Grants for Individuals

The Level Up LB: Extreme Small Business Makeover and Grant Program is an initiative designed to propel small businesses towards both success and long-term sustainability. The core of the program is a structured, 12-week series of comprehensive workshops that guide participating entrepreneurs through the essential process of crafting new business and marketing plans. Upon the successful completion of this training component, businesses become eligible to apply for substantial $10,000 grants. This integrated approach of education and capital infusion aims to empower participants to expand their operational capacity and enhance overall business resilience. This program targets small businesses, aiming for significant positive impact within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. The initiative is structured to fully support 25 businesses, who will participate in the workshops and automatically receive grant awards upon completion. An additional 10 businesses will be selected to participate in the workshop series only, with a potential for grant awards should extra funding become available. The primary impact goals, as stated by the program, are to provide access to essential support resources and ultimately drive the expansion of business capacity and the enhancement of resilience among the selected enterprises. Program selection and the distribution of grant awards are determined by a selection committee based on specific criteria that reflect the program’s community-focused priorities. The initiative places a strong focus on ensuring representation of businesses across all parts of the city, with specific priority given to enterprises located in low-to-moderate income areas. Furthermore, the selection process is designed to ensure a balanced representation of businesses across multiple economic sectors. Finally, key focuses include assessing the business's current readiness level and the potential positive impact that participation in the program is expected to generate. The program's implied theory of change is that by connecting small businesses with essential support resources and mandatory, comprehensive training, they will be positioned for accelerated growth. The expected outcomes are measurable: all participants will complete new, detailed business and marketing plans as a result of the 12-week workshops. For the grant recipients, the direct measurable result is the successful application of the $10,000 capital, which is intended to facilitate the expansion of business capacity and increase long-term operational resilience, ultimately leading to more successful and sustainable enterprises across the city.

This initiative provides financial support to women-owned small businesses in San Francisco to help them grow through various improvement projects, such as marketing and equipment upgrades.

This funding opportunity supports Christian worshiping communities in the U.S. and Canada in revitalizing their worship practices through year-long projects.

This monthly grant provides $10,000 to women entrepreneurs in various business categories, with the opportunity to compete for a larger $25,000 grant at the end of the year.

This grant provides financial support to women entrepreneurs across various industries, offering multiple funding opportunities throughout the year to help both established and early-stage businesses thrive.

The City of West Hollywood's Art on the Outside (AOTO) program is a public art initiative designed to fund the temporary display of rotating art exhibitions in publicly accessible locations such as parks, traffic medians, and communal areas of City-owned facilities. The program's mission aligns with enhancing public spaces and enriching the cultural landscape of West Hollywood by making art accessible to its residents and visitors. It supports a variety of art forms, including sculpture, murals, digital screen-based artwork and projections, and performance art, contributing to the City's vibrant artistic identity. The primary beneficiaries of the AOTO program are individual artists, curators, and non-profit arts organizations based in the United States, particularly those representing emerging, mid-career, and established artists. The program aims to provide opportunities for these artists and organizations to showcase their work, gain exposure, and engage with a broader public. The impact goals include fostering artistic expression, promoting cultural diversity, and creating engaging public environments that stimulate dialogue and appreciation for the arts. The program prioritizes proposals for temporary public art projects that can be displayed for durations typically ranging from 6 months to 3 years. While new artworks are eligible, the AOTO program is particularly well-suited for exhibitions of prefabricated artworks that require minimal modification for installation, largely due to funding limitations. This focus ensures efficient use of resources while still supporting a diverse range of artistic endeavors. Evaluation criteria emphasize artist qualifications, aesthetic appeal, diversity, proposed budget, public safety, material integrity, and suitable location. Expected outcomes of the AOTO program include an increased presence of diverse public art across West Hollywood, greater public engagement with artistic and cultural experiences, and enhanced opportunities for artists to contribute to the public realm. Measurable results could include the number of artworks displayed, the duration of exhibitions, audience engagement metrics, and feedback from both artists and the community. The program's strategic priority is to integrate art into daily life, reflecting the City's commitment to culture and community well-being. The City of West Hollywood's underlying theory of change for the AOTO program is that by funding and facilitating the display of temporary public art, it can cultivate a more aesthetically rich and culturally vibrant urban environment. This, in turn, is expected to enhance civic pride, stimulate local engagement, and support the professional development of artists and arts organizations. The program operates on the belief that accessible art can positively impact quality of life and foster a dynamic community spirit.

This funding opportunity provides $25,000 grants to women-owned businesses that have previously won smaller monthly grants, supporting their growth and development across various industries.

This program provides financial support to women-owned or operated businesses along Route 66 to help maintain operations, aid in reopening, and promote new ventures.

