Promoting Civilizational Values

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, is offering the Promoting Civilizational Values funding opportunity, opportunity number DFOP0019542, as an open competition focused on Europe. The program seeks to strengthen the ability of European countries and institutions to protect freedom of expression, political pluralism, national self-government, religious freedom, and other fundamental freedoms. DRL requests proposals that strengthen democratic institutions and promote civilizational values, with priority for organizations demonstrating relevant expertise in assistance to victims of religious or political persecution and refugees, educational and research initiatives supporting Western civilizational values and democratic practices, legal advocacy and policy development, or community-based refugee and displaced population integration programs that maintain social cohesion and democratic values. Programs should address one or more of two stated objectives. The first is for civil society to influence judicial and legislative institutions to safeguard freedom of expression, political competition, and national sovereignty. Illustrative activities include comparative law dialogues, amicus or intervener briefs, forums and training for legal professionals, engagement with election commissions and parliamentary bodies, and participation in parliamentary hearings and briefings. The second objective is for civil society to facilitate informed debate on EU integration, migration, national identity, and humanitarian assistance in ways that strengthen institutions protecting free speech, political competition, national sovereignty, and religious freedom. Activities may include data-driven monitoring, policy debates, scorecards, public policy discussions, refugee assistance knowledge sharing, educational and integration initiatives, and policy development. The Department anticipates one award of 1,973,359 dollars, with total available funding of 1,973,359 dollars. The notice also describes programs as being eligible for funding up to 2 million dollars, while the Basic Information section provides the specific anticipated award amount and total available funding. The performance period is 12 to 24 months, and proposed projects should be completed within 24 months or less. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026. The award will be a cooperative agreement, and DRL will be substantially involved in programmatic planning and implementation. Continued noncompetitive funding beyond the initial budget period may be considered subject to availability of funds, satisfactory program progress, and a determination that continuation is in the best interest of the Department. Funding is subject to availability. Award funds may not be provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and alcoholic beverages may not be purchased with award funds. U.S.-based study tours, scholarships, and exchange projects should also be avoided. Cost sharing or matching is not required and does not improve competitive ranking. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations, and public and private educational institutions. Competitive proposals must involve organizations that are locally registered nonprofit entities with a physical office in the country or countries of implementation and that demonstrate a track record of promoting pluralism and civilizational values there. Organizations must also demonstrate trusted working relationships with proposed beneficiaries and an ability to work across social and political cleavages. Each organization may submit only one proposal. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and an active SAM.gov registration, subject to the stated exemption process. Activities must be nonpartisan, offered fairly and equitably where applicable, and may not seek to influence an election outcome or endorse specific parties, candidates, electoral campaigns, political agendas, or election outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or MyGrants no later than 11:59 PM ET on August 21, 2026. Required application materials include the SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms; a proposal of no more than 15 pages; a separate budget justification narrative; a line-item budget; key personnel position descriptions or selection criteria; letters of support from proposed program partners; the latest NICRA when applicable; and official permission letters when required. An optional summary page may also be provided. The proposal is expected to address the project summary, organizational background, problem statement, goals and measurable objectives, activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel, project partners, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Application documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and the specified document and page formatting requirements must be followed. The proposal will not be compared against other proposals but will be reviewed to determine whether it is sufficiently strong to merit funding. Review considerations include the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and previous grant record, program planning and ability to achieve objectives, a detailed and realistic budget, monitoring and evaluation capacity, and sustainability. The Department will also conduct the federal risk review required under applicable regulations, considering financial stability, management systems and standards, performance history, audit reports and findings, implementation capacity, and relevant responsibility and qualification information in SAM.gov. Successful recipients will be subject to financial and program reporting requirements, including quarterly reporting for DRL awards, and may be subject to annual site visits. Annual workplans, monitoring and evaluation documentation, and evaluation, research, or survey methodologies require DRL approval as specified in the notice. The application deadline is August 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET, and the anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating deadline is stated. Organizations requesting an exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must contact the solicitation point of contact at least two weeks before the application deadline, but this is an exemption procedure rather than a general pre-application requirement. Questions about the grant application process may be directed to drl-pru-solicitation@state.gov. The notice does not provide a named individual contact, telephone number, award notification date, or an explicit recurring application schedule.

Directly align activities with the stated objectives and demonstrate a feasible implementation timeline. Show expertise, internal controls, financial management capacity, and subaward management experience when relevant. State measurable goals and objectives and provide output and outcome indicators with milestones and measurement methods. Provide a detailed realistic budget tied to activities and anticipated results. Demonstrate sustainability beyond the award period. Keep all activities nonpartisan and focused on principles and processes rather than particular parties, candidates, campaigns, political agendas, or election outcomes. Demonstrate local registration, a physical office in the country or countries of implementation, a relevant track record, trusted beneficiary relationships, and the ability to work across social and political cleavages.