Small Grants Program in Saudi Arabia

The Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and U.S. Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran announce an open competition for organizations or individuals to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) under the Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement.

Purpose of Small Grants Program: PAS Saudi Arabia invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural, educational, or people-to-people ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.  All programs must include at least one U.S. Embassy priority program area and include a U.S. element or connection. This should be highlighted in your proposal. This U.S. element could be comprised of an American cultural element, use of American precepts or models, 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.

Special consideration will be given to proposals that highlight the diversity of the United States and programs whose experts represent diverse backgrounds.  Examples of grants program projects include, but are not limited to:

• Academic or professional lectures, seminars, workshops, or speaker programs
• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and/or exhibitions
• Professional and academic exchanges and projects
• Community building and networking or mentoring initiatives
• Professional development workshops and training
• Programs that facilitate people-to-people connection among Saudis and Americans in priority thematic areas
• Programs that promote development of skills in priority program areas among Saudi youth and/or women, or other target audiences

Priority Program Areas

• Culture and the Creative Economy:  Projects that support Saudi Arabia’s cultural programming priorities by engaging American performers, artists, creatives and other figures to perform in venues in Saudi Arabia, including via joint performances or exhibitions; or exchange programs that use U.S. experts, professionals, or speakers to help develop the emerging voices in the creative economy sector in Saudi Arabia and support emerging Saudi talent in the creative fields, such as media, comedy, film/television, music, sound engineering, the visual arts, sports entertainment and management, and e-gaming.
• Education and English Language: Programs that increase access for Saudi students to seek U.S. higher education; promote linkages between U.S. and Saudi universities; offer exchanges or best practices in English teaching and learning; or advance U.S.-Saudi linkages in STEAM fields, to include space or robotics programming.
• Skills Building among Target Audiences:  Programs that support entrepreneurship skills, particularly among youth and women, including by creating linkages with U.S. entrepreneurs and/or investors; programs that leverage sports to develop leadership, teamwork, and rules-based values; or other programs that foster the development of skills critical to economic and social advancement among Saudi youth, women, or underserved groups (including the disabled and people living outside major cities).
• Environmental Protection:  Programs that promote the green economy, raise awareness of the environmental impacts of carbon emissions or littering, promote clean energy, encourage good stewardship of the land and sea, or emphasize partnerships on other environmental issues of concern; or programs that leverage the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference and support Saudi initiatives to promote environmental awareness among Saudi youth.
• Cultural Heritage:  Programs that promote sustainable economic opportunities in Saudi Arabia through the protection of antiquities, exchanges that promote the protection and promotion of Saudi cultural heritage, or the development of sustainable tourism through the creation of partnerships with U.S. private, public and non-governmental heritage protection and management sectors.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 1 to 18 months
• Number of awards anticipated: three to twenty, (dependent on amounts and on availability of funding)
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $125,000

Participants and Audiences

• PAS’s primary audiences include emerging leaders in priority program areas; next generation leaders (e.g., innovators, digital influencers); cultural and educational leaders; national and regional media; public-private organizations, foundations, and think tanks; underserved communities; academic institutions; and government officials (state, district, and municipal officials; policy makers, civil servants).

Eligibility Criteria

• The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from U.S. or Saudi-based:
  • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience
  • Individuals
  • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions
  • Governmental institutions
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following types of programs 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.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.