U.S. Embassy in Singapore launches Small Grants Program

Deadline: 31-Jan-21

U.S. Embassy Singapore is pleased to announce funding opportunities through its public diplomacy small grants program. Each year, the U.S. Embassy awards a limited number of grants to support activities and exchanges linking the United States and Singapore with the aim of strengthening the bilateral relationship and people-to-people connections.

U.S. Embassy Singapore welcomes proposals that utilize digital platforms or other technological innovations that minimize in-person programs. While applicants are invited to submit proposals with in-person components, projects with digital/virtual delivery will be prioritized in the near future.

Purpose of Small Grants

To support organizations or individuals that engage Singaporeans in activities that strengthen ties between the United States and Singapore or the region. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions in fields that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policies, perspectives, or values.

Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs;
Artistic and cultural workshops or performances;
Professional and academic enrichment or development activities; or
Other programs that build people-to-people connections between Americans and Singaporeans.

Funding Information

Funding: This notice is subject to the availability of funding.
Award amounts: Typically, award amounts vary between $1,000 USD and $25,000 USD, but exceptions are possible if the budget is commensurate with the project goals.
Type of Funding: The fiscal Year 2020 Public Diplomacy Funds.

Thematic Priorities

U.S. Embassy Singapore small grants fund programs that:

Support entrepreneurship, innovation, and increased economic opportunities;
Address transnational threats including disinformation and other cybercrime;
Advance awareness of safety and security cooperation between the U.S. and Singapore and its importance to the region;
Support open, inclusive, and diverse societies;
Promote the U.S. higher education system; or
Create understanding about U.S. policies, culture, and shared values.

Participants and Audiences

Programs must engage Singaporeans. Applicants should identify a clear target audience and estimate the expected reach through both direct and indirect contact (i.e. social or traditional media, follow-on activities, etc.).

Eligibility Criteria

The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from United States and Singapore:

Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience;
Public entities (e.g. schools or governmental agencies);
Individuals;
For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. Applicants with Active Exclusions in the System for Award Management are also not eligible to apply.

Submission Process

Proposals must include the following:

Proposal Summary: a short narrative outlining the key elements of the program, including objectives and anticipated impact. This is the elevator pitch; when read out loud, the proposal summary should not take longer than 45 seconds to read.
Introduction to the Organization or Individual Applying: a description of past and present operations, showing the ability to carry out the program; if applicable, list previous projects with U.S. Embassy Singapore or other U.S. government entities;
Problem Statement: a clear and concise statement of the problem being addressed and why the proposed program is needed to address the problem;
Program Goals and Objectives: a brief outline of the proposed program goals (what the project aims to achieve at its completion) and objectives (measurable interim outcomes), and an explanation of how the program will improve relations between Singapore and the United States;
Program Activities, Methods, and Design: a description of the program activities, how the activities will be executed, and how the activities will achieve the goal.
Proposed Program Schedule: the proposed timeline for undertaking and completing the specific program activities; include the dates, times if applicable, and locations for the various activities.
Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: an explanation of how the activities are monitored throughout the timeframe of the grant to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant.
Program Sustainability: a summary of plans designed to help the value of the program live beyond the period of performance.
Proposed Budget: A list of relevant project expenses in U.S. dollars, consistent with the proposal narrative, broken down into the following categories and cost per item and quantities.
- Personnel and Fringe Benefits:  Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.
- Travel:  Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries.  If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.
- Equipment:  Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.
- Supplies:  List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program.  If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.
- Contractual:  Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor.  Also, describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.
- Other Direct Costs:  Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories.  For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes.  All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.
- Indirect Costs:  These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating.
- “Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy.  It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.