Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 003 FY2024
The U.S. Embassy in San Jose, through its Public Diplomacy (PD) Section at the U.S. Department of State, is offering grant funding for cultural and educational programs designed to strengthen relationships between the United States and Costa Rica. The central goal is to support projects that build people-to-people connections and highlight shared values through exchanges, outreach, and public-facing programming. This opportunity is published as an Annual Program Statement (Funding Opportunity Number PD 003 FY2024) and uses a grant as the funding instrument.
Applicants must start with a short Statement of Interest (SOI), which is the first stage of a two-step selection process. The SOI must be concise (about one to two pages) and should clearly lay out the core program idea, the objectives, who the program is intended to reach, what activities are proposed (cultural, exchange, and/or outreach components), and a high-level budget overview. The Embassy is not asking for a full, detailed proposal at this initial stage. Instead, the SOI process is meant to screen and refine program concepts before applicants invest time in developing a full application. After an initial merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Those full proposals will then go through a second merit review, after which final funding decisions are made.
The Embassy is prioritizing proposals that align with U.S. public diplomacy priorities and the Embassy's strategic goals in Costa Rica. Priority areas include programs that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (often abbreviated as DEIA). This can include skills-building initiatives, awareness campaigns, cultural programming, sports activities, efforts to counter gender-based violence, and educational opportunities that broaden access and participation. Another major priority is programming that promotes shared U.S.-Costa Rican values through English language learning and educational enrichment, as well as the arts, music, sports, entrepreneurship, STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), and practical skills tied to university preparation.
A third focus area is building long-term institutional connections, particularly between U.S. and Costa Rican universities, technical schools, and community colleges. The Embassy is especially interested in collaborations tied to STEAM fields, semiconductor workforce development, and English language teaching, with an emphasis on sustained partnerships rather than one-off events. A fourth priority is strengthening information resilience by increasing media literacy and/or combating disinformation, which could include public education campaigns, training workshops, curriculum development, or community engagement that helps audiences evaluate information critically.
Eligibility is generally limited to registered non-profit organizations and other non-governmental organizations with relevant programming experience, educational institutions, and individuals applying in their personal capacity. Individuals are allowed to apply, but not as a workaround for an organization that is not legally registered. For-profit or commercial entities are explicitly not eligible, and the same restriction applies to foreign governments and international organizations. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040 and includes nonprofit categories both with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status (as presented in the source listing), along with individuals.
Key funding details include an expected total of two awards, with an award ceiling of $50,000 per grant. The opportunity was created on April 5, 2024, and the original closing date for submissions is June 15, 2024. Overall, this grant competition is best suited for applicants who can propose realistic, clearly scoped programs that directly support U.S.-Costa Rica engagement goals, demonstrate a compelling target audience and outreach plan, and show how modest grant funding can produce meaningful cultural, educational, or informational impact.Apply for PD 003 FY2024
- The U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the arts, education, other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy San Jose Public Diplomacy Section 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 2024-04-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-15. (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 2 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a grant funding opportunity from the U.S. Embassy in San Jose (Public Diplomacy Section, U.S. Department of State) to support cultural and educational programs that strengthen relationships between the United States and Costa Rica.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central goal is to build people-to-people connections and highlight shared U.S.-Costa Rican values through exchanges, outreach, and public-facing programming.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The opportunity is published as an Annual Program Statement under Funding Opportunity Number PD 003 FY2024.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.
Is this a one-step or two-step application process?
It is a two-step selection process. Applicants begin with a short Statement of Interest (SOI). After an initial merit review, selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal, which then goes through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.
What is a Statement of Interest (SOI)?
The SOI is a short, initial submission used to present a program concept. It is meant to screen and refine ideas before applicants invest time in developing a full application.
How long should the SOI be?
The SOI should be concise, about one to two pages.
What should be included in the SOI?
The SOI should clearly describe: the core program idea, objectives, intended audience, proposed activities (cultural, exchange, and/or outreach components), and a high-level budget overview.
Is a full detailed proposal required at the SOI stage?
No. The Embassy is not asking for a full, detailed proposal at the initial SOI stage.
What happens after I submit an SOI?
Eligible SOIs go through an initial merit review. Applicants selected from that review will be invited to submit a full proposal, which then undergoes a second merit review leading to final funding decisions.
What kinds of projects are a priority for the Embassy?
Priority is given to proposals that align with U.S. public diplomacy priorities and the Embassy's strategic goals in Costa Rica, especially projects in DEIA, shared values programming (including English learning and educational enrichment), long-term institutional connections, and information resilience.
What does DEIA mean in this opportunity?
DEIA refers to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Embassy prioritizes programs that advance these goals through activities such as skills-building initiatives, awareness campaigns, cultural programming, sports activities, efforts to counter gender-based violence, and educational opportunities that broaden access and participation.
What topics and activities fit under the "shared values" priority area?
This priority area includes programming that promotes shared U.S.-Costa Rican values through English language learning and educational enrichment, and may include the arts, music, sports, entrepreneurship, STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), and practical skills tied to university preparation.
What does the opportunity mean by "long-term institutional connections"?
It refers to building sustained partnerships, especially between U.S. and Costa Rican universities, technical schools, and community colleges. The Embassy is particularly interested in collaborations connected to STEAM fields, semiconductor workforce development, and English language teaching, with an emphasis on relationships that continue beyond a single event.
What kinds of projects are included under "information resilience"?
Information resilience projects focus on increasing media literacy and/or combating disinformation. Examples mentioned include public education campaigns, training workshops, curriculum development, or community engagement that helps audiences evaluate information critically.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is generally limited to registered non-profit organizations and other non-governmental organizations with relevant programming experience, educational institutions, and individuals applying in their personal capacity.
Can an individual apply?
Yes. Individuals are allowed to apply in their personal capacity, but not as a workaround for an organization that is not legally registered.
Are for-profit or commercial entities eligible?
No. For-profit or commercial entities are explicitly not eligible.
Are foreign governments or international organizations eligible?
No. Foreign governments and international organizations are not eligible under this opportunity.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The opportunity lists an expected total of two awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $50,000 per grant.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 5, 2024.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for submissions is June 15, 2024.
What kinds of applicants are likely to be most competitive based on the description?
The description suggests the competition is best suited to applicants who can propose realistic, clearly scoped programs that directly support U.S.-Costa Rica engagement goals, identify a compelling target audience and outreach plan, and show how modest grant funding can create meaningful cultural, educational, or informational impact.
Does the opportunity mention eligibility related to IRS 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The source listing includes nonprofit categories both with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status, and it also includes individuals.
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