September 2, 2025
Shamil’s Corner
Search for Common Ground is at a crucial turning point. And right now, you have an incredible opportunity to safeguard what we’ve built together and help shape what comes next.
As you know, our funding was upended when USAID and State Department grants were abruptly frozen earlier this year pending a review that ultimately resulted in the loss of more than 25% of our committed funding for 2025. While I can’t overstate the impact of these cuts—for Search, and for the world—our teams remain deeply committed to peacebuilding no matter the challenges. And today, thanks to a $100,000 dollar for dollar match from two of our Board members, you’re able to support those teams and fund life-saving work in a season when it’s needed most.
Our country teams have proved time and again that they can step in and deliver results. In places like Myanmar, Syria, and the United States, Search’s work has prevented violence, reduced tensions, opened diplomatic channels, and helped resolve conflicts that others struggle to address. This is the kind of patient, trust-building leadership that our teams and partners are uniquely equipped to provide.
But none of this can happen without generous partners like you. Your support is critical to build a broad movement of everyday peacebuilders who—like you—envision a world without violence, where people work together across differences to transform conflict into cooperation. And because of this matching grant, every dollar you give through July 18th is doubled, helping to make this shared vision a reality.
I feel the weight of these times. Maybe you do too. But as we stand at this juncture, I’m also incredibly energized by every possibility to turn disruption into opportunities to save lives and secure our shared future. I hope you’ll stand with us and invest in peacebuilding today.
International Program Highlight
April marked two years since war broke out in Sudan—a conflict that has uprooted millions, shattered lives, and tested the resilience of the entire country. Search’s Sudan team has acutely felt the pain of this war in their lives and within their families. Still, they remain bold in their determination to build peace, choosing hope over fear and unity over division. In this video, you’ll get to meet some members of that team.
Mothers giving birth amidst bombardment, documentarians capturing truth, humanitarian workers maintaining their focus despite collapsed systems—these are the frontline peacebuilders who embody the resilience of Sudanese communities as they carry forward Search’s mission.
Planning for Peace
Did you know May 21st was National Legacy Day™? It’s a day dedicated to reflecting on the people who have shaped our lives and the legacy we hope to leave behind. Whether it’s a parent who taught you the importance of giving back or a friend whose life inspired you to make a difference, Legacy Day is a powerful reminder that the values we live by today can continue to impact the world long after we’re gone.
One way to honor those values is by including Search for Common Ground in your will, trust, or beneficiary designations. A legacy gift helps create a future where conflict leads not to violence, but to understanding, cooperation, and peace. Planned giving costs nothing today and allows you to leave a lasting impact—no matter your age or the size of your gift. It’s a meaningful way to invest in a more just and peaceful world for generations to come.
We’ve partnered with FreeWill because their secure estate planning tool can help you make or update your will in as little as 20 minutes, free of charge.
If you’ve already included Search for Common Ground in your estate plans, we’d love to hear from you so we can thank you and welcome you to the Legacy Peace Society.
For questions, email us at [email protected].
