Opportunity Grants Program | PAUPDFY22002

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAUPDFY22002

The Opportunity Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number PAUPDFY22002) is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Jerusalem, specifically the Public Diplomacy Section of the Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU-PD). The program is meant to partner with Palestinian non-profit organizations and eligible individuals on locally focused projects that align with PAU-PD public diplomacy goals. At its core, the opportunity supports activities intended to strengthen American-Palestinian relations and expand practical cooperation by engaging Palestinian communities with American people, institutions, ideas, and ideals. The broader mission framing emphasizes contributing to conditions that support a comprehensive and lasting peace via a negotiated two-state solution, alongside the development of a vibrant, representative, and responsive Palestinian society, economy, and governance system.

Projects are expected to take place in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, which are listed as the priority region for this funding. Proposals must be evidence-based, work primarily at the local level, and include a substantive American element, meaning the project should have a meaningful connection to U.S. expertise, partners, approaches, cultural exchange, or other tangible U.S. engagement rather than only referencing the United States in a superficial way. Every proposal must both advance the PAU-PD mission and clearly achieve at least one of the program objectives outlined in the notice.

The eligible project objectives are broad but revolve around youth opportunity, inclusion, civil society strengthening, and economic and professional development. Priority themes include building entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills for Palestinian youth, young professionals, and educators, with special attention to disadvantaged populations. The program also explicitly encourages work promoting disability rights and awareness, particularly in rural areas. Another major emphasis is improving mutual understanding between Palestinians and Americans through arts, culture, or sports, including activities such as joint performances, exhibits, workshops, tournaments, and trainings; within that arts and exchange space, the notice highlights resiliency and mental health, diversity and inclusion, environmental protection, and civil society as key angles. Additional objectives include supporting youth initiatives and civic participation through civil society organizations, including programming that encourages effective, nonviolent activism.

Education and employability are also central to the funding priorities. The program supports initiatives that give students practical skills and experiences to compete for higher education and jobs, including soft skills, English, and technology skills. On the economic side, the notice calls for proposals that encourage trade and economic growth by helping Palestinian businesses adopt an outward orientation and integrate into global supply chains. It also invites projects that build awareness of shared American-Palestinian economic interests, stimulate economic partnerships, or promote adoption of U.S. business practices in the Palestinian private sector, especially inclusivity practices that expand participation by marginalized communities, youth, and women. Another objective addresses the skills mismatch faced by Palestinian university graduates, particularly for competitiveness in the private sector and high-tech markets, encouraging education and vocational programs that make students and workers more job-ready. Gender advocacy and empowerment are specifically listed as a stand-alone objective as well, including training or awareness campaigns aimed at advancing gender parity and equity across society. The program also supports exchange of expertise in health, social, and environmental sciences, especially to strengthen services and support systems for marginalized communities and those most at risk of being underserved. Finally, proposals may focus on increasing understanding of U.S. policy, culture, society, institutions, and best practices in industry and civil society.

In terms of basic grant mechanics, the funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $25,000 and an expected five awards. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and individuals. The notice was created on January 19, 2022, with an original closing date of May 19, 2022. The funding activity categories listed for this opportunity are wide-ranging and include arts and humanities (cultural affairs), community and regional development, education and workforce training, environment, income security and social services, and law/justice-related services, reflecting the program's flexible scope as long as proposals clearly align with the mission and at least one of the stated objectives.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jerusalem in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), community development, education, employment, labor and training, environment, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), income security and social services, law, justice and legal services, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Opportunity Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.021.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 19, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2022. (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 $25,000.00 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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals.

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