OneAID's mission is to sustain and empower the U.S. foreign assistance community. We serve as a convener and information hub to carry forward the knowledge, expertise, and dedication of this community, transcending borders to advance global peace and prosperity.

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How It Started

When the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) began in January 2025, Julia Hurley and Cate Klepacki knew they needed to act. 

Each day brought a new “unprecedented event” to the USAID community - stop work orders, executive orders, and terminations effective immediately (including their own). USAID staff who had dedicated their lives to foreign assistance were barred from the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, for weeks and then allowed to return for 15 minutes to pack up their belongings. Staff posted overseas were locked out of email and security platforms by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Millions of dollars in invoices went unpaid by the U.S. government, leading to furloughs and terminations of hundreds of thousands of implementing partner staff across the globe. People began dying without access to aid. 

When Cate suddenly learned she was being furloughed on January 28, she sent Julia a message on Google Chat before losing her access to the USAID system forever. “Here’s my personal number - just in case,” it said, almost predicting what was to come. Julia immediately texted Cate. 

Four days later, over a glass of wine, they founded what would become OneAID to reclaim what was being lost and to empower the community they loved.

As grassroots groups of devastated yet determined USAID-affiliated staff formed, so too did a need for coordination. OneAID, with the help of 20 or so original volunteers, emerged as the convener - informing elected officials about the importance of foreign assistance, developing talking points, and partnering with journalists and media outlets to inform coverage of USAID’s dismantling and the impacts around the world. Most importantly, OneAID became a community, and led a coalition to identify and disseminate emergency resources to offset the emotional and financial shocks for USAID-affiliated staff and their families.

Nearly six months on, OneAID has emerged as the main convener of the U.S. foreign assistance professional community. With over a dozen grassroots partners and 3,000 members, we have created a home base for people who face uncertain career paths to remain engaged with the work and the community they love. We also continue to serve as a trusted information hub, working with our members and partners to educate the American people about the importance of U.S. foreign assistance, and inform elected officials and the press of developments and impacts in a still rapidly changing environment. 

Who We Are

OneAID was built from scratch from Julia and Cate’s shared expertise in humanitarian assistance, development, crisis response, policy and advocacy, and community organizing. Julia harnesses passion, intellect, and policy expertise to lead the preservation and protection of the foreign assistance ecosystem. Cate ensures the wellbeing of our community remains the heart of OneAID. In April, the team welcomed two new members: Catherine’s commitment to social justice elevates OneAID’s voice, and Jackie operationalizes ideas through administrative and organizational strength.

What We’ve Achieved

• Established the OneAID Network of partners with over a dozen grassroots groups and established organizations to tackle collective goals

• Created three Signal Broadcast channels and a social media following that reaches 4,800 people at a moment’s notice

• Informed coverage and provided on the record interviews with news outlets such as the NBC, The New York Times, NPR, PBS News Hour, Telemundo, Univision, and the Wall Street Journal

• Developed a Congressional Engagement Toolkit and facilitated meetings with staffers. Following a meeting with Senator Cory Booker’s team, Julia and Catherine’s personal impact stories were read on the Senate floor during his historic April 1 speech 

• Supported The Solidarity Fund in raising over $36,000 in mutual aid for USAID staff

• Organized seven community events in the DC area for volunteers to come together

What Funding Will Support

• Hosting online and in-person training on emotional and financial wellbeing and career transition 

• Creating engaging social events for community to gather and support one another

• Disseminating tools, resources, and events through our website, Signal broadcast channels, and social media

• Developing information products that educate Americans on the importance of foreign assistance

• Convening grassroots groups, grasstops organizations, and individuals to sustain our industry and remain poised to inform its future

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