Council of American Overseas Research Centers
The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is a private nonprofit federation of independent overseas research centers dedicated to promoting advanced research and scholarly exchange. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., CAORC operates a network of American overseas research centers across 29 countries, maintaining permanent on-the-ground presence in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The organization serves as the primary vehicle through which American scholars conduct research vital to understanding and engagement with other cultures.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
+2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.5M
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
23
-4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$194K
-2.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
CAORC's mission is to promote research to advance knowledge of the world outside the United States in an era of global engagement. The organization emphasizes advanced research particularly in the humanities and social sciences, with a focus on:
- Conservation and recording of cultural heritage
- Understanding and interpretation of modern societies
- Fostering research projects across national boundaries
- Encouraging collaborative research among member centers
CAORC's work strengthens national security through cultural intelligence and diplomacy, builds U.S. economic prosperity by expanding global partnerships, and reinforces American leadership in education and innovation.
Grantmaking
CAORC administers several grant and fellowship programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CAORC operates in 29 countries across five regions:
- Europe
- Latin America
- Near and Middle East
- South and Southeast Asia
- West Africa
Eligible countries for fellowship programs are listed in the call for applications on CAORC's website.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total assets: $4,679,949
- Total revenues: $6,470,375
- Total expenses: $6,342,969
- Total giving: $4,691,717
- Staff: 6 employees
Founding Support: CAORC launched full-time operations in 1986 with grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Exxon Foundation, and the J.P. Getty Trust.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,679,949 | $4,554,961 | $3,977,316 |
| Revenue | $6,470,375 | $5,967,934 | $5,844,672 |
| Expenses | $6,342,969 | $6,577,596 | $5,775,205 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $111,342 | $88,259 | $114,629 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Council of American Overseas Research Centers
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include West African Research Association ($704,314), American Inst for Maghrib Studies ($561,149), American Inst - Pakistan Studies ($325,606).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Center - Mongolian Studies Philadelphia, PA | Pass-through subgrants | $170,936 |
| American Center - Oriental Research Alexandria, VA | Pass-through subgrants | $140,000 |
| American Inst - Bangladesh Studies Washington, DC | Pass-through subgrants | $152,950 |
| American Inst for Maghrib Studies Tucson, AZ | Pass-through subgrants | $561,149 |
| American Inst - Indonesian Studies Ithaca, NY | Pass-through subgrants | $134,000 |
| American Institute - Yemeni Studies Washington, DC | Pass-through subgrants | $167,315 |
| American Inst - Afghanistan Studies Boston, MA | Pass-through subgrants | $135,200 |
| American Inst - Indian Studies Chicago, IL | Pass-through subgrants | $305,552 |
| American Inst - Iranian Studies New York, NY | Pass-through subgrants | $185,039 |
| American Inst - Pakistan Studies Madison, WI | Pass-through subgrants | $325,606 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Heidi Wiederkehr - Principal Officer
- Katie Jost - Program Director (NEH Fellowship)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heidi Wiederkehr | Executive Director | 40 | $194,656 |
| James Miller | Director | 1 | — |
| Penelope Mitchell | Director | 1 | — |
| Cynthia Radding | Director | 1 | — |
| Donald Kane | Director | 1 | — |
| Mark Lawall | Director | 1 | — |
| Maureen Marshall | Director | 1 | — |
| Sumathi Ramaswamy | Director | 1 | — |
| Flagg Miller | Director | 1 | — |
| Peter Wien | Director | 1 | — |
| Eve Zucker | Director | 1 | — |
| Brian Rose | Director | 1 | — |
| Franois Tainturier | Director | 1 | — |
| Mythri Jegathesan | Director | 1 | — |
| Paula DePriest | Director | 1 | — |
| Katharyn Hanson | Director | 1 | — |
| Thomas Barfield | Director | 1 | — |
| Milan Shrestra | Director | 1 | — |
| J Mark Kenoyer | Director | 1 | — |
| Ismael Montana | Director | 1 | — |
| Pearce Paul Creasman | Director | 1 | — |
| Robert Hefner | Director | 1 | — |
| Kathryn Grossman | Director | 1 | — |
| Louise Bertini | Director | 1 | — |
| Matt Cook | Director | 1 | — |
| Anne Betteridge | Chair | 7 | — |
| Leonardo Villalon | Former Chair | 4.5 | — |
| Siddharth Chandra | Treasurer | 4.5 | — |
| Ali Riaz | Vice Chair | 4.5 | — |
| Ann-Marie Knoblauch | Secretary | 4.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
CAORC announced awards for the 2024 Overseas Faculty Development Seminar in Mexico
CAORC Announces Awards for the 2024 Overseas Faculty Development SeminarCAORC announced awards for the 2024 Overseas Faculty Development Seminar in Senegal
CAORC Announces Awards for the 2024 Overseas Faculty Development SeminarFellowship application portal available at orcfellowships.smapply.org
CAORC & ORC Grant Application PortalSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Council of American Overseas Research Centers fund?
CAORC's mission is to promote research to advance knowledge of the world outside the United States in an era of global engagement. The organization emphasizes advanced research particularly in the humanities and social sciences, with a focus on: • Conservation and recording of cultural heritage • Understanding and interpretation of modern societies • Fostering research projects across national boundaries • Encouraging collaborative research among member centers CAORC's work strengthens national…
How do I apply for a grant from Council of American Overseas Research Centers?
CAORC administers several grant and fellowship programs: **Fellowship Programs:** • NEH Senior Research Fellowship (supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities through Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions) • Multi-Country Research Fellowship • Overseas Faculty Development Seminars (with recent awards announced for programs in Mexico and Senegal) **Program Areas:** • **Overseas Research Center Support**: Provides general support and administration of U.S. Departmen…
Where does Council of American Overseas Research Centers make grants?
CAORC operates in 29 countries across five regions: • Europe • Latin America • Near and Middle East • South and Southeast Asia • West Africa Eligible countries for fellowship programs are listed in the call for applications on CAORC's website.
What size grants does Council of American Overseas Research Centers award?
In 2024, Council of American Overseas Research Centers awarded 23 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $194K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Council of American Overseas Research Centers's EIN?
Council of American Overseas Research Centers's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1395971. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Council of American Overseas Research Centers's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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