Social Advocacy Grants

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, of the U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to enhance journalists reporting skills and ethical standards, support accurate reporting fieldwork, and strengthen media institutions ability to promote accurate reporting and to counter misinformation. Please follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: Thailands diverse media landscape is influenced by political, regulatory, and economic pressures, including the profit-driven nature of contemporary media. Pressured to prioritize sensationalism over comprehensive or accurate reporting, news organizations may unwittingly expose their journalists to legal and other consequences in pursuit of sensational stories and gripping visuals, or blur the boundaries between editorial content and advertorials, eroding journalistic integrity. Moreover, online media has ushered in an era of information sourced from social media and unreliable sources. While this is cheap and facilitates rapid news dissemination, it also facilitates the spread of misinformation and undermines the importance of on-the-ground reporting for factual accuracy and verification. Furthermore, journalists once reliant on editorial and support teams must be self-sufficient due to staff shortages. To improve ethical standards and media skills among reporters (including local journalists covering underserved communities), support their ability to do original reporting and research instead of relying on third-party sources, and strengthen networks between those reporters and Bangkok-based professional media organizations, mid-career journalists will participate in workshops or reporting tours to enhance reporting skills, media literacy, verification tools, and research capacity, thereby reducing their reliance on third-party sources (such as unverified social media) for content. The desired outcome is to strengthen Thai reporters capacity to investigate issues of public interest, distinguish facts from mis- or disinformation, and accurately assess the potential impact of geopolitical changes on Thailand. Through this, Thai decision-makers at both national and local levels will gain access to accurate reporting that reflects the views of people directly impacted by these changes, including marginalized voices. Stronger media institutions will support democracy by fostering informed and constructive public dialogue and enable more people to participate meaningfully in democratic processes. The grantee will work with Thai media members and/or media organizations, a majority of which should represent media markets outside of the Bangkok metro area, to improve media literacy and professionalism through workshops, reporting tours, research trips, and other events to highlight issues that matter but might be underreported due to limited newsroom resources. Specifically, participants will gain the ability to better analyze social media and other information streams and develop compelling story ideas and report on issues that matter or reflect marginalized voices that do not receive sufficient attention due to the budget constraints. The grantee will also strengthen understanding of journalists civic responsibilities to foster broad discussion on issues of public importance, to probe beyond conventional narratives, and to abide by strong ethical standards with respect to truth and fairness, building resilience against attempts to coopt or skew reporting. Grant activities might include, but are not limited to: media training, workshops, journalist matching or mentorship, reporting/fieldwork trips, or network building between established and emergent media (including citizen journalists). Participants and Audiences: 1. Early- to mid-career Thai reporters working in print, broadcast and/or web, representing both established and independent media; 2. Reporters from marginalized communities, or reporters dedicated to reporting on behalf of these communities; 3. Mid-level and senior decision-makers at the national and sub-national level who consume media subject to misinformation, or do not currently access reliable, accurate reporting about the impact of geopolitical challenges on Thai people B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: 2-5 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $100,000 Total available funding: $125,000 Type of Funding: FY24 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act Anticipated program start date: September 2024 This notice is subject to Congressional notification and availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award (FAA), or cooperative agreement. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations or professional organizations. Public and private educational institutions Individual journalists or not-for-profit media collectives. 2. Other Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Organization or individuals not based in Thailand should demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence to orchestrate programs in Thailand, along with necessary personnel to ensure the projects success. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity. All documents are in English. All budgets are in U.S. dollars. All pages are numbered. All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: (1.) Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance -- individuals) at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) (2.) Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. (3.) Proposal (8 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. Program Goals and Objectives: The goals describe what the program is intended to achieve. The objectives refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives, including a proposed schedule and timeline for planned activities. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? (4.) Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. (5.) Attachments: 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. Official permission letters, if required for program activities 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Please refer to attached announcement for details. 4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM on September 2, 2024 (Bangkok Time). 5. Funding Restrictions N/A 6. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected]. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: [email protected].

Executive Summary:The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo is seeking proposals to establish and support a network of youth clubs across Sri Lanka aimed at enhancing skills in fact-checking, debating, discerning misinformation, and promoting media literacy. These clubs will provide young Sri Lankans with the opportunity to learn top-notch speaking and discerning skills thereby developing misinformation resiliency skills through classroom exercises, hands-on workshops, and competitions. The aim is to offer a structured yet flexible format for members to learn to identify, analyze, and discern false information using evidence-based methods, fostering critical thinking and informed citizenship. Proposals should outline how the grantee will establish and train a network of administrators, who will then manage youth-oriented clubs in multiple locations across Sri Lanka, utilizing skill building sessions, case studies, and various engagements. The goal of this program is to support the development of the next generation of Sri Lankan youth debaters, fact-checkers, critical thinkers, and public speakers.

