
The Strategic Opportunities Fund is a discretionary fund that responds to timely opportunities to impact issues relevant to the overall mission of U.S. Programs. These may be time-sensitive crises or open society challenges that require rapid response capability, or opportunities to research, cultivate and develop new approaches or initiatives that have a built-in time frame.
Some examples of the fund’s recent work include:
- Conducting research and development into the use of arts and culture for social change.
- Coordinating support among other U.S. Programs funds to ensure a full and accurate 2010 census.
- Providing technical assistance to grantees affected by the ongoing economic crisis.
- Performing post–Hurricane Katrina research and development in New Orleans/Louisiana, including the launch of a transparency and open governance initiative and other ongoing work with other U.S. Programs funds in the Gulf Coast region.

