Grants for Individuals - Federal

This competition provides funding and flight testing opportunities for U.S.-based individuals, teams, and organizations to develop innovative space technologies that address critical challenges identified by NASA.

This grant provides funding for alumni of U.S. Department of State exchange programs to implement community-focused projects that address disaster prevention and relief in the Eastern Caribbean.

This funding opportunity supports a variety of organizations and individuals in Togo to create projects that strengthen cultural ties and promote mutual understanding between the United States and Togo, focusing on themes like peace, democracy, and economic growth.

This initiative seeks input from various stakeholders, including businesses, researchers, and government entities, to enhance the recycling and reuse of products and materials, ultimately promoting environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. and Canadian organizations in creating public diplomacy projects that foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries, focusing on shared interests like innovation, security, and cultural exchange.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to implement innovative projects in the Philippines that address key issues in peace and security, economic prosperity, and organizational capacity building.

This funding opportunity supports cultural, educational, and informational initiatives that promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and the Philippines, targeting not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions.

This funding opportunity provides supplemental support for NSF-funded researchers to collaborate with NIST scientists, enhancing their scientific projects in biological sciences, engineering, and mathematical and physical sciences through access to advanced measurement tools and expertise.

This funding initiative provides financial support to alumni of U.S. exchange programs in Brazil to develop community projects that promote safety, prosperity, and democratic values while celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The U.S. Embassy Rangoon of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations or individuals to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) to strengthen the cultural ties between the U.S. and Myanmar through cultural programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Please carefully follow all instructions below. The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise (two-page maximum) statement of interest designed to clearly communicate a program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before a final funding decision is made. Priority Program Areas: Priority will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following program areas: 1. U.S.MYANMAR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP - Programs that seek to promote a greater understanding of U.S. policies, culture, and society to Myanmar audiences; activities that promote shared values and interests between the American and Myanmar people; and projects that build people-to-people ties. 2. SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE DIVERSE SOCIETY - Programs that seeks to build inclusive society, promote a deepened understanding of diversity and inclusion, and encourage tolerance and peace through socio-economic development, dialogue, skills development, and economic empowerment. 3. EDUCATION CULTURE - Programs that promote understating of U.S education and culture or that help prepare for study in the United States; the building of linkages between American and Myanmar private academic cultural institutions; and training opportunities for Myanmar students or faculty and artists. 4. MEDIA LITERACY, INDEPENDENT MEDIA PRESS FREEDOM - Projects that promotes digital media literacy, support independent citizen journalism, and counter disinformation.

The U.S. Embassy Luanda is pleased to announce the availability of a funding opportunity through the 2024 Ambassadors Special Self-Help Fund. The Ambassadors Special Self-Help (SSH) program is a grass-roots grant assistance program that allows U.S. Ambassadors to support local requests for small community-based development projects. The purpose of the Special Self-Help Program is to support communities through modest grants that will positively impact local communities. The SSH philosophy is to help communities ready to help themselves.

This initiative provides up to $10 million in prizes to innovators developing advanced LED lighting solutions that improve energy efficiency, quality, and accessibility for commercial use.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to individuals for projects that foster collaboration and understanding between the United States and Timor-Leste, focusing on themes like education, economic development, and democratic values.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to eligible organizations and individuals for projects that strengthen the U.S.-Jamaica relationship by addressing issues like youth at risk, economic prosperity, and human rights.

This funding opportunity is designed to support private companies, research institutions, and universities in advancing innovative scientific research that improves the safety and effectiveness of FDA-regulated products, such as drugs and medical devices.

This funding opportunity supports teams of alumni from U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to implement innovative community projects in Guatemala that address issues like disaster resilience, migration, rule of law, economic growth, and civil society capacity building.

This funding opportunity supports teams of alumni from U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs in Burundi to develop innovative projects that address local challenges in health, education, economic development, and peacebuilding.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. and Japanese organizations in creating innovative projects that strengthen U.S.-Japan relations through public engagement in areas like security, democracy, and entrepreneurship.

