Whereas the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) was created under section 401 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 ( 22 U.S.C. 290f ) to achieve conditions in the Western Hemisphere under which the dignity and the worth of each human person will be respected and under which all men will be afforded the opportunity to develop their potential, to seek through gainful and productive work the fulfillment of their aspirations for a better life, and to live in justice and peace ; Whereas the IAF invests in effective grassroots solutions that promote prosperity and peace and advance the growth of democratic institutions; Whereas the development model of the IAF, applied through more than 5,000 community-led grants, has empowered millions of marginalized and underserved people in the Americas to achieve dignified livelihoods, effective civil engagement, and safer, more peaceful, and more just communities; Whereas the IAF’s model— (1) has demonstrated that making direct grants to grassroots groups and civil society organizations in underserved and vulnerable communities is cost effective; (2) fosters self-reliance by requiring grantees to mobilize local resources for their own projects and by connecting them to networks of new partners; (3) leverages additional resources from private and community partners; and (4) incentivizes broad civic engagement and local ownership of community development; Whereas the IAF, by investing in grassroots initiatives that create businesses, jobs, and leadership opportunities in communities, reinforces the commitment of individuals to strengthening their own communities; Whereas rather than going through contractors or foreign governments, the IAF provides direct funding to civil society organizations that support alternatives to migration, the drug trade, crime, unemployment, poverty, and exclusion