Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS PTA 201903
The 2019 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program is a U.S. Department of State opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy in South Africa (Public Affairs Section, or PAS) to identify an organization that can serve as a small-grants “manager” on the Embassy’s behalf. Instead of applying for one project grant to run a single set of activities, the selected grantee would build and operate a mini grantmaking program that issues and oversees roughly 20 to 40 sub-awards to local partner organizations. The overall purpose is to support public diplomacy-related activities across South Africa, with the managing grantee handling the administrative, outreach, and monitoring responsibilities while working closely with PAS throughout.
The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, which means the Embassy’s PAS is expected to be substantially involved in key aspects of the program rather than acting only as a distant funder. In practical terms, PAS will closely coordinate on program planning and operations and will be involved in elements like the selection process. The managing organization is expected to create the small grants application process, manage the intake and tracking of submissions, conduct outreach and networking to encourage strong applicants, and coordinate a review process and timeline. Once sub-grants are approved, the grantee must issue sub-award agreements, move funds to sub-grantees, and then monitor and evaluate each sub-grant from start to finish, including performance and compliance during implementation.
Financially, the program’s total funding ceiling is listed at $150,000, with an expectation of one main award (ExpectedAwards: 1). The sub-awards under this umbrella are anticipated to vary in size and geographic scope, but most individual small grants are expected to fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range. Because these are multiple small awards distributed across different areas, the managing grantee needs strong financial controls, sub-award administration experience, and the ability to track many small projects at once, including reporting, documentation, and outcomes measurement.
Eligibility is open to several categories of organizations: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The Embassy is looking for a partner capable of operating at a national level across South Africa. However, the notice also signals flexibility: if no single grantee can effectively reach and manage sub-grantees in all geographic areas, PAS may consider multiple awards to cover different regions or capacities, even though the opportunity lists one expected award.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is discretionary and falls under funding activity areas that include Business and Commerce, Education, and an additional “Other” category (with further clarification presumably provided in the full solicitation text). The CFDA number is 19.040, the funding opportunity number is DOS PTA 201903, and it was issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Africa. The opportunity was posted on February 19, 2019, with an original closing date of April 23, 2019. Overall, the core goal is to find an organization that can function as a reliable intermediary: building a fair and accessible small-grants process, widening the pipeline of prospective implementers through outreach, ensuring transparent review coordination with PAS, and maintaining strong oversight and evaluation for a portfolio of small public diplomacy projects.Apply for DOS PTA 201903
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Africa in the business and commerce, education, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2019 Public Diplomacy Small 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 Feb 19, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2019. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - 2019 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program (U.S. Embassy South Africa)
1) What is the 2019 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program?
It is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity, run through the U.S. Embassy in South Africa (Public Affairs Section, or PAS), to select an organization that will manage a small-grants program on the Embassy's behalf. Rather than funding one standalone project, the selected organization will create and run a mini grantmaking program that issues and oversees multiple sub-awards to local partner organizations across South Africa.
2) Who is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Africa, through the Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PAS).
3) What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to support public diplomacy-related activities across South Africa by funding a portfolio of small projects implemented by local partners. The managing grantee is expected to build a fair and accessible small-grants process, expand the pipeline of applicants through outreach, coordinate selection with PAS, and oversee compliance, monitoring, and evaluation for the sub-grants.
4) What does it mean that this is a "small-grants manager" opportunity?
It means the primary awardee is not being selected to carry out one project. Instead, the awardee is selected to administer a grantmaking system: developing an application process, receiving and tracking applications, coordinating reviews, issuing sub-award agreements, moving funds to sub-grantees, and monitoring results and compliance for each sub-grant from start to finish.
5) How many sub-awards is the managing organization expected to make?
The selected grantee is expected to issue and oversee roughly 20 to 40 sub-awards to local partner organizations.
6) What is the total funding amount available under this opportunity?
The total funding ceiling listed for the program is $150,000.
7) How large are the individual small grants expected to be?
Most individual small grants are expected to fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range, although sub-awards may vary in size and geographic scope.
8) What type of award is this?
The main award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement.
9) What does "Cooperative Agreement" mean in this context?
It means PAS is expected to be substantially involved in key aspects of the program rather than acting only as a distant funder. In practice, PAS will closely coordinate with the managing grantee on program planning and operations and will be involved in elements such as the selection process.
10) What are the main responsibilities of the managing grantee?
Based on the opportunity description, responsibilities include: creating the small grants application process; managing intake and tracking of submissions; conducting outreach and networking to encourage strong applicants; coordinating a review process and timeline with PAS; issuing sub-award agreements; transferring funds to sub-grantees; and monitoring and evaluating each sub-grant throughout implementation, including performance and compliance.
11) Does the managing grantee have to work closely with PAS?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly anticipates close coordination with PAS throughout program planning and operations, consistent with a Cooperative Agreement structure.
12) What kinds of activities are supported?
The program is intended to support public diplomacy-related activities across South Africa. The notice also lists funding activity areas including Business and Commerce, Education, and an additional "Other" category (with further clarification presumably in the full solicitation text).
13) Where will the funded activities take place?
The overall program is intended to support activities across South Africa, and the Embassy is looking for a partner capable of operating at a national level.
14) What if one organization cannot effectively reach all geographic areas of South Africa?
The notice indicates flexibility: if no single grantee can effectively reach and manage sub-grantees in all geographic areas, PAS may consider multiple awards to cover different regions or capacities, even though the opportunity lists one expected award.
15) How many main awards are expected?
The opportunity lists an expectation of one main award (ExpectedAwards: 1). However, the notice also signals that PAS may consider multiple awards if needed to cover geographic reach or capacity.
16) Who is eligible to apply for the main award?
Eligibility is open to: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status; and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
17) Is this opportunity only for U.S.-based organizations?
The provided information does not specify that applicants must be U.S.-based. It describes eligibility categories and emphasizes the ability to operate nationally across South Africa, but does not state an applicant country restriction in the excerpt provided.
18) What kind of capacity is the Embassy looking for in a managing organization?
The managing grantee needs strong financial controls, experience administering sub-awards, and the ability to track many small projects at once. This includes handling reporting, documentation, and outcomes measurement, as well as monitoring performance and compliance during implementation.
19) What administrative tasks are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity specifically mentions creating the application process; managing intake and tracking; outreach and networking; coordinating the review process and timeline; issuing sub-award agreements; moving funds to sub-grantees; and monitoring and evaluation for each sub-grant, including performance and compliance.
20) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.040.
21) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DOS PTA 201903.
22) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on February 19, 2019, and the original closing date was April 23, 2019.
23) Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is described as discretionary.
24) What is the overall goal for the selected managing grantee?
The overall goal is to function as a reliable intermediary for a portfolio of small public diplomacy projects: building a fair and accessible small-grants process, widening the pipeline of prospective implementers through outreach, coordinating a transparent review process with PAS, and maintaining strong oversight and evaluation across many sub-grants.
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