The WITH Foundation (WITH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) are providing this funding opportunity in an effort to support projects which advance disability justice in public health and center the goals, perspectives, and needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Communities of Color. Donor Name: WITH Foundation State: All States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: This RFP also seeks to foster the development of new partnerships between disability organizations, advocates, community organizations, and healthcare providers. If the proposed project includes organizations that have an established/existing partnership(s), then the proposed project should include significant and new efforts undertaken by the partnership and/or new partners joining the existing collaborative efforts. A program’s goals and objectives should also address one, but not necessarily all four, of the following areas: Implementation: Support implementation of models, i.e., testing and advancing solutions to enhance public health in being trustworthy, accountable, truly collaborative, and anti-racist. Models should support the leadership of and power sharing with Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color, or those with a demonstrated track record of working with Adults with I/DD in Communities of Color; Educational resources: Developing public health curriculum and/or training resources with Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color, and/or creating/leveraging networks supporting resource dissemination and utilization within public health and disability justice ecosystems regarding the experiences of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color; Advocacy, Power and Bridging: Support regional or national advocacy with entities such as grassroots organizing groups, social movement groups, movement-building organizations, community-based organizations, community organizing groups, and base-building groups related to the care that Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color receive within public health; and Research: Identify and close gaps in knowledge and inform efforts to improve health related to the care Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color receive, i.e., community-based research that assists disability-led organizations in partnering with governmental public health to illuminate structural barriers that are experienced by Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color. For educational resources, proposals must include learning goals and objectives. An approximate time commitment for learners (in terms of hours) should be included. If similar materials already exist, information on if/how these materials would be enhanced (when compared to similar versions) should be included. An in-depth description of the design components listed here should be included: Educational Resources – videos, webinars, articles, textbooks, symposiums, online training, podcasts, electronic applications, etc. The timeline for the creation of these materials must be realistically achievable in a 12-month project term. Development Methodologies – utilizing evidence-based practices and input from self-advocates in working with the I/DD community (i.e., having self-advocates co-develop the resources). Funding Information Grants of $100,000 (each) for 1-year period will be awarded. Eligibility Criteria Section 501(c)(3) public charities such as Healthcare, Community, and/or Disability organizations are eligible to apply. Proposals submitted as a collaborative project or partnerships among multiple entities are welcome. The role of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. In the event that a collaborative project is submitted, a lead organization must be selected (by the applicant) for the proposed project. The lead organization is responsible for executing MOUs between themselves and the collaborating organizations. For more information, visit WITH Foundation.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations that support the education and development of young children, particularly those from birth to five years old, in underserved areas of Vermont and specific counties in New Jersey.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is seeking applications for its Developing Recommendations for Disaggregating Data Within the Asian American Population. Donor Name: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) State: All States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: ince 2015, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has supported research efforts and advocacy to update policies that dictate minimum standards for the collection, analysis, and reporting of race and ethnicity data. RWJF funding has aimed to advance data equity—especially to make more visible populations that have been historically underrepresented in data—and to more fairly consider such groups in the creation of policies, allocation of resources, and design and implementation of programs. This funding opportunity to support a multifaceted research project that yields recommendations for actionable Asian American subgroup categories to be applied in the collection and analysis of race and ethnicity data. The goal of this award is to develop community-informed and evidence-based recommendations for how researchers should cluster the diverse Asian American population into smaller subgroups in ways that are feasible for realworld implementation. Funding Information The award will be up to $800,000.  Project Duration The award will be for a maximum funding period of 24 months. Eligibility Criteria While multiple organizations can collaborate on this project, only one organization may represent the collaboration and be the lead contact in the proposal process. The lead contact should be an organization or institution whose primary focus is research or has a rigorous internal research department. If multiple organizations will be collaborating on this project, each collaborating organization must be described in detail in the proposal. Awards will be made to organizations, not to individuals.  Preference will be given to applicants that are either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations. The Foundation may require additional documentation. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories. For more information, visit RWJF.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations working on community-driven projects that enhance equitable access to services and strengthen resilience in West Hawai‘i.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in East Hawai‘i that are working on community projects related to education, health care, economic sufficiency, and recreational activities.

This program provides resources and funding to small U.S. nonprofit organizations looking to grow and improve their fundraising efforts.

The Hospital Health Protection Grant Program (HHPGP-Equity25) for State Fiscal Year 2025 provides funding to named safety-net hospitals in Illinois. The aim is to improve health equity, access to quality care, and reduce health disparities in underserved communities. Funding will support ordinary and contingent expenses for hospitals participating in the State’s Medicaid managed care program. The grant is authorized under the Safety-Net Hospital Health Equity and Access Leadership Grant Program. The total funding available is $71,430,640.00, with individual awards ranging from $646,600.00 to $9,000,000.00. Applications are due by August 30, 2024.

The Hospital Health Protection Grant Program (HHPGP-Sustain25) for State Fiscal Year 2025 provides funding to named safety-net hospitals in Illinois to support their sustainability. The aim is to preserve their operations and ensure continued provision of healthcare services, particularly for those participating in the State’s Medicaid managed care program. The grant is authorized under the Safety-Net Hospital Health Equity and Access Leadership Grant Program. The total funding available is $11,513,900.00, with individual awards ranging from $211,160.00 to $2,645,360.00. Applications are due by August 30, 2024.

The Hospital Health Protection Grant Program (HHPGP-24Extended25) for State Fiscal Year 2025 provides funding to named hospitals to support their ordinary and contingent expenses. The aim is to improve health equity, access to quality care, and reduce health disparities in underserved communities, in accordance with the Safety-Net Hospital Health Equity and Access Leadership Grant Program. The total funding available is $3,000,000.00, with individual awards ranging from $1,000,000.00 to $2,000,000.00. Applications are due by August 30, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations to create after-school programs that enhance academic achievement and offer enrichment activities for children in low-income and underperforming schools.

This grant provides funding to local governments, non-profits, and educational institutions to implement projects that improve flood resilience and tackle the effects of climate change.

The Healthy Environment, Healthy Communities Grant Program is a funding initiative by the Chesapeake Bay Trust that supports projects by various organizations to address environmental and public health issues through education, small-scale greening, and large-scale restoration in specific areas affected by wastewater treatment plants and energy companies.

This grant provides funding to non-profits, schools, and government agencies to develop environmental education projects that empower students and communities to protect Chesapeake and coastal ecosystems.

This funding opportunity supports public humanities projects in Iowa that foster community engagement and educational programming about the human experience, available to individuals, nonprofits, local governments, and higher education institutions.

The Resilient Futures Technology Grant Program by DroneDeploy is dedicated to fostering radical inclusion in urgent solutions. Donor Name: DroneDeploy State: All States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The mission is to enhance outcomes for underresourced populations by prioritizing advocacy, safety, and efficiency through reality capture technology. They envision a future where all communities have the necessary resources to build a resilient future. The Fund invests in organizations exploring innovative and novel approaches to build resilient futures. They seek to support organizations that improve the built and natural environment, where reality capture technology is inherent in the solution. Grantees’ support will include: Funding dollars (unrestricted) Product donation Product training, product support and employee expertise Thought leadership and amplification Examples of the work they might fund: Disaster preparedness or recovery Climate resilience and adaptation  Food security and sustainable agriculture Environmental pollution monitoring Indigenous land rights and safety Additional solutions they’ve not thought of Funding Information The grants range in size from $10,000 to $20,000 and are given as unrestricted funding. Eligibility Criteria Eligible organizations include tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities (or the equivalent if outside the U.S.), 501(c)(3) private foundations. They want to fund both larger established organizations and younger emerging organizations that meet these criteria. For more information, visit DroneDeploy.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments and nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma to help them preserve and share historical collections and improve their history-related programs.

The Charles County Forestry Grant Program, offered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust in partnership with Charles County, aims to implement cost-effective reforestation and afforestation projects. The program seeks to increase tree canopy, create forest habitat, improve water quality, and provide ecosystem services such as potable water and air quality. Eligible projects should be in Charles County, Maryland, and must place reforested areas under an easement for protection in perpetuity. Applicants can request up to $20,000, with typical requests being less than $4,500 per acre. Matching funds are encouraged but not required.

This program provides financial support for a variety of arts-related projects in Iowa, targeting organizations and initiatives that promote regional and statewide arts events or align with strategic arts goals.