Funding Wizard

Total Amount Available: $300,000 Award Ceiling: $100,000 (with typical grants expected in the $25,000 range) Award Floor: $1,000 Expected Number of Awards: 3ea – 10ea Deadline for Applications: March 17, 2023, 11:59 p.m. GMT+9 This notice is subject to availability of funding. The U.S. Embassy Seoul Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity, outlining our funding priorities and the process to submit applications for funding. Purpose of Small Grants: PD Seoul invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) through programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American element, or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions in a field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Successful proposals will strengthen the capacity of Korean civil society organizations and individuals in order build sustainable activities that advance U.S.-ROK ties. Proposals may include requests for international travel and related costs of experts, speakers and key individuals in support of broader activities. However, participant exchanges should not be the exclusive program activity. Program activities should take place primarily in Korea or have strong justifications for activities in the U.S. or third countries. PD Small Grants Program priorities include, but are not limited to: - Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs; - Professional and academic exchanges and programs; - Youth leadership development exchanges and programs; - Capacity building programs for grassroots civil society groups; - Activities that focus on areas and audiences outside of the Seoul metropolitan region. Program Area 1) Programs between the United States and the Korea that build the capacity of organizations or individuals focused on the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and civic participation either domestically or internationally. Applications should focus on developing the capacity of organizations or individuals to define a mission statement, fundraise, manage finances, promote effective advocacy and civic engagement, launch public awareness campaigns, monitor and evaluate programming, and other skills as appropriate. Participants and Audiences: Participants should reflect the United States government’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility Participants can range from high school and university-aged youth to established professionals who are active in civil society groups focused on the following areas: - LGBQTI+ or other gender minority rights - Disability rights and accessibility - Human rights (global or domestic) - Support for DPRK defector communities - Mitigating gender conflict or providing support for victims of gender-based violence - Religious diversity and interfaith understanding - Support for other marginalized communities Program Area 2) Programs that encourage meaningful discussion amongst either youth, academics, or established professionals in the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan on issues of importance to the trilateral relationship such as regional security protection and architecture; climate change and sustainability; international aid coordination and prioritization; economic growth and trade; economic security and supply chain resiliency; civilian space research and cooperation; pandemic response and public health; youth empowerment and global leadership; global affairs and volunteerism; and other issues as appropriate. Participants and Audiences: Participants should reflect the United States government’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility - Emerging youth voices (aged 18-29) from the Republic of Korea, Japan, and United States with major fields of study, research topics and/or careers related to the issues listed above and/or other issues affecting the trilateral relationship. - Established professionals from the Republic of Korea, Japan, and United States with academic expertise and/or careers related to the issues listed above and/or other issues affecting the trilateral relationship. Program Area 3) Programs building ties and understanding between Korean, U.S., and regional climate activists and leaders to help countries meet pollution reduction goals; promote sustainable local development; enhance the capacity of independent grassroots environmental groups; build connections between the ROK and other regional environmental activist groups and/or journalists (especially those from natural resource exporting nations in ASEAN); raise youth awareness of climate issues; mediate conflicts arising due to environmental degradation; build capacity and networks of climate-focused social enterprises; and other related issues as appropriate. Priority will be given to proposals that include audiences from both within and outside of the Seoul Metropolitan Region. Participants and Audiences: Participants should reflect the United States government’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility - Youth members of climate and sustainability-focused civil society or other independent activist groups - Key influencers, including but not limited to journalists, civil society leaders, academics, regulators, legislative aides, and members of regional governments Program Area 4) Programs to highlight the 70th Anniversary of the U.S.