Search for Common Ground
Our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. Our programs work to bridge diving lines and encourage collaboration. Our common ground approach drives change in three steps: humanize divided people through their shared interests and pursuits; mobilize people around shared concerns and aspirations; and systematize cooperation through changed institutions and cultural norms.
Search for Common Ground at a glance
In short: Search for Common Ground gave $2.5M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $282K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,535,823
- +10.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $281,758
- -2.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $138,749
- Total assets
- $18,127,415
- -32.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Search for Common Ground funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Bar Association ($1.5M). Together the top 9 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 21 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $198K (2022) to $5.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $2.5M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Bar Association Chicago, IL | Project | $1,522,513 |
| The Hopewell Fund Washington, DC | Project | $270,000 |
| Plessy & Ferguson Initiative New Orleans, LA | Project | $211,612 |
| SOLIYA Inc New York, NY | Project | $180,000 |
| Multi-Faith Neighbors Network Keller, TX | Project | $138,749 |
| How to Build up Inc San Francisco, CA | Project | $88,968 |
| New Lines Inst for Strategy & Policy LLC Washington, DC | Project | $75,000 |
| Committee of Seventy Philadelphia, PA | Project | $24,500 |
| Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice San Diego, CA | Project | $24,481 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,127,415 | $40,907,415 | $45,526,834 | $2,535,823 | 9 | $301,966 |
| 2023 | $27,012,174 | $34,618,544 | $37,087,773 | $2,300,252 | 8 | $5,696 |
| 2022 | $12,996,715 | $37,845,702 | $40,150,110 | $198,261 | 4 | $46,448 |
| 2021 | $16,697,038 | $35,565,187 | $33,318,064 | $5,913,312 | Total only | $17,004 |
| 2020 | $12,980,849 | $28,415,966 | $26,507,580 | $3,593,743 | Total only | $21,226 |
| 2019 | $10,742,118 | $23,226,172 | $26,320,668 | $3,384,212 | Total only | $8,713 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Search for Common Ground
Based on IRS filings
Search for Common Ground is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $18.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $2.5M. Net investment income was $302K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Search for Common Ground is led by Shamil Idriss, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 13 of 30 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shamil Idriss
CEO
Ceo-Executive → Ceo- Executive, 2023
Ceo- Executive → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$240K (2019) → $329K (2024)
Lena Slachmuijlder
Executive Director - Digital Peacebuilding
Vice President & Programs → Senior Vice President & Programs, 2022
Senior Vice President & Programs → Executive Director - Digital Peacebuilding, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$218K (2019) → $234K (2024)
Marjorie Williams
President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$288K (2023) → $308K (2024)
Rebecca Besant
Senior Director & Program Effectiveness
Regional Director & East Africa → Regional Director, Cntrl & East, 2023
Regional Director, Cntrl & East → Senior Director & Program Effectiveness, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$136K (2019) → $182K (2024)
Jean-Michel Texier
Global Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$160K (2021) → $179K (2024)
Jennifer Parker
Director Cg Usa
Exe. Director Common Ground Usa → Director Cg Usa, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$185K (2022) → $210K (2024)
Kara Schectman
Director & Marketing
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$152K (2024)
Maritza Mejia
Director & Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$155K (2024)
Isameldein Ghanim
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
$285K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Jacqueline Oburu
Vice President, People & Culture
Vice President, Hr & Administrator → Vice President, People & Culture, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$116K (2019) → $182K (2024)
Michael Jobbins
Vice President, Global Affairs & Partnerships
Vice President & Global Affairs → Vice President, Global Affairs & Partnerships, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$134K (2019) → $166K (2024)
Michael Shipler
Vice President & Strategy
Vice President, Strat. & Program → Vice President & Strategy, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$139K (2019) → $180K (2024)
Wasim Khan
Vice President & Finance
Vice President of Finance → Vice President & Finance, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$175K (2019) → $209K (2024)
Michael Watt
Vice President & Global Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$207K (2024)
Abigail E. Disney
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Adam Forest Berrey
Board Member
Chairman of the Board → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Riker
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Genghis Hadi
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ingrid Stange
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jeremy S. Goldberg
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kathleen Cravero
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Laurie Michaels
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Timothy Feige
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Karen Karniol-Tambour
Board Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jason Petty
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Laurie Franz
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Lisa Kadin
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Sarah Green
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Leslie Black
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Mark Chandler
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Lesly Black (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Eric A. Berman (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Isaac Lee (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Adrienne Lemon (2019–2020) — Director & Inst Learning Team
- Former: Bradley Fondak (2020) — Senior Manager Hq Operations
- Former: Jean M. Texier (2020) — Global Director
- Former: Carl Davis (2019) — Vice President, Development & Com
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $329K, to Shamil Idriss (CEO). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Search for Common Ground
How much does Search for Common Ground give each year?
Search for Common Ground gave $2.5M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 8 grants.
What is Search for Common Ground's typical grant size?
Search for Common Ground's median grant in 2024 was $138,749, and its average grant was $281,758, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Search for Common Ground give grants?
Search for Common Ground gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and Louisiana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Search for Common Ground give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Search for Common Ground's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project" (9 grants).
Who are Search for Common Ground's largest grantees?
Search for Common Ground's largest 2024 grantees include American Bar Association ($1,522,513), The Hopewell Fund ($270,000) and Plessy & Ferguson Initiative ($211,612), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Search for Common Ground?
Search for Common Ground reported $18.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $40.9M.
What is Search for Common Ground?
Search for Common Ground is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Washington, DC. It holds $18.1M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Search for Common Ground's EIN?
Search for Common Ground's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1257425. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS December 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Search for Common Ground's focus areas in our free grants database
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