The Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced grants totaling $1.65 million for initiatives to help provide policy makers with the most up-to-date technical and scientific information available on matters relating to key international security issues.

The grants are part of MacArthur's efforts to help reduce the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction. The recipients announced included the D.C.-based Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, which received $450,000 for a nonproliferation task force that will work to expand efforts to secure nuclear materials around the world and reduce the threat they pose to international security, and the Henry L. Stimson Center, also based in the nation's capital, which received $300,000 to advance private sector partnerships with the former Soviet Union to secure and eliminate nuclear weapons material.

"The convergence of international terrorism and weapons proliferation has created new demand — especially in Congress — for timely and credible analysis of national and international security dangers," said foundation president Jonathan F. Fanton. "One focus of our grantmaking in the area of international peace and security is to give policy makers practical and effective new ideas and to make sure their budget priorities match the threats and dangers of our time."

For a complete list of recipients, see: http://www.macfound.org/announce/press_releases/
3_31_2005_2.htm.