Empowered Parents In Charge (EPIC)

The Empowered Parents In Charge (EPIC) program is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, specifically through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Amman. This initiative reflects the U.S. government's ongoing commitment to supporting the rights and social inclusion of people with disabilities (PWDs), especially in Jordan. The program is underpinned by the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act and aims to showcase American leadership and innovation in promoting disability rights through bilateral collaboration. The EPIC program seeks to empower Jordanian parents of children with disabilities by equipping them with tools for advocacy, legal understanding, access to financial and educational resources, and civic engagement. The overarching goal is to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in education and prepare them for future employment and societal integration. To achieve this, the program includes multiple components such as in-person training sessions conducted by U.S. experts in Jordan, exchange programs where Jordanian parents and NGO leaders visit the U.S., and digital campaigns that increase public awareness and reduce stigma surrounding disability. Funding will be provided through a single grant of up to $350,000, with awards ranging between $150,000 and $350,000 depending on the proposal. The anticipated start date for the funded project is October 1, 2025, and the period of performance must not exceed 18 months. Although cost-sharing is encouraged to strengthen proposals, it is not mandatory nor part of the evaluation criteria. Applications must be submitted no later than July 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Standard Jordan Time. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered with SAM.gov, though exemptions can be requested under certain conditions. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, think tanks, and civil society/non-governmental organizations based in either the U.S. or Jordan. Only one application is permitted per organization. Required application materials include standard federal assistance forms (SF-424 series), a detailed project proposal, budget justification, CVs of key personnel, letters of support from partners, and documentation verifying nonprofit status. The proposal must clearly demonstrate how it meets the goals of the EPIC initiative. Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria including quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), ability to achieve objectives (15 points), budget appropriateness (10 points), monitoring and evaluation (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). The review process includes an assessment of financial and managerial risk. Final award notifications will be issued by October 30, 2025, and payments will be processed through the SF-270 form. Applicants can direct questions to AmmanGrants@state.gov. All submissions must be sent via email and follow specified formatting rules, including document length, font size, and language requirements. While applications are evaluated on merit, inclusion of a strong American element and meaningful outreach campaigns will be highly valued components of successful proposals.

Include strong American elements, address public awareness and disability advocacy components, and adhere strictly to submission formatting and content requirements.