Grants made by the foundation support work to advance the foundation's two central goals, protecting the global environment and preventing nuclear war. Most grants are components of initiatives consisting of coordinated grants to multiple institutions, each initiative addressing an element of the goals. Initiative descriptions can be found in pages linked to from introductions of the Sustainable World and Secure World Programs.

The foundation is committed to encouraging citizen activism at all levels, and views dissemination and communication of results as an essential part of work supported.