Grants for Nonprofits - Community Development

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait, Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce 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: PAS Kuwait invites proposals for programs that strengthen people-to-people ties and advance our shared goals of climate resilience, economic well-being, and a safe and secure world. Proposals should model fair practices. Special consideration will be given to proposals that highlight the diversity of the United States and programs whose participants come from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, projects must address one or more of the priority areas listed below. Examples of PAS Small Grants Program 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; If you have any questions about the grant application process in its entirety, please email to PASKuwaitM@state.gov. Program Priority Areas: - Strengthening and expanding U.S.-Kuwait people-to-people partnerships to enhance regional stability and security, encompassing education, arts, freedom of speech, and fortifying U.S.-Kuwait ties. - Enhancing national security through political reform, economic development, and an improved legal framework. This includes advancing women's empowerment in politics and economics, addressing gender-based violence, and promoting cybersecurity and responsible AI use. - Engaging individuals with disabilities and promoting disability research and advocacy in Kuwait. - Promoting U.S.-Kuwait economic cooperation by emphasizing economic development, entrepreneurship, and environmental preservation in Kuwait, addressing both economic prosperity and climate change. Projects Examples: - Conference on emerging technologies, in collaboration with civil society leaders to advance digital transformation research. - Project with civil society to heighten environmental awareness regarding air quality, addressing the impact of climate change on Kuwait's environment. Activities may include awareness conferences, a workshop on investigative reporting on climate issues, or designing a digital media campaign supporting STEM in environmental protection. - Project in collaboration with civil society and/or academia that would provide training to Kuwaiti women in leadership skills, legal principles, and political etiquette. Training would aim to empower women with stronger social and legal knowledge, fostering increased participation in political careers. - Project to support the administration and management of volunteer work in Kuwait, collaborating with civil society to enhance youth engagement and foster creative community service and corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects led by both the private sector and the government. - Project to advance disability rights research in collaboration with academia and civil society. - Training program for sports arbitrators to equip them with required skills in sports arbitration principles. - Webinar series in collaboration with civil society to train young and aspiring business leaders on digitizing businesses using AI and IT solutions to enhance overall business activities. - Project to empower Kuwaiti women through art and environmental awareness in collaboration with local civil society via workshops that cover nature art, recycling, and climate change. Inviting women environmentalists, organizing field trips, and concluding with an exhibition The Following Program Categories Are Not Eligible for Funding: - Programs relating to partisan political activity; - 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: Funding authority rests in the Smith-Mundt Act. The source of funding is FY2024 Public Diplomacy Funding. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 1 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: $125,000 Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funding Anticipated program start date: October 1, 2024 (for a maximum of one year) This Notice Is Subject to Funding Availability. Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award (FAAs), or Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that PAS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation. (Note: If a cooperative agreement or an FAA that includes substantial involvement is used, PAS will include a description of the substantial involvement. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. Optional: PAS 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 (in the Following Eligibility Order): PAS encourages applications from Kuwait based: - Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations. - Non-profit educational institutions - Individuals For-Profit or Commercial Entities Are Not Eligible to Apply. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost share is not required but is encouraged and will be evaluated positively during the merit review; it will be used to break ties among applications with equivalent scores after evaluation against all other factors. 3. 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. Individual applicants are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are encouraged to only apply for one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, only the most competitive proposal from that organization will be considered for funding. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at c https://kw.usembassy.gov/grant-application-forms/ 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 deemed ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure: - The proposal shall be clearly reflect the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity. - All documents shall be in English. - All budgets shall be in U.S. dollars. - All pages shall be numbered. - All documents shall be formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and - All Microsoft Word documents shall be 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) - SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) - SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) - Completed Grant Proposal Form 2. Summary Coversheet: 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 (5 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. Please see the attached document for complete details of the Annual Program Statement. 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations: Please see the attached document for complete details of the Annual Program Statement. 4. Submission Dates and Times Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time before the closing date of May 31, 2024. No applications will be accepted after that date. 5. Funding Restrictions Award funds cannot be used for construction, vehicle purchases, etc. 6. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to PASKuwaitM@state.gov. E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. The criteria listed are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Organizational capacity and record on previous grants 20 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and PAS is confident of its ability to undertake the program. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea 20 points The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. Goals and objectives 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. Embassy priorities 10 points: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Embassy Kuwaits priority areas or target audiences. Budget 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Monitoring and evaluation plan 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured. Sustainability 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program. 2. Review and Selection Process A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. 3. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly, FAPIIS) Please see the attached document for complete details of the Annual Program Statement. 4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates: July 31, 2024 F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION Please see the attached document for complete details of the Annual Program Statement. G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact PAS at: PASKuwaitM@state.gov Note: We do not provide any pre-consultation for application related questions that are addressed in the NOFO. Once an application has been submitted, State Department officials and staff both in the Department and at embassies overseas may not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process is completed. H. OTHER INFORMATION Please see the attached document for complete details of the Annual Program Statement.

This program provides funding to rural communities for the rehabilitation of at-risk downtown buildings, helping to revitalize local economies and support businesses, housing, and cultural initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports Armenian cultural institutions and organizations in enhancing their infrastructure, promoting artistic engagement, and preserving cultural heritage through various initiatives.

SCCF is excited to offer the 3rd annual Greensburg Future Fund Grant! This application is available to any nonprofit, school, or church located in Greensburg, KS. The purpose of this grant is to allow our communities to have the opportunity for larger funding that has not previously been available through SCCF. This grant should inspire forward thinking and create a large impact in your community/county.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to design and implement international exchange programs for foreign leaders, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between the U.S. and other nations.

United Way of Fostoria 2024 Community Impact Grants The United Way of Fostoria is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2024 Community Impact Grants. These grants are designed to support programs in various crucial areas, including education, basic human needs, physical and mental health, and income stability. Grant Details: Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 Grant Types: Startup projects, expansion of existing successful programs, and addressing unmet community needs. Special Grant Opportunity: This year, in recognition of a generous bequest from lifelong United Way supporter Laverne Anderson, we are soliciting grant proposals in the following areas: Gardening Music programs Golf Swimming Playing bridge Previous Grant Impact: Recent Community Impact Grants have had a profound effect on the Fostoria community, including: Expansion of the welding lab at Fostoria Learning Center Provision of 40-plus beds for Fostorians in need through St Vincent de Paul Creation of the Staying Ahead program as part of the Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World program Application Process: Grant application forms can be obtained by: Visiting the United Way office at 105 S. Main St Calling 419-435-4484 Emailing admin1@uwfostoria.org About United Way of Fostoria: The United Way of Fostoria is a charitable organization founded by the citizens of Fostoria with the aim of enriching the lives of Fostorians. Funds for Community Impact Grants are sourced from a foundation dedicated to supporting the work of the United Way of Fostoria. It's important to note that campaign donations are solely used to fund services provided by the Agency Partners of UWF.

The William Penn Foundation is offering a grant of over $1 million for one to two-year projects aimed at securing and preserving urban garden and farm parcels in Philadelphia, with activities including planning, technical assistance, stewardship, advocacy, and direct acquisition, open to 501(c)3 public charities, educational institutions, and government entities.

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 grant provides funding to non-profit organizations in the Greater Hermiston area to support community development, education, health, and cultural enrichment projects that create lasting benefits for local residents.

The Native American Agriculture Fund invites applications to its 2024 grant program. The fund provides support consistent with its trust agreement to advance business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services for Native American producers and communities. Funding is offered across entity types with both general and special focus areas. Pools include support for nonprofit organizations, educational organizations, community development financial institutions, and tribal governments and instrumentalities. Special focus areas emphasize climate and regenerative agricultural practices and, for CDFIs, additional CDFI and Native CDFI support. Youth programming is available to all eligible entity types. Funds may support projects of 12 or 24 months and may be used for project support, general support, scholarships, re grants, lending programs, or capital expenditures. Stated pools and request ranges include, among others, 1,000,000 dollars for nonprofit general and special focus with requests between 100,000 and 200,000 dollars, 500,000 dollars for educational organizations with requests between 75,000 and 150,000 dollars, 4,500,000 dollars for CDFIs with no fixed request limits, and 1,000,000 dollars for youth programming with requests from 20,000 to 200,000 dollars. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, educational organizations described in Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), community development financial institutions including certified and emerging Native CDFIs that are 501(c)(3), and instrumentalities of federally recognized tribes meeting the fund’s charitable and reporting requirements including limited waivers as applicable. The program aligns with the trust agreement’s definitions and restrictions. Applications are due May 1, 2024. Typical award sizes for some pools range from 100,000 to 500,000 dollars depending on entity type and focus. Additional information and official details are provided by the Native American Agriculture Fund.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and community entities in Arizona to create arts learning projects for adults and intergenerational groups, fostering creative expression and skill development in accessible community spaces.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Central Texas that effectively engage volunteers to create meaningful community change.

The RTP is a federal assistance program that provides funds to states for the development and maintenance of recreational trails and related facilities for both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail uses. Funded through the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act for Federal fiscal years 2016 through 2020, the program supports a broad spectrum of trail activities such as maintenance, restoration, construction, and acquisition of land for recreational trails. The State of Maine participates in the RTP and has designated the Bureau of Parks and Lands to administer the program, focusing on projects that enhance public access, connectivity, and utilization of trails.

This funding opportunity is designed to support local governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions in Nebraska in providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health outreach and support services for newly arrived refugees.

This program provides funding to Indiana's local governments to assist low-income homeowners with essential repairs that improve safety, comfort, and accessibility in their residences.

This funding opportunity supports programs that help individuals of all ages achieve their educational goals and develop their physical, emotional, and intellectual potential.

Project Grants in Education provide targeted financial support for arts education initiatives in Rhode Island, encouraging immersive and experiential learning in the arts. These grants support a range of educational activities, including artist residencies, arts integration projects, and community engagement initiatives, with funding up to $10,000 for organizations and $3,000 for individuals. The program is open to schools, nonprofit organizations, arts educators, and teaching artists committed to enriching educational experiences through the arts. The goal is to foster artistic exploration, enhance the skills of local teaching artists, and provide high-quality arts education to students across various educational settings. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Spring opening/closing deadlines: February 1st to April 1st

This program provides funding to various organizations and community groups in Maryland to plant and maintain trees, improving urban environments and combating climate change.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on medical testing and health education for residents affected by groundwater contamination in northeast Wichita.

The Linn County Grants, facilitated by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, aim to bolster the quality of life and community development in non-metropolitan areas of Linn County, Iowa. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to foster thriving communities by investing in programs and projects that address local needs and enhance the well-being of residents outside the immediate urban centers. The grant program seeks to empower smaller communities by providing crucial funding for local initiatives. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, governmental organizations, and non-501(c)(3) organizations utilizing a fiscal sponsor. A key focus is on projects benefiting non-metro Linn County, with a particular emphasis on proposals from organizations based within these communities or those from the Cedar Rapids area that demonstrate strong support and partnerships within the served community. The impact goals are centered around fostering community development and improving the overall quality of life in these non-metropolitan regions. Priority is extended to applications that are well-designed, responsive to existing community conditions, and innovative in their approach. The program also favors initiatives that effectively utilize community resources and are poised to test or demonstrate viable solutions to pressing community issues. Capital projects are also eligible for consideration, indicating a commitment to both program development and infrastructure improvement. The grants support a wide range of activities that can contribute to the vitality of Linn County's smaller towns and rural areas. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of programs and projects that lead to tangible improvements in community conditions. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the $10,000 funding amount and 12-month project period, the emphasis on well-designed, responsive, and innovative programs suggests that successful applications will clearly articulate their anticipated impact. The foundation's strategic priority is to support initiatives that strengthen the social fabric and economic health of Linn County's diverse communities, operating on a theory of change that targeted investment in local initiatives will lead to sustainable community growth and improved quality of life.