Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS COL FY 2020 01
The "Small and Mighty Grants Program" is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka funding opportunity that uses a cooperative agreement to channel small grants to grassroots NGOs and individuals that may not have the staffing, systems, or grant-writing experience to compete in a standard federal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. The overall intent is to broaden access to U.S. government support by pairing these smaller, community-based actors with a capable in-country "local primary partner" that can run a simplified sub-award program on the Embassy's behalf. Projects supported through the program are expected to align with core U.S. Mission priorities in Sri Lanka, including promoting peace, democracy, reconciliation and human rights; advancing economic empowerment; strengthening good governance and the rule of law; and supporting Sri Lanka as a free, open, and secure partner.
The program is structured so that one established local organization serves as the primary recipient (the local primary partner) and then issues sub-awards to "local implementing partners" (smaller NGOs and individuals). A key feature is capacity support: the primary partner is expected to help local implementing partners develop basic program plans and budgets and to submit applications in a simplified format available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. The primary partner is also expected to handle the full administrative cycle for these small grants, including outreach, intake, selection support, award management, monitoring, and reporting. While the local primary partner runs day-to-day operations, the Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PAS) retains strong oversight, including the right to screen submissions and to have substantial involvement and final approval authority over any grant application.
Operationally, the primary partner must run a recurring application cycle, soliciting and accepting applications six times per year and conducting selection decisions every two months as funds become available. The selection process must be transparent and formalized. Applications received must be shared with the Embassy grants evaluation team, which includes two PAS staff members who participate in voting alongside the local primary partner to select and rank proposals for funding. The expectation is that the program not only funds projects that meet mission goals, but also intentionally brings in new local implementing partners, with preference given to organizations or individuals that have not previously received U.S. government funding. Where relevant, implementing partners may need to include supporting documentation with their initial application, such as official permission letters from authorities to conduct activities, memoranda of understanding or agreements, and letters of support related to subcontractors or collaborating partners.
Geographic and inclusion requirements are central. The local primary partner must be able to operate nationwide, have offices throughout Sri Lanka, and work comfortably across all ethnic communities. It must also be able to function in all three languages (English, Sinhala, and Tamil) across the program, from outreach and application support to selection communications and feedback. Transparency is emphasized throughout the process, including clear confirmation of receipt, understandable selection criteria, and constructive feedback to applicants and implementing partners.
The opportunity also places weight on visibility and communications. The primary partner must develop and implement a traditional and/or social media plan to advertise the program, highlight awards, and share outcomes. Implementing partners are encouraged to coordinate with the PAS social media team to increase reach and impact, but the primary partner is responsible for ensuring robust coverage across the life of the program, including announcements, award decisions, and results.
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning are built into the design. The primary partner is required to monitor progress and success and provide regular quarterly reporting to PAS. In addition, the partner must have a monitoring and evaluation approach that includes tools to track capacity development over time, reflecting the program's emphasis on strengthening smaller organizations and individuals, not just funding isolated activities.
Key administrative details from the source listing include: the opportunity is discretionary, issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka, under Funding Opportunity Number PAS COL FY 2020 01, with a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. The posted award ceiling is $1,500,000, with an expectation of up to 5 awards. The original posting dates show a creation date of June 18, 2020, and an original closing date of August 17, 2020. The program calendar described in the text indicates the Embassy planned to select the local primary partner in September 2020, announce the "Small and Mighty" call publicly in September 2020 with proposals due by October 2020, and aim for the first sub-award funding by November 2020, allowing time for funds to transfer to the primary partner.Apply for PAS COL FY 2020 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SMALL & MIGHTY GRANTS PROGRAM" 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 Jun 18, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 17, 2020. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Small and Mighty Grants Program - FAQs
What is the Small and Mighty Grants Program?
The Small and Mighty Grants Program is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka funding opportunity designed to expand access to small grants for grassroots NGOs and individuals who may not have the staffing, systems, or grant-writing experience to compete in a standard federal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process.
Who is offering this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka (through the Embassy's Public Affairs Section, or PAS).
What type of funding instrument is used?
The program uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, with the Embassy's PAS retaining strong oversight and final approval authority over grant applications.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is PAS COL FY 2020 01.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The intent is to broaden access to U.S. government support by pairing smaller community-based actors (grassroots NGOs and individuals) with a capable in-country "local primary partner" that can run a simplified sub-award program on the Embassy's behalf.
What kinds of priorities should projects align with?
Projects supported through the program are expected to align with core U.S. Mission priorities in Sri Lanka, including:
- Promoting peace, democracy, reconciliation, and human rights
- Advancing economic empowerment
- Strengthening good governance and the rule of law
- Supporting Sri Lanka as a free, open, and secure partner
How is the program structured?
One established local organization serves as the primary recipient (the "local primary partner"). That organization then issues sub-awards to "local implementing partners," which are smaller NGOs and individuals.
Who are "local implementing partners" under this program?
Local implementing partners are the grassroots NGOs and individuals who receive sub-awards through the program run by the local primary partner.
What does the local primary partner do?
The local primary partner is expected to run the simplified small-grants sub-award program on the Embassy's behalf, including outreach, intake, selection support, award management, monitoring, and reporting.
Will the local primary partner provide capacity-building support?
Yes. A key feature is capacity support. The primary partner is expected to help local implementing partners develop basic program plans and budgets and submit applications in a simplified format.
In what languages will applications and support be available?
The simplified application format is available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. The program also emphasizes that the primary partner must be able to function in all three languages across outreach, application support, selection communications, and feedback.
How often will applications be accepted?
The primary partner must run a recurring application cycle, soliciting and accepting applications six times per year.
How often are selection decisions made?
Selection decisions are conducted every two months as funds become available.
How is the selection process designed to be fair and transparent?
The selection process must be transparent and formalized. Transparency elements described include clear confirmation of receipt, understandable selection criteria, and constructive feedback to applicants and implementing partners.
What role does the U.S. Embassy play in selecting sub-awardees?
The Embassy's PAS retains strong oversight, including the right to screen submissions and final approval authority over any grant application. Applications received must be shared with the Embassy grants evaluation team.
Who is on the Embassy grants evaluation team?
The Embassy grants evaluation team includes two PAS staff members. They participate in voting alongside the local primary partner to select and rank proposals for funding.
Does the program prefer first-time U.S. government grantees?
Yes. The program is expected to intentionally bring in new local implementing partners, with preference given to organizations or individuals that have not previously received U.S. government funding.
What documentation might implementing partners need to submit?
Where relevant, implementing partners may need to include supporting documentation with their initial application, such as official permission letters from authorities to conduct activities, memoranda of understanding or agreements, and letters of support related to subcontractors or collaborating partners.
What geographic coverage is expected?
Geographic requirements are central. The local primary partner must be able to operate nationwide and have offices throughout Sri Lanka.
Are there inclusion expectations for who the program serves?
Yes. The local primary partner must work comfortably across all ethnic communities and be able to operate in English, Sinhala, and Tamil throughout program activities.
What communication and visibility requirements are included?
The primary partner must develop and implement a traditional and/or social media plan to advertise the program, highlight awards, and share outcomes. Coverage is expected across the program life cycle, including announcements, award decisions, and results.
Do implementing partners need to coordinate communications with the Embassy?
Implementing partners are encouraged to coordinate with the PAS social media team to increase reach and impact, while the primary partner remains responsible for ensuring robust media coverage.
What monitoring and reporting is required?
The primary partner is required to monitor progress and success and provide regular quarterly reporting to PAS.
Is there an evaluation component beyond basic reporting?
Yes. The partner must have a monitoring and evaluation approach that includes tools to track capacity development over time, reflecting the program's emphasis on strengthening smaller organizations and individuals, not only funding activities.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The posted award ceiling is $1,500,000.
How many awards are expected?
The listing indicates an expectation of up to 5 awards.
Is this opportunity described as discretionary?
Yes. The source listing describes the opportunity as discretionary.
When was the opportunity originally posted and when did it close?
The original posting dates show a creation date of June 18, 2020, and an original closing date of August 17, 2020.
What timeline was described for launching the program?
The program calendar described indicates the Embassy planned to select the local primary partner in September 2020, announce the Small and Mighty call publicly in September 2020 (with proposals due by October 2020), and aim for the first sub-award funding by November 2020, allowing time for funds to transfer to the primary partner.
Who manages day-to-day operations of the sub-award program?
The local primary partner manages day-to-day operations, while PAS maintains substantial involvement, oversight, and final approval authority.
What are the main operational responsibilities expected of the primary partner?
Responsibilities described include outreach, application intake, supporting a transparent selection process, award management, monitoring, and reporting, plus providing constructive feedback and confirming receipt of applications.
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