NEW YORK, NEW YORK, October 29, 2015 – The American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) and its international division, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (ICDR®), have announced the establishment of the AAA-ICDR Foundation. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and is able to solicit donations and provide grants to fund a range of worthy causes that promote the Foundation’s wide-reaching mission, which is to support the use and improvement of dispute resolution processes in the USA and internationally, including:

• Fostering measures that reduce potential escalation, manage, and resolve conflicts.
• Expanding the use of dispute resolution processes tailored to the conflict.
• Supporting research, education and initiatives promoting high quality, efficient and fair dispute resolution.
• Increasing access to justice in and through alternative dispute resolution.
• Encouraging collaborative processes to resolve public conflicts.
• Sharing expertise across diverse groups and cultures.
• Partnering with others dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s mission

The Foundation was established as a separate not-for-profit entity from the AAA/ICDR, but through initial funding from the AAA/ICDR, AAA/ICDR Panelists and others, the Foundation plans to issue grants and support programs consistent with its mission. The AAA-ICDR Foundation is committed to funding critical projects in the ADR community to improve and expand the use of arbitration, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution.

The AAA-ICDR Foundation is now accepting proposals for its first funding cycle. Interested organizations or individuals should submit a 1-2 page Initial Description of Grant Request no later than December 1, 2015. For more information on the AAA-ICDR Foundation and the grant-application process, please visitwww.AAAICDRFoundation.org.