The U.S. Embassy in Qatar, operating under the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the “U.S.-Qatar Partnership Initiative: Celebrating America 250 and Beyond.” This initiative is part of a broader public diplomacy effort intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States while promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and Qatar. The Embassy aims to support programs that reflect shared values, promote innovation, and strengthen bilateral relations, with a specific focus on educational, cultural, entrepreneurial, and technological collaborations.
The funding will support projects that run between 6 to 18 months and is open to a wide range of applicants including Qatari and U.S. nonprofit institutions, educational entities, individuals, and government institutions. Funded activities must focus on one or more strategic themes such as America 250 cultural programming, entrepreneurship, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, and youth leadership development. Priority will be given to projects targeting educational institutions, artists, youth, early-career professionals, entrepreneurs, and teachers.
Proposals should demonstrate prior experience in implementing similar programs, particularly with Qatari audiences. The application should clearly articulate the target audience, intended outcomes, and how success will be measured. Applicants are required to submit a complete proposal package including SF-424 forms, a 10-page project proposal, budget narrative, CVs of key personnel, letters of support, and other applicable documentation. All applications must be in English and budgets in U.S. dollars.
Applications must be submitted by email to DohaGrants@state.gov no later than August 30, 2025, by 5:00 pm Doha time. A bidding conference will be held on August 21, 2025, to address applicant questions. For organizational applicants, an active registration in SAM.gov and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is required at submission. Individuals do not need a UEI or SAM registration.
The Embassy anticipates awarding multiple grants, each ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, depending on project scope and availability of funds. The total program budget is estimated at $200,000, pending final appropriation. Awards may be structured as grants, fixed amount awards, or cooperative agreements. Recipients will be notified in writing, and project costs may be incurred only after the start date specified in the signed agreement.
Selection will be based on multiple criteria including the quality and feasibility of the project idea (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), planning and ability to meet goals (15 points), budget adequacy (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Additional post-award reporting and compliance requirements will follow standard U.S. federal grant protocols, including regular financial and programmatic reports.
