Lisle International's mission is to advance intercultural understanding through shared experiences, with the aim of creating a more just social order. It has been a pioneer in intercultural education programming since 1936 in the US and expanded internationally in 1952. Since 2004, Lisle has concentrated on offering small "seed grants" to support initiatives that foster intercultural understanding.
The Global Seed Grants provided by Lisle International aim to support innovative projects that promote intercultural understanding through shared learning, engaging people of diverse backgrounds. These projects may work towards bridging divides across ethnic, cultural, religious, racial, or gender lines worldwide. Grants range from $500 to $5,000 and target programs that align with Lisle's mission of fostering intercultural understanding. Annually, three to eight grants are awarded to projects across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.