Foundation Programs
Innovative programs further the Foundation’s mission to sustain a high-quality, diverse Foreign Service and to educate the American people about the importance and impact of diplomacy on their lives.
Program Highlight: Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders
The Foundation most collaborated with Meridian International Center to facilitate a program entitled The Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders, an enrichment and training program seeking to expand awareness and access to Foreign Service careers to students from underrepresented communities across the United States.
From June 23-29, 19 diverse college students came to Washington D.C. for a week-long experience to learn about the foreign service and its culture through numerous activities and workshops, which included diplomacy skills training courses, networking sessions, embassy and international organization visits, and a day spent at the Department of State. Throughout the program, these students had the opportunity to speak to high-ranking former and current State Department leaders and were educated about the multiple pathways within the diplomacy and foreign service space.
Click Here for More Program HighlightsCox-Supported Programs
The Cox Foundation has supported a variety of projects and reports undertaken by the American Academy of Diplomacy, including the January 2021 report “Changing the Risk Paradigm for U.S. Diplomats” and the February 2022 report “Bringing American’s Multilateral Diplomacy into the 21st Century.”
The Cox Foundation has supported a variety of programs and multimedia videos produced by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, including podcasts, diplomacy-based lesson plans, and, as of recently, developing programs to mark the centenary of the U.S. Foreign Service which will take place in 2024.
The Cox Foundation is currently supporting the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide organization in their efforts of launching their Map for Change program, an interactive map that will aid the Foreign Affairs community in learning about volunteer opportunities overseas and the D.C. area.
Program Highlight: Cox Language Awards
Since the early 1990s, the Cox Foundation has funded the Cox Language Awards, which recognize outstanding language instructors at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute.
Program Highlight: Foreign Service-Congressional Communications Project
The Cox Foundation supports initiatives from organizations such as Partnership for a Secure America by contributing to The Department of State-Congress Communication Project (DSCCP). This project aims to foster social and policy-related connections among select staff in Congress and at the Department of State. This project also gives Foreign Service Officers new skills and contacts, contributing to their professional development and enhancing their effectiveness.
Explore PSAAAD & Meridian International Center Event on State Department Modernization
The Cox Foundation supports programming events for different partners including the Academy of American Diplomacy and Meridian House, who hosted a State Department Modernization discussion focused on the recommendations from the Blueprints for a More Modern US Diplomatic Service report. Speakers included Senators Ben Cardin (D-NJ) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Blueprint contributors Ambassador Grossman and Ambassador Powell.
Program Highlight: DEIA Champions Sponsorship Program
The Cox Foundation supports collaborative programs from organizations such as theBunche Center at Howard University and several State Department offices, including the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, to develop and implement The DEIA Champions Sponsorship Program. This program aims to provide Foreign Service Officers with the opportunity to advance diversity and inclusion principles within the Department of State through a series of workshops. This program also gives Foreign Services new knowledge and relationships that are needed for professional advancement.
Collaborations with the Department of State
Direct Support to the Foreign Service
The Cox Foundation provides direct support to the Foreign Service for initiatives proposed by the Department of State. Recent examples include course development for the Foreign Service Institute and developing a scoring tool to enhance transparency and objectivity in the Foreign Service performance evaluations process.
Additional Cox Programs
Reports & Studies
The Cox Foundation has commissioned a number of studies and reports to analyze various aspects of the Foreign Service and the conduct of diplomacy, from personnel reforms to improving management systems and training.
Reports & StudiesIn the Media
The Cox Foundation has supported projects such as Nicholas Kralev’s book “America’s Other Army” as well as podcasts and videos, including the popular series “The General and the Ambassador” and “American Diplomat.”
In the MediaPast Programs
For more examples of past programs of the Cox Foundation, click the link below.
Past Programs