Freedom 250 Outreach Across India

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy in New Delhi, through its Public Diplomacy Section, has announced the "Freedom 250 – Outreach Across India" funding opportunity as part of the broader initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. This program seeks to elevate U.S.–India relations by fostering high-visibility public diplomacy and cultural engagement throughout India. It aims to highlight American excellence and promote mutual understanding through innovative and inclusive public programming that reinforces shared democratic values and strategic collaboration between the two countries. The initiative is structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement from the U.S. Embassy throughout the project lifecycle. With a total available funding pool of $500,000, the Department expects to make between one and five awards, each ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The performance period for all proposed projects is up to 10 months, with activities required to be completed by December 31, 2026. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society and non-governmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply. India-based applicants must be compliant with the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The primary objective of the Freedom 250 initiative is to showcase American cultural, scientific, and innovative achievements and to enhance the public perception of the U.S. in India. The target audience includes the general public, with focused outreach in up to five priority regions determined by the U.S. Embassy. Proposed activities may feature public events, cultural exchanges with American figures, community service initiatives, and microgrants supporting U.S. citizens in India. Traveling exhibitions and educational content adapted for Indian audiences and local languages are also encouraged. All outreach will incorporate Freedom 250 branding and materials. Applications must include several mandatory components, including the SF-424 series of federal assistance forms, a 10-page project proposal with a theory of change diagram or logic model, a project timeline, resumes of key personnel, and a detailed line-item budget accompanied by a narrative justification. Proposals are evaluated based on five criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), organizational capacity and past grant performance (25 points), planning and ability to achieve objectives (20 points), budget accuracy and justification (10 points), and monitoring and evaluation strategy (10 points). Sustainability of the project after funding ends accounts for an additional 5 points. All application materials must be submitted no later than March 10, 2026, by 11:59 PM Washington DC time. Submissions can be made via MyGrants or directly by email to [email protected]. No pre-application steps such as a letter of intent or concept note are required. Organizations must ensure that they possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and are actively registered in SAM.gov before submission. The earliest anticipated start date for selected projects is March 25, 2026. Awardees must comply with all applicable federal laws, executive orders, and Department of State standard terms and conditions. Recipients will be required to submit quarterly program and financial reports, including performance monitoring data. This funding opportunity is not recurring, and pre-award costs are not permitted. Additionally, the use of funds for construction, direct social services, political activity, or religious events is prohibited. All recipients must demonstrate their ability to safeguard personally identifiable information (PII), comply with anti-trafficking policies, and refrain from using funds for prohibited unmanned aircraft systems. For technical or submission-related inquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact the grant program inbox listed in the opportunity documentation.

Reviewers prioritize clarity, strong alignment with U.S. policy, robust evaluation metrics, and fiscal responsibility.  ```