Freedom 250 Outreach Across India

The "Freedom 250 Outreach Across India" grant opportunity is administered by the U.S. Mission to India under the U.S. Department of State. This funding initiative aims to support the implementation of large-scale public engagement activities as part of the Freedom 250 Public Engagement Initiative. Running through December 31, 2026, this program is designed to commemorate and showcase American historical excellence, celebrate U.S. innovation and leadership, and highlight the strong and enduring strategic, cultural, and economic ties between the United States and India. The initiative also seeks to foster mutual understanding and reinforce bilateral relations between the two countries. Applicants are encouraged to propose dynamic, high-visibility programming to engage diverse audiences throughout India. These may include in-person or virtual events, educational activities, cultural exchanges, media campaigns, or public diplomacy efforts that reflect the program’s core themes. The aim is to stimulate dialogue, inspire collaboration, and enhance perceptions of the United States as a strategic partner and innovative leader. Programs should be strategically designed to reach large audiences across various regions of India and may include youth engagement, civil society involvement, and cultural or academic collaboration. The funding opportunity will award one to five cooperative agreements with a total estimated funding pool of $500,000. Each individual award must range between $100,000 and $500,000. This is a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement by the U.S. Mission to India in program implementation. While cost sharing or matching is not required, successful applicants will work closely with the U.S. Embassy to ensure that programmatic goals are met and that activities align with strategic priorities. Eligibility for this grant is extended to not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society/non-governmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. The grant is open to applicants with a demonstrated capacity to carry out impactful, large-scale public engagement activities. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by the closing date of March 10, 2026. No pre-application process such as Letters of Intent is indicated, and there is no mention of a rolling deadline. Proposals will be evaluated based on the quality and relevance of the proposed programming, the applicant’s capacity to execute the initiative at scale, and the clarity of performance metrics and goals. The funding agency seeks programs that are innovative, well-structured, and capable of delivering visible and lasting impact within the project period. Contact for any technical difficulties related to the application process is available via the provided email address, [email protected]. Although this is a time-bound opportunity with a specific end-date, there is no explicit reference to recurring or cyclical funding, which suggests that this may be a one-time opportunity. There is also no indication of a planned award notification timeline or expected project start date following the application deadline. However, given that the program runs until the end of 2026, awards are expected to be made well in advance to allow for full implementation.