Reel American: The Road to the Olympic Rings

The funding opportunity titled Reel American: The Road to the Olympic Rings is administered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Amman, specifically its Public Diplomacy Section. This initiative is part of the broader Public Diplomacy Programs funded under the Smith Mundt Act and is designed to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives through cultural engagement. The program reflects the U.S. government’s strategic use of cultural diplomacy, particularly sports and film, to strengthen international perceptions and relationships. The Embassy seeks to partner with a qualified organization capable of implementing a structured and sustained engagement program targeting youth in Jordan. The primary purpose of this grant is to design and execute a 21 month public diplomacy program that uses American sports films as a platform to promote U.S. values such as teamwork, perseverance, and competitive excellence. The initiative is timed to build anticipation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The program will consist of monthly film screenings paired with facilitated discussions, creating a recurring engagement model that reinforces American cultural narratives and sports heritage. By doing so, the program aims to shape positive perceptions of the United States among Jordanian youth and strengthen long term bilateral engagement. Funding for this opportunity ranges from 80000 to 100000 dollars, with a total program funding cap of 100000 dollars and one anticipated award. The funding must be used to support programmatic activities including film licensing, venue rental, participant engagement, staffing, and program logistics. Allowable costs include personnel, travel, supplies, contracts, and indirect costs, while unallowable costs include construction, direct social services, fundraising, lobbying, and religious or political activities. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required, allowing applicants flexibility in structuring their financial contributions. Eligibility is limited to non profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society organizations, as well as public and private educational institutions. For profit entities are explicitly excluded from serving as prime recipients, though subcontracting is permitted. Applicants must possess a valid Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active registration in SAM.gov. Only one application per organization is permitted, and failure to comply with submission rules or documentation requirements will result in disqualification. The application process requires submission of standard federal forms including SF 424, SF 424A, and SF 424B, along with a detailed proposal narrative of up to ten pages. The proposal must include a summary, organizational background, problem statement, program design, timeline, staffing plan, partnerships, sustainability strategy, and monitoring and evaluation framework. A detailed line item budget and accompanying justification narrative are also required. Additional attachments include resumes of key personnel, letters of support, proof of non profit status, and registration documentation. Applications must be submitted via email to the designated Embassy grants address by August 31 2026 at 1159 pm Amman local time. The review process evaluates proposals based on program quality, organizational capacity, implementation planning, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Applicants can expect notification within approximately 120 days after the deadline. The anticipated project start date is October 1 2026, with a performance period not exceeding 21 months. The program is expected to engage approximately 1000 youth participants aged 16 to 25 through 21 monthly screenings. Each session will include structured discussions to deepen understanding of American values and Olympic history. Performance monitoring will include pre and post program surveys to assess shifts in perception. Award recipients must comply with reporting requirements including quarterly progress and financial reports, as well as final reports within 120 days of project completion. The initiative represents a comprehensive cultural diplomacy effort aligned with U.S. strategic interests in the lead up to the 2028 Olympic Games.

Ensure strong alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives and clearly measurable outcomes with detailed implementation planning