The U.S. Embassy is unable to provide individual feedback on non-selected Statements of Interest. A public presentation with general feedback will be offered. The date and time will be announced on the Embassy Facebook. A. PROGRAM DECRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Cotonou Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that strengthen ties between the peoples of the United States and Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. PDS invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. Please carefully follow all instructions below. The submission of a SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit a SOI, which is a concise, one-to-two-page concept note (in English) designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PDS to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PDS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. Purpose: PDS Cotonou invites SOIs for programs that strengthen ties between the people of the United States and the people of Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Examples of PDS-funded programs include, but are not limited to: Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs; Professional and academic exchanges and programs; Experiential learning activities (e.g. Model UN, Model Government). Priority Program Objectives and Audiences Project proposals submitted through this Annual Program Statement (APS) should address one of the following Priority Program Objectives: Vulnerable Groups Empowerment: Activities that address poverty and vulnerability in the communities and contribute to build resilience and social cohesion or/and promote the rights of members of marginalized groups including women and girls, religious and ethnic minority groups and other community at risk (e.g. Capacity building on countering Violent Extremist Organizations VEOs disinformation and recruitment). Target audiences include: youth and young adults active in their communities, religious leaders, community members in the North. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $10,000 each). Investigative Journalism: Activities that link Beninese journalists to American journalists or media institutions, and/or empower community radios with best practices to handle an adversarial debate, and/or develop tools and skills to combat myths and disinformation and to verify information before sharing with the public in order to strengthen free press and journalism as an institution in Benin. Target audience: community radios, mid-career journalists. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $15,000 each). U.S.-Benin Partnership: Activities featuring popular American and/or Beninese artists, musicians, cultural figures, and other influencers in order to promote a deeper understanding of the United States long support for improving trade and prosperity in Benin, as well as habits that lead to healthier and more prosperous lives (e.g. promoting U.S.-Benin trade with linkage to AGOA). Target audiences include: women entrepreneurs who specialize in handicrafts, youth and young adults who use social media or listen to radio as their primary source of information; and/or educated urban adults unaware of U.S. initiatives to support Benins development. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $25,000 each). Skills for Success: Activities to promote STEM, learning American English, especially through soft skills (such as resume writing, digital communications, basic financial literacy, public speaking, entrepreneurial skills) and digital literacy, drawing on American and Beninese examples, in order to encourage successful participation in the global economy. Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with English Clubs, American Spaces, or U.S. exchange program alumni to conduct these activities. Target audiences include: underemployed and unemployed youth who will soon complete or have completed formal education; female microentrepreneurs; and/or graduate/undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math with a strong interest in improving their English or pursuing graduate study in the United States. (One to three awards anticipated, $15,000 each). The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: Programs relating to partisan political activity; For-profit programs Charitable or development activities; Construction programs; Programs that support specific religious activities; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or programs; Scientific research; Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or Programs that duplicate existing programs. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: The Statutory Authority for this program is the Smith-Mundt Act or the Fulbright-Hays Act. The source of funding is FY2024 Public Diplomacy or Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs funds, dependent on the type of program. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: varies (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000 Total available funding: $145,000 (Anticipated and Subject to Availability of Funds) Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding and/or Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Funding Anticipated program start date: Varies Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award, Individual Award, or Cooperative Agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that PDS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (Substantial Involvement). Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. PDS may 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. This notice is subject to availability of funds. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION Other Eligibility Requirements Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.SAM.gov. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION The U.S. Embassy Cotonou Public Diplomacy Section will accept proposals through May 30, 2024. A grants committee including U.S. Embassy employees will review eligible applications in June 2024. All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected] All Statements of Interest SOI applications should ensure that the following requirements are met: Please follow all instructions below carefully. SOIs 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 SOI 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 document is required: Program Statement (not to exceed 2 pages in Microsoft Word) that includes: A table listing: Name of the organization; The target country/countries; The total amount of funding requested from PD Cotonou, total amount of cost-share (if any), and total program amount (PD funds + cost-share); and, Program length; A synopsis of the program, including a brief statement on how the program will have a demonstrated impact and engage relevant stakeholders, as well as the American element; A concise breakdown explicitly identifying the programs objectives and the activities and expected results that contribute to each objective; and, A brief description of the applicant(s) that demonstrates the applicant(s) expertise and capacity to implement the program and manage a U.S. government award. The deadline for submission of SOIs is May 30, 2024. An organization may submit no more than one SOI. E. APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA 1. Quality of Program Idea: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. The SOI should explain why the proposed program is needed. 2. Program Planning: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the objectives. A proposed timeline for the program activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. 3. Ability to Achieve Objectives/Institutional Capacity: A demonstration of the organizations or individuals expertise and previous experience in administering programs. 4. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: Clearly stated objectives for recruiting and fully including participants from historically underserved communities in program activities, and/or including perspectives from historically underserved communities in the United States. A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. SOI applicants will be notified of the decision to present a full submission within 30 days of each submission deadline. Instructions on the requirements of a full application submission will be provided at that time.

This funding opportunity supports U.S. and Hungarian not-for-profit organizations, individuals, and educational institutions in projects that promote mutual understanding and showcase the U.S.-Hungarian partnership through cultural, economic, and scientific initiatives.