Future of U.S. Foreign Assistance

Asses the role of American foreign assistance in a changing world and develop practical frameworks for how the United States can use aid, investment, and partnerships more effectively in the decades ahead.

Our Focus:

U.S. foreign assistance is entering a new era. The system is being reshaped by institutional reforms and evolving expectations about how the U.S. should engage abroad. While these changes respond to longstanding debates about priorities, effectiveness, and burden-sharing, they also raise important questions about how the U.S. can advance its interests and address global challenges in a rapidly changing world.  

Penn Washington’s Project on the Future of U.S. Foreign Assistance brings together leading voices from government, academia, philanthropy, multilateral organizations, and the nonprofit sector to address these questions. Led by Visiting Scholar Amanda Catanzano, the initiative translates expert dialogue into actionable policy recommendations that can inform current decision-makers and help shape the architecture of U.S. global engagement. 

Meet the Project Leads

Amanda Catanzano

Visiting Scholar

Daniel Schneiderman

Director of Global Policy Programs, Penn Washington

A Bipartisan Forum for Policy Choices 

Through a series of private roundtables convened in 2026-2027, Penn Washington will examine some of the most consequential questions facing the future U.S. foreign assistance system: 

  • When is foreign assistance the right tool to advance U.S. interests? 
  • What priorities should the United States protect when resources are limited? 
  • What expertise and overseas presence are required to manage assistance effectively? 

and more… 

Each discussion will be grounded in concrete policy cases and informed by perspectives from bipartisan policymakers, partner-country leaders, operational experts, and Penn faculty. Findings will be published throughout the series as accessible policy papers intended to inform current debates in Washington and help shape the next era of U.S. foreign assistance. 

Get Involved! For more information, contact us at: PennWashington@global.upenn.edu

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News, analysis, and commentary on artificial intelligence from Penn Washington and experts across the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Washington Welcomes Amanda Catanzano as Visiting Scholar

By Penn Washington

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