Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 001 FY2022
The U.S. Embassy in San Jose (Public Diplomacy Section) is offering small grants to support programs in Costa Rica that build stronger people-to-people connections between Costa Ricans and Americans. The core goal is cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and encourages practical cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica. A key requirement is that every proposal must include a clear U.S. cultural element or a direct connection to the United States, such as participation from U.S. experts, U.S.-based organizations, or U.S. institutions in a relevant field. The Embassy is specifically looking for projects that help audiences better understand U.S. policy and U.S. perspectives while creating constructive, community-facing engagement.
The opportunity is designed to reach priority audiences across Costa Rica, especially groups that may be underserved or underrepresented. Target audiences include women and girls; migrant communities; Afro-descendant populations; Indigenous communities; youth from underserved areas; and rural or semi-rural populations outside the greater San Jose metropolitan area. The program also encourages proposals that engage organizations and influencers who shape public discussion and civic life, such as NGOs, think tanks, national and regional media, cultural and educational leaders, and next-generation leaders like innovators, digital creators/influencers, and university campus leaders. In practice, strong proposals will not just name these audiences but show how activities will realistically reach them and why the approach fits their needs and context.
Funding can support a wide range of public diplomacy activities, as long as they align with the mission of cultural exchange and mutual understanding and include a U.S. component. Examples listed by the Embassy include public-facing events featuring U.S. subject matter experts (speaking tours, public talks, roundtables, and workshops), academic and professional lectures or seminars, and skills-building programs that help young people gain technology-oriented job skills. The Embassy is also open to professional and academic exchanges, as well as artistic and cultural collaboration such as workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions. Another eligible area is building or expanding initiatives that keep exchange-program alumni connected, which can include networking, mentorship, collaboration platforms, or follow-on activities that turn alumni relationships into ongoing community impact.
Because of COVID-19 related uncertainty around travel and public gatherings, the Embassy expects applicants to include a virtual programming option. Proposals should show the capacity to run the program in-person, hybrid, or fully online depending on current public health restrictions and Costa Rican government guidance at the time of implementation. Applicants are expected to reflect these alternate delivery options in the budget, understanding that final budgets are negotiable and must be approved by the Grants Officer before an award is finalized. In other words, planning for flexibility is not optional here; it is part of what the Embassy will be looking for when judging whether a proposal is realistic and ready to implement.
Administratively, this funding opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica, and is offered as a grant under opportunity number PD 001 FY2022 (CFDA 19.040). The maximum award amount is $50,000, and the Embassy anticipated making around 10 awards. The application process used multiple closing dates rather than a single deadline, with listed submission cutoffs of March 1, 2022, May 1, 2022, and July 15, 2022 (with July 15, 2022 shown as the final closing date). This structure suggests applicants could submit for consideration in different review rounds, which can matter for planning timelines and program start dates.
Eligibility and registration requirements are especially important for organizations. Organizational applicants are required to obtain identification and registration credentials: DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM registration (not required for individuals). These codes are free, but they can take time to obtain, so applicants need to plan ahead. The process described is to first apply for DUNS and NCAGE (which can be done in parallel), then register in SAM.gov after receiving the NCAGE code. SAM registration must be renewed every year. The notice also flags an important transition: DUNS was scheduled to be retired in April 2022 and replaced by a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned through SAM.gov, meaning organizations registering or renewing in SAM would receive a UEI going forward.Apply for PD 001 FY2022
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy San Jose PD 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 Feb 01, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2022 We count with three closing dates March 1, 2022 May 1, 2022 July 15, 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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity trying to achieve?
This opportunity supports programs in Costa Rica that strengthen people-to-people connections between Costa Ricans and Americans through cultural and exchange programming. Projects should highlight shared values and encourage practical cooperation between the United States and Costa Rica, with community-facing engagement that helps audiences better understand U.S. policy and U.S. perspectives.
2) Who is offering and administering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Public Diplomacy Section, under the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Costa Rica. It is administered as a grant under opportunity number PD 001 FY2022 (CFDA 19.040).
3) Where must the project activities take place?
The programs supported are intended to take place in Costa Rica and reach audiences across the country.
4) Is a U.S. connection required in every proposal?
Yes. Every proposal must include a clear U.S. cultural element or a direct connection to the United States. Examples include participation from U.S. experts, U.S.-based organizations, or U.S. institutions in a relevant field.
5) What kinds of projects are considered a good fit?
Projects are expected to align with cultural exchange and mutual understanding and include a U.S. component. The Embassy is looking for programs that are constructive, practical, and community-facing, and that help audiences better understand U.S. policy and perspectives.
6) What activities are explicitly mentioned as eligible examples?
Examples listed include public-facing events featuring U.S. subject matter experts (speaking tours, public talks, roundtables, and workshops), academic and professional lectures or seminars, skills-building programs that help young people gain technology-oriented job skills, professional and academic exchanges, artistic and cultural collaborations (workshops, joint performances, exhibitions), and initiatives that keep exchange-program alumni connected (networking, mentorship, collaboration platforms, follow-on activities that extend alumni impact).
7) Are exchange alumni activities eligible for funding?
Yes. Building or expanding initiatives that keep exchange-program alumni connected is specifically listed as an eligible area. This can include networking, mentorship, collaboration platforms, or follow-on activities that convert alumni relationships into ongoing community impact.
8) Who are the priority audiences the Embassy wants projects to reach?
Priority audiences include women and girls; migrant communities; Afro-descendant populations; Indigenous communities; youth from underserved areas; and rural or semi-rural populations outside the greater San Jose metropolitan area.
9) Does the Embassy expect projects to focus outside the greater San Jose metropolitan area?
Projects are designed to reach audiences across Costa Rica, and the priority audiences explicitly include rural or semi-rural populations outside the greater San Jose metropolitan area. Proposals should show how activities will realistically reach intended audiences in their context.
10) Can projects target organizations and influencers, not only general public audiences?
Yes. The program encourages proposals that engage organizations and influencers that shape public discussion and civic life, such as NGOs, think tanks, national and regional media, cultural and educational leaders, and next-generation leaders (innovators, digital creators/influencers, and university campus leaders).
11) Is it enough to simply name a target audience in the proposal?
No. The Embassy indicates that stronger proposals will go beyond listing audiences and will explain how the activities will realistically reach those groups and why the chosen approach fits their needs and context.
12) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount is $50,000.
13) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipated making around 10 awards.
14) What were the application deadlines and how did the closing dates work?
The application process used multiple closing dates rather than a single deadline. Submission cutoffs were listed as March 1, 2022; May 1, 2022; and July 15, 2022, with July 15, 2022 shown as the final closing date. This structure suggests applications could be reviewed in different rounds depending on when they were submitted.
15) Why do multiple closing dates matter for applicants?
Because the opportunity used several submission cutoffs, applicants could potentially submit for consideration in different review rounds. That can affect planning timelines and potential program start dates.
16) Is a virtual option required due to COVID-19 uncertainty?
Yes. The Embassy expects applicants to include a virtual programming option due to uncertainty around travel and public gatherings.
17) Do proposals need to be able to run in-person, hybrid, or fully online?
Yes. Proposals should show capacity to run the program in-person, hybrid, or fully online depending on public health restrictions and Costa Rican government guidance at the time of implementation.
18) Do alternate delivery formats need to be reflected in the budget?
Yes. Applicants are expected to reflect alternate delivery options (in-person, hybrid, online) in the budget. The notice also indicates final budgets are negotiable and must be approved by the Grants Officer before an award is finalized.
19) Are budgets final at the time of application?
No. The opportunity notes that final budgets are negotiable, but they must be approved by the Grants Officer before an award is finalized.
20) What identification and registrations are required for organizational applicants?
Organizational applicants are required to obtain DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM registration credentials (these are not required for individuals). These codes are free but can take time to obtain, so planning ahead is important.
21) Are these registrations required for individuals?
No. The notice specifies that DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM registration are not required for individuals, but they are required for organizational applicants.
22) What is the order of steps for organizational registration mentioned in the notice?
The described process is to apply for DUNS and NCAGE (which can be done in parallel), then register in SAM.gov after receiving the NCAGE code.
23) Does SAM.gov registration need to be renewed?
Yes. SAM registration must be renewed every year.
24) What is the DUNS transition mentioned in the opportunity notice?
The notice flags that DUNS was scheduled to be retired in April 2022 and replaced by a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned through SAM.gov. Organizations registering or renewing in SAM would receive a UEI going forward.
25) What should applicants keep in mind about planning and readiness?
The Embassy emphasizes that flexibility is part of what it will look for when judging whether a proposal is realistic and ready to implement. Applicants are expected to plan for possible changes in travel and gathering restrictions and to show how the project can still be delivered effectively under different formats.
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