US Embassy's Call for Proposals for FY 2010 Small Grants Program

Application deadline: June 14, 2010

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the Small Grants Program for fiscal year 2010.

The purpose of the program is to assist countries around the world to strengthen democracy, human rights, civil society, and rule of law, and to combat extremism in their countries by making grants of up to $20,000 to local non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations.

Proposals must support program activities that promote democratic practices, including civil society; freedom of information and independent media; transparency in government; NGO capacity building; rule of law and judicial reform; civic education; conflict resolution; human rights; ethnic, minority and women's rights. The application deadline is June 14th, 2010. Final selections will be informed in early August 2010.

General guidelines shall be carefully reviewed when preparing the application for submission.

General Guidelines

• Grants may be made to non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations based in post’s host country. Grants cannot be made to individuals, but only to non-governmental organizations that demonstrate long-term sustainability beyond the proposed program activity. Third-country organizations and individuals are not eligible.
• Priority is given to grants that advance democratic practices, including development of civil society; foster freedom of information and independent media; increase transparency in government; support NGO capacity building; advance rule of law and judicial reform; promote civic education; encourage conflict resolution; prioritize human rights; and advocate for equal rights for ethnic minorities or women.
• Priority will be given to proposals from new organizations and new projects. Grants will not normally be approved for multi-year projects, but past recipients of Small Grants Program will be considered for new one-year projects.
• Proposals for non-partisan election education and related public information activities are eligible for consideration, but grants may not be used for any form of partisan political activity.
• Small Grant proposals may include modest administrative expenses, including honoraria/partial salaries of grant implementers, but only when they are directly linked to the conduct of the specific grant program. General operating expenses, long-term infrastructure costs and undefined miscellaneous or “overhead” expenses are not acceptable.
• Grant funds may not be used to fund travel to international conferences, nor may they be used primarily for food and drink expenses.
• Grant funds may be used to train trainers, but they may not be used to provide direct social services.
• Grant funds may be used for seminars and workshops, but proposals must describe the expected audience, content, and timeframe, and justify the activity in terms of outcome and benefits to U.S. national interests.
• Grant funds may be used for the publication of materials, but proposals must describe the audience, content and means of distribution.
• Complete application shall be submitted to:

Pheakdey Nhim
Public Affairs Office
U.S. Embassy
#1, Street 96, Wat Phnom
Phnom Penh

The application for the Small Grants Program must contain the following information:

Small Grants Application

1. Summary

• Name of Project
• Amount Requested

2. Grantee Organization

• Name of Organization (in English)
• Name of Organization (in Khmer)
• Address (in English)
• Address (in Khmer)
• Contact Information (Phone, fax, email)
• Web Site Address, if any
• Project Coordinator (Name, title/position)
• Brief Background of Organization and Key People
• Any Previous USG Funding:

3. Project

• Project Description
• Detailed Budget