Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 001 FY2023
The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, through its Public Diplomacy (PD) Section at the U.S. Department of State, is offering a competitive grant opportunity to support programs that deepen and expand the relationship between the United States and Costa Rica. The focus is on projects that use cultural programming, exchanges, and public outreach to highlight shared values, encourage mutual understanding, and advance bilateral cooperation. Proposed activities are expected to align with U.S. public diplomacy priorities and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica's strategic goals, meaning applicants should design programs that clearly connect to embassy-defined themes and demonstrate a practical public-facing impact in Costa Rica.
This opportunity uses a two-stage application process designed to reduce the burden on applicants at the start. The first stage is a Statement of Interest (SOI), limited to two pages, where the applicant briefly presents the core program concept, the objectives, and the intended approach. The SOI is not a full proposal; it is a screening step that allows the embassy to assess whether the idea is a strong fit before requiring a complete application package. SOIs that pass an initial merit review move to the second stage, where selected applicants are invited to submit a full grant proposal. Those full proposals then undergo a second merit review, after which final funding decisions are made.
The embassy is running two separate funding rounds under the same announcement, and applicants may choose to apply in either round as long as they meet the relevant deadlines. For Round 1, SOIs were due February 13, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST, and applicants with competitive SOIs would be invited to submit full applications by March 17, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST. For Round 2, SOIs were due April 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST, and selected applicants would be invited to submit full applications by May 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST. The overall closing date listed for the opportunity is May 7, 2023.
Funding is provided as a grant under a discretionary program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 001 FY2023). The award ceiling is $60,000 per award, and the embassy anticipates making about five awards. The activity categories referenced for supported projects include community development, education, environment, and humanities (with cultural affairs also indicated through the CFDA reference). The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 19.040, and the issuing agency is the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica.
Eligibility is limited to specific applicant types. The announcement lists nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) as eligible, and it also lists individuals as eligible applicants. All required application materials must be submitted through Grants.gov, and applicants are expected to follow the instructions and any attachment requirements tied to the Grants.gov posting. For technical issues with submission, the notice directs applicants to contact Grants.gov Applicant Support by phone at 1-800-518-4726 or by email at support@grants.gov.Apply for PD 001 FY2023
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the community development, education, environment, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy San Jose Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2023 To be considered for the first round of funding, applicants must submit statements of interest by February 13, 2023 (1159 p.m. CST). Applicants with competitive statements of interest will subsequently be notified and invited to submit full grant applications by March 17, 2023 (1159 p.m. CST).Applicants who plan to submit a statement of interest for the second round of funding must do so by April 1, 2023 (1159 p.m. CST), Applicants with competitive statements of interest will subsequently be notified and invited to submit full grant applications by May 7, 2023 (1159 p.m. CST). (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a competitive grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Embassy in San Jose through its Public Diplomacy (PD) Section (U.S. Department of State). It supports programs intended to deepen and expand the relationship between the United States and Costa Rica through public-facing activities in Costa Rica.
What kinds of projects is the embassy looking to fund?
The opportunity focuses on projects that use cultural programming, exchanges, and public outreach to highlight shared values, encourage mutual understanding, and advance bilateral cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica.
What priorities should proposed activities align with?
Proposed activities are expected to align with U.S. public diplomacy priorities and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica's strategic goals. Applicants should design programs that clearly connect to embassy-defined themes and demonstrate a practical public-facing impact in Costa Rica.
Where should the program impact take place?
The announcement emphasizes a practical public-facing impact in Costa Rica, meaning proposed activities should be designed to reach audiences in Costa Rica through outreach, programming, and/or exchanges.
What is the application process?
The application process has two stages. Stage 1 is a Statement of Interest (SOI). Stage 2 (by invitation only) is a full grant proposal submitted after an SOI passes an initial merit review.
What is a Statement of Interest (SOI)?
The SOI is a brief initial submission (limited to two pages) where the applicant presents the core program concept, objectives, and intended approach. It is not a full proposal and is used as a screening step to assess fit before requesting a full application package.
How long can the SOI be?
The SOI is limited to two pages.
Is the SOI the same as the full proposal?
No. The SOI is not a full proposal. It is a preliminary screening document. Only applicants whose SOIs pass the initial merit review may be invited to submit a full grant proposal.
What happens after the SOI is submitted?
SOIs undergo an initial merit review. Competitive SOIs move forward and those applicants are invited to submit full grant proposals. Full proposals then undergo a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.
How many funding rounds are available?
There are two separate funding rounds under the same announcement. Applicants may choose to apply in either round as long as they meet the deadlines for that round.
What were the Round 1 deadlines?
For Round 1, SOIs were due February 13, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Applicants with competitive SOIs would be invited to submit full applications by March 17, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
What were the Round 2 deadlines?
For Round 2, SOIs were due April 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Selected applicants would be invited to submit full applications by May 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
What is the overall closing date for the opportunity?
The overall closing date listed is May 7, 2023.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PD 001 FY2023.
What type of funding is being offered?
Funding is provided as a grant under a discretionary program.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $60,000 per award.
How many awards does the embassy expect to make?
The embassy anticipates making about five awards.
What activity categories are referenced for supported projects?
The referenced activity categories include community development, education, environment, and humanities. Cultural affairs is also indicated through the CFDA reference.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 19.040.
Who is the issuing agency?
The issuing agency is the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to the applicant types listed in the announcement: nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and individuals.
Are institutions of higher education eligible if they have 501(c)(3) status?
The eligibility statement specifies nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. Based on the announcement language, institutions of higher education are excluded from that nonprofit category.
How must applications be submitted?
All required application materials must be submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants are expected to follow the instructions and any attachment requirements tied to the Grants.gov posting.
Where do applicants find the instructions and required attachments?
The announcement indicates that applicants must follow the instructions and any attachment requirements tied to the Grants.gov posting for this opportunity.
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov technical submission issues?
For technical issues with submission, applicants should contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
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