment, training, and infrastructure resources to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to support humanitarian aid resulting from the Russian-led conflict
  • Texas A&M University Research: $216,178 - Grant funding for Texas A&M University faculty and staff working on Conservation in Action and Democratic Republic of Congo projects
  • Rwanda Infrastructure: $87,642 - Continued work on the Nasho highway in Rwanda
  • Colombia Infrastructure: $87,642 - Small projects focused on renovation and reconstruction of a substation

The foundation also administers the Student Media Grant Program in collaboration with the Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University, funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation Chair on Conflict and Development. These grants award up to $5,000 to students from accredited universities worldwide to document issues in fragile and conflict-affected areas through photography and storytelling.

Priority Areas

  • Agricultural Development: Rural community economic productivity through agriculture and infrastructure development, with emphasis on approaches that prevent conflict, sustain communities during conflict, and aid post-conflict recovery
  • Natural Resource Management: Reducing conflict over natural resources using advanced innovations, technologies, and approaches including dialogue systems, mapping technologies, and ecotourism initiatives
  • Local Organizational Support: Partnering with local organizations to drive endogenous leadership for economic and social development by aligning local resources and values toward institutional innovation
  • Conflict and Development Research: Examining how development can reduce the likelihood of conflict and how conflict impacts development effectiveness
  • Texas Historical Preservation: Preserving Alsatian pioneer structures in the Castroville Historic District

Active Programs: Ukraine reconstruction and stabilization (primary focus since 2022), Botswana Ecoexist Program, Conservation in Action, Democratic Republic of the Congo initiatives, Ghana Centre for No-Till Agriculture, and Latin American programs.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations identified through the foundation's strategic partnerships and board relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Edwin Price - Independent Chairman of the Board. Dr. Price also leads the Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University
  • Joseph King - Executive Director and Member of the Board
  • Amanda Stronza - Member of the Board
  • Leslie Ruyle - Program Director (Conservation in Action) and Member of the Board

Staff:

  • Johanna Roman - Program Manager and Regional Lead for Latin America
  • Gavin Finnegan - Senior Field Officer
  • Gracie Rosenbach - Field Officer - Africa
  • Tymur Mazur - Field Officer
  • Paul Kroeger - Field Officer

The foundation's philosophy reflects Dr. Norman Borlaug's belief that "food insecurity was a principle cause of violence and civil unrest," and emphasizes that agricultural development and food security can prevent violence and promote peace.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Conflict and Development Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded through the foundation's strategic partnerships, primarily with Texas A&M University and organizations identified through board relationships and field operations.

Exception - Student Media Grant Program: Students from accredited universities worldwide can apply for the Student Media Grant Program (up to $5,000) through the Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University. Applications are typically announced annually through the Center's website at www.condevprogram.org.

Getting on Their Radar

Texas A&M University Connection: The foundation has a particularly strong relationship with Texas A&M University's Center on Conflict and Development (ConDev) and the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development. Organizations working with Texas A&M faculty on international agriculture development or conflict resolution projects may have opportunities for partnership.

Field Presence: The foundation maintains field officers in active program regions (Africa, Latin America, Ukraine). Organizations operating in the foundation's geographic areas of focus (Ukraine, Rwanda, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Ghana) and working on agriculture development, natural resource management, or conflict resolution may benefit from establishing relationships with foundation field staff.

Sector Events: Engaging with the international agriculture development and conflict resolution communities, particularly through events and networks associated with Norman Borlaug's legacy, Texas A&M University programs, or the Howard G. Buffett Foundation initiatives may provide networking opportunities with foundation leadership.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation operates on a fiscal year basis and makes grant decisions through its board of directors based on strategic priorities and existing partnerships.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. However, organizations with existing relationships may receive recurring grant support as evidenced by the foundation's ongoing work with Texas A&M University and multi-year infrastructure projects in Rwanda.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, success depends on strategic positioning rather than application quality:

Texas A&M University Partnerships: The strongest pathway to foundation support appears to be through collaboration with Texas A&M University faculty and programs, particularly the Center on Conflict and Development and the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development. The foundation provided $216,178 to Texas A&M University in 2023 for Conservation in Action and DRC projects.

Alignment with Borlaug Legacy: The foundation draws deep inspiration from Dr. Norman Borlaug's work in agricultural development as a pathway to peace. Projects that demonstrate how agricultural innovation, food security, and rural economic development can prevent or reduce conflict are central to the foundation's mission. As stated in their philosophy, they believe "food insecurity was a principle cause of violence and civil unrest."

Field-Oriented and Community-Centered Approaches: The foundation emphasizes work that is grounded in agricultural traditions, values local insight, employs market-driven private-sector approaches, and follows the land-grant model of applied science transfer. Projects should demonstrate practical, community-level impact rather than purely theoretical research.

Geographic Priorities: Current active programs operate in Ukraine (primary focus since 2022), Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Rwanda, and Colombia. Organizations working in these regions on relevant issues may have better opportunities for partnership.

Interdisciplinary Approach: The foundation values work that combines agricultural science, political science, and economics to address complex development challenges in conflict-affected areas.

Infrastructure and Capacity Building: Recent grants suggest a focus on infrastructure development (highways in Rwanda, substations in Colombia), equipment and training (Ukraine humanitarian aid), and building local organizational capacity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The foundation only supports preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited grant requests
  • Texas A&M University connection is crucial - The strongest pathway to support is through partnerships with Texas A&M University programs, particularly the Center on Conflict and Development
  • Norman Borlaug legacy shapes all work - Alignment with agricultural development as a pathway to peace and food security as conflict prevention is central to the foundation's mission
  • Geographic focus is strategic - Current priorities include Ukraine reconstruction (primary focus since 2022), with ongoing work in Rwanda, Colombia, DRC, Botswana, and Ghana
  • Field presence matters - The foundation maintains field officers in active regions and emphasizes community-centered, field-oriented work over purely academic research
  • Grant sizes are substantial - 2023 grants ranged from $87,642 to $370,708, suggesting the foundation supports significant, multi-year projects rather than small pilot programs
  • Student opportunities exist - The Student Media Grant Program (up to $5,000) offers the only open application opportunity, available to students worldwide through the Center on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M

References

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