-Korea Mutual Defense Treaty, with a particular focus on exploring the future of the comprehensive security, trade, scientific, and people-to-people cooperation. Applications should include public campaigns and engagements that demonstrate the connection between the comprehensive bilateral alliance and Koreans’ daily lives and livelihoods. Participants and Audiences: Participants should reflect the United States government’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility - Key influencers, including but not limited to journalists, civil society leaders, academics, youth interested in issues relevant to the comprehensive bilateral alliance including: o Trade and shared economic security o Economic cooperation in critical industries (semiconductors, electric vehicles, computing, space, etc.) o Indo-Pacific security and stability o Support for Ukraine o Economic development in the global south o Technological research and development o Democratic shared values and press freedom o Cross-cultural exchange and the cultural economy o Other issues as appropriate

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Seoul / Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to implement a 15-day exchange program to the United States for up to 10 participants representing digital content creators, targeting youth audiences from the Republic of Korea (ROK). Please follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: Youth outreach is a priority for Embassy Seoul. We seek an exchange program that explores American values and cultural issues that shape the American identity and deepen ROK youth audiences’ understanding of the United States in the 21st century. Participants will explore American issues and themes that inspire (i.e. freedom, innovation, the American dream, and American culture), as well as issues that frustrate ROK youth (i.e. gun violence, racism - particularly hate crimes targeting Asians, social inequality, etc.) and other priority issues such as human rights, diversity and inclusion, and gender equality. This program should take place in 2023, and digital creators would travel to cities/states to explore different aspects of American culture and values. Participants would meet with U.S. digital creators, civil society organizations, civic activists, social media companies/experts, journalists, community members and others using their voices to promote American values, address current social issues, and advocate for positive change. The exchange program will consist of three parts: 1. Consultation The selected organization will perform consultations with U.S. Embassy Seoul before and after the participants are selected to discuss the program, itinerary, and priorities for the trip. 2. 15-day Exchange program in the United States Ideally the timing of the exchange would be centered around a large digital content/marketing event/conference or symbolic event promoting American culture and values and include flexible programs to allow for both larger group and individual programming options for diverse creators with varying interests. The program should also include time for participants to create content, including time to interview and collaborate with the various people they meet, as well as some level of cultural excursion opportunities in each city/state. The locations should be carefully chosen to be geographically and culturally diverse and reflective of the differing social experiences throughout the United States. NOTE: Participants’ visa issuance process, COVID-related travel policy updates should be taken care by the recipient. 3. Follow-on sub-award opportunities The program will include a sub-grant award opportunity, with which a winning participant can create follow-on content about something they learned or someone they connected with during the program. NOTE: For the recipient to monitor the sub-grant programs to see if they had their desired impact, its monitoring/evaluation plan should be included. Proposals should budget for two Korean-language interpreters to accompany the group during the 15-day program. One Embassy Seoul employee may also accompany the group to engage, liaise, and troubleshoot any challenges. The applicant organization should plan to include the Embassy staffer in making logistical arrangements, including any cultural activities or ground transport. However, funding for the Embassy staffer’s flights and hotels will be borne directly by the Embassy (i.e., not included in the award budget). Participants and Audiences: The participants of this exchange program will be comprised of 10 digital creators selected by the U.S. Embassy who are actively engaged in creating content for our target audience of Korean youth.

Funding Opportunity Title: Education Influencers Exchange Program Funding Opportunity Number: PD-SEOUL-FY22-03 Deadline for Applications: OOB August 19, 2022, GMT+9 Assistance Listing Number: 19.040 Total Amount Available: $100,000 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Seoul / Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to implement the Education Influencers Exchange Program. Please follow all instructions below. Program Objectives: The United States has historically been the top destination for degree-seeking Korean students studying at colleges and universities overseas. However, we have seen a yearly decline in the number of Korean students studying in the United States with the figures for 2020-2021 (39,491 Korean students) reflecting a 32% decrease compared to five years ago (2016/17 recorded 58,663 Korean students) and 45% decrease compared to ten years ago (2011/12 recorded 72,295 Korean students). According to the National Center on Education and the Economy, up to 80% of Korean high schoolers each year use private tutoring, including college agents or application preparation services. This is illustrative of Korea's infamous "education fever," fueled by the decision-making power Korean parents wield in their kids' educational decisions. Additionally, as a country with nearly 100% of households with internet access, online forums including internet cafes and vlogs have become key sources for information exchange among parents of school age children. This exchange program will focus on working with 5-7 influencers within this arena, whom the U.S. Embassy in Seoul will select as the participants. NOTE: After issuance of the award, depending on availability of FY22 EOY funding, the number of participants may be increased to 10 and the award will be amended accordingly. The exchange program will consist of three parts: 1. Consultation The selected organization will perform group consultations with candidates, either in-person or remotely, to assess the chief interests and concerns of their audiences (students and their parents) as they pertain to U.S. higher education. The findings will be incorporated into the design of a 10-day exchange program to best address their interests and concerns and promote U.S. higher education. 2. 10-day Exchange program in the United States Findings of the consultation will be incorporated into the design of a 10-day exchange program in the United States. The itinerary will be largely driven by the results of the consultation, but we anticipate that visits to U.S. college campuses and meetings with successful Korean alumni of U.S. higher education institutions will be included in the itinerary. The exchange program may also include stays in two different cities to provide participants a wide view of the United States. Ideally one stop would be more urban, and one more suburban/rural. Throughout the exchange, the participants will be given ample opportunities to collect material for their social media channels. Embassy Seoul will also work with our media/communications team to post snapshots from the tour and brief interviews with participants about their experiences. 3. Social Media Posts As part of the program, each participant will be required to publish three blog or vlog features about study in the United States via their social media accounts within 3 months of the conclusion of the program. The proposal should incorporate 1-3 sessions during the trip to workshop ideas with participants to outline and gather content for these posts. Proposals should budget for two Korean-language interpreters to accompany the group during the ten-day program. One Embassy Seoul employee may also accompany the group to engage, liaise, and troubleshoot any challenges. The applicant organization should plan to include the Embassy staffer in making logistical arrangements, including any cultural activities or ground transport. However, funding for the Embassy staffer’s flights and hotels will be borne directly by the Embassy (i.e., not included in the award budget). Participants and Audiences: The participants of this exchange program will be comprised of 5-7 online influencers selected by the U.S. Embassy who are actively engaged in exploring overseas educational opportunities for South Korean undergraduate university students via online forums including YouTube, online internet cafes, and vlogs. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: October 2022 to July 2023 Number of awards anticipated: 1 award Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000 Total available funding: $100,000 (might be increased upon availability of funding) Type of Funding: FY22 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated program start date: October 2022 (actual trip schedule will be in April 2023) This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement. Post will select participants of the exchange program and provide feedback on the consultations and proposed itinerary for the U.S. trip. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: · Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations · Public and private educational institutions Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions NOTE: Preferably US-based NPOs that have a partnership with organizations in ROK, or vice-versa.

For full details, please visit the here (full NOFO & a proposal template): https://kr.usembassy.gov/070522-grant-opportunity-pd-seoul-fy22-02-rok-… Funding Opportunity Title: American Facilitators for ‘Let’s Talk Diplomacy’ (English Discussion Program) at various American Diplomacy House (ADH) Network locations Funding Opportunity Number: PD-SEOUL-FY22-02-ROK-NOFO-ADH Deadline for Applications: August 5, 2022, GMT+9 Assistance Listing Number: 19.441 Total Amount Available: $42,000 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Seoul / Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for individuals to submit applications to plan and execute Let’s Talk Diplomacy (English discussion programs) as facilitators of the American Diplomacy House Network. Please follow the instructions below. Priority Region:  Busan, Gwangju, Pyeongtaek, Gangneung, and Jeju Please be sure to indicate which region you are applying for by prefacing the application title with one of the codes below and carefully follow the instructions in this document. Location, American Diplomacy Network Name: · American Diplomacy House Busan (ADH Busan) · American Diplomacy House Gwangju (ADH Gwangju) · American Diplomacy House Pyeongtaek (ADH Pyeongtaek) · American Diplomacy House Gangneung (ADH Gangneung) · American Diplomacy House Jeju (ADH Jeju) Program Objectives:  The American Diplomacy House (ADH) Network serves as U.S