The 2024 ASEAN Reporters Tour is the second iteration of a USASEAN-funded program to build a network and a sense of collective identity among regionally focused journalists from each of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while providing information and insight from important and credible voices on a range of issues. The 2024 program will highlight the positive economic relationship between the United States and ASEAN, with a secondary focus on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the digital economy, as well as how the public and private sectors of the United States work with and support ASEAN and its member states. The program should also adhere to DEIA principles in support of the participants and should ensure the same principles are featured as one aspect of the engagements and messaging. Full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is here: https://asean.usmission.gov/notice-of-funding-opportunity/ Please read the full NOFO and send your proposal before August 7, 2024, 9:00 PM Jakarta time.

The U.S. Embassy Abidjan Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Purpose of Small Grants: PDS Abidjan invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the U.S. and Cte dIvoire through 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.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop on Advanced Media Literacy for Digital Creators pending the availability of funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. This notice is subject to the availability of funding.Priority Region: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.Program Objectives:YSEALI (yseali.state.gov) is the U.S. governments signature initiative to engage emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues.YSEALI is open to young leaders ages 18-35 who are both citizens and residents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Timor-Leste. Responding to priorities from youth in the ASEAN region, YSEALI programs focus on four themes (Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Education and Environmental Issues).One component of YSEALI is the annual Regional Workshops held across Southeast Asia on strategic topics.This regional workshop on Advanced Media Literacy for Digital Creators will advance the YSEALI theme of Civic Engagement and the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines priority to support emerging leaders as democratic vanguards and promote media literacy.This regional workshop will convene around 100 emerging content creators, journalists, and advocates from ASEAN member nations and Timor-Leste for a five-day workshop in the Philippines. The workshop will advance participants knowledge and skills in critical media literacy. The workshop will include sessions on strategic and data-based content ideation, responsible content creation, effective audience engagement, identifying and countering mis/dis-information, and impact of AI on social media. The workshop will also include virtual webinars and exercises on wellness and self-care, combatting copyright or digital theft and tools to promote media literacy to fellow creators. Leveraging the wide knowledge base of Filipino and regional talent, the workshop will feature in-depth discussions and experiential learning sessions led by experts from Southeast Asia and the United States.The workshop will also create and sustain a virtual network of emerging content creators to provide a safe space for exchanges of best practices and solutions to challenges. At the workshops finale, participants may compete for small grants to implement projects and/or campaigns to promote media literacy to fellow emerging leaders across the region and celebrate International Youth Day in August 2025.The proposal should include workshop follow-on activities such as virtual collaborative work, projects funded through small seed grants, or ongoing mentorship. A follow-on activity may also be implemented to report on project successes and challenges and produce a toolkit with best practices on cross-border collaboration. The follow-on activity should be included in the monitoring and evaluation plan.The proposal should include a pre and post workshop survey to measure the overall effectiveness of the workshop as well as any changes to the participants knowledge of the workshop topic.The concepts of leadership, giving back, and strengthening a Southeast Asian/ASEAN identity based on shared values and shared challenges should be integrated into the program.The grantee is expected to develop syllabus materials and an event program with participant and speaker biographies, as well as design banners, backdrops, and other printed materials. The grantee is expected to design a digital engagement strategy for workshop participants and social media audiences, including live video or live online engagement during the program.No new website specific to the event should be created or launched. Domain, hosting and build costs will not be covered.The workshop will be conducted in English.Participants and Audiences:Participants will be content creators, journalists, and media literacy advocates from ASEAN member nations and Timor-Leste. Participants should demonstrate commitment to develop and sustain their projects. Participants should also be registered YSEALI members (before or during application via http://yseali.state.gov).The grantee will create an online application process and coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and other U.S. Embassies in the region to recruit and select participants from all ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste. All participants must be proficient in written and spoken English. Participants must be citizens and residents of an ASEAN member country or Timor-Leste.The grantee will be responsible for arranging and using cooperative agreement funds to cover all elements related to participant and staff travel including international and domestic flights, visas, travel to and from airports, visas, accommodations, per diem, meals during the program, and insurance.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to artists and creative workers in Indiana who are facing mental health challenges related to substance use and addiction, enabling them to access therapy and wellness services.

The Paint Oklahoma Beautiful program, a Keep Oklahoma Beautiful initiative, is designed to empower community organizations and volunteers to rejuvenate unsightly buildings within their localities. This program aligns with the foundation's mission by fostering community engagement, promoting civic pride, and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of Oklahoma's communities through the creative and resourceful renovation of structures. The target beneficiaries of this program are groups and organizations located in Oklahoma that are dedicated to improving their communities. The program aims to encourage volunteerism and provide resources for community-led beautification projects. Impact goals include fostering a sense of ownership among residents, improving the visual landscape of towns and cities, and creating more inviting public spaces. The program prioritizes projects that utilize the provided 5-gallon pails of paint for renovation, with an option for a primer stipend if needed. Eligible projects encompass a wide range of community structures, such as downtown buildings, schools, community centers, playground equipment, fences, and walls. For safety, projects must avoid heavy traffic areas, highways, and streets. The program focuses on encouraging broad participation, while also offering a contest for those who adhere strictly to the provided paint. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of renovated community structures and a heightened sense of community spirit. Measurable results are demonstrated through the "Communities Primed for Change" contest, which awards prizes for first, second, and third place, with prizes of $1000, $750, and $500 respectively. This incentivizes participants to complete projects using only the provided paint and the structure included in their application, reinforcing the program's strategic priority of resource-efficient community improvement.

The U.S. Embassy Libreville of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support Gabonese communities through modest grants that would positively impact communities. Program Objectives: Self-Help projects must foster community self-reliance. Self-Help activities must have community participation and contribution -- volunteer time and labor, donated land, equipment and materials -- and the U.S. contribution must be on a one-time basis only. Self-Help activities should have a significant impact, benefiting the greatest number of people possible. Projects that directly benefit a limited number of people are discouraged. Self-Help activities must help improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level; Self-Help projects must also be viable and sustainable in terms of finance, personnel support (i.e. teachers for schoolrooms), and necessary expertise and services. Self-Help projects must also respect environmental norms for small projects. Self-Help activities must fall within the ability of the local community to implement. Activities that are too complex should be avoided.

This grant provides financial support to women entrepreneurs in the consumer packaged goods sector, helping them address various business needs while promoting sustainability and personal well-being.

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) to promote womens social and economic empowerment, pending the availability of funds. The cohort should take place sometime between 2025-2026. Each AWE cohort should include about 30 women meeting either online or in person. AWE cohorts may take place in any, all, or the following select countries: New Zealand, Niue, the Cook Islands, Tokelau, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia. About the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs By ensuring that women have the skills, capabilities, and resources to fully participate in the economy, AWE directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender, Equity, and Equality. AWE was established in 2019 to provide women with the knowledge, networks and access to launch or scale successful businesses. Cohorts of approximately 30 women meet online and in-person to learn core business skills such as strategic planning, marketing and finance, then discuss the material with local facilitators, business leaders, and U.S. exchange alumni mentors. Through its partnership with Arizona State Universitys Thunderbird School for Global Management and the Freeport-McMoran Foundation, AWE utilizes a no-cost, online learning platform. Used by AWE since 2019, DreamBuilder teaches participants the fundamentals of starting or growing a small business from a U.S. perspective, offering modules on marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping, and includes a built-in business plan generator. It is available only in English and Spanish, though posts may conduct mentoring and facilitation in local languages. This year, implementing partners may also use a new online curriculum, in whole or in part the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative - alongside or instead of DreamBuilder. 100 Million Learners Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation Bootcamp may be most suitable to implementing partners who are looking for a more challenging business curriculum, or who wish to provide complementary modules on key topics in entrepreneurship and innovation. 100 Million Learners is currently offered in 20 languages and will add up to 20 more in the future. Proposals to establish new AWE cohorts must use either DreamBuilder or 100 Million Learners for their curriculum.

This program provides funding for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers to advance the understanding and treatment of spinal cord injuries through innovative research.

The Beyond Pencils and Beyond Crayons Grants, available to K-12 teachers in Marathon County, Wisconsin, provide $1000 to $10,000 for innovative, creative, and cost-effective projects that enrich education, inspire students and educators, and foster community, excluding core curriculum items, staff, transportation, refreshments, rewards, and incentive programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and educators working on impactful projects that benefit residents of La Porte County, Indiana.

The Loudoun County Disability Services Board sponsors an awards program, the Full Accessibility and Inclusion: Moving toward Equity (FAIME) Awards, designed to recognize businesses and organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. This program aligns with the broader mission of promoting equity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities within the community. The awards are given to those who go above and beyond in fostering an inclusive workplace and business model. The target beneficiaries of this program are people with disabilities who seek employment and professional development opportunities. The program aims to increase the recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion of people with disabilities, ultimately enhancing their participation in the workforce. The impact goals include creating more inclusive work environments and business models that provide equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The FAIME Awards program prioritizes businesses and organizations that actively demonstrate a commitment to hiring people with disabilities, providing necessary accommodations in the workplace, and offering professional development opportunities to help them grow their skills. The focus is on encouraging practices that support the long-term career growth and integration of people with disabilities. Expected outcomes of this awards program include a greater number of businesses and organizations adopting inclusive hiring and workplace practices. Measurable results could include an increase in the employment rate of people with disabilities in Loudoun County, a rise in the number of businesses offering accommodations, and a measurable improvement in professional development opportunities available to this demographic. The program serves as a strategic initiative by the Loudoun County Disability Services Board to drive systemic change and foster a more equitable and inclusive society through the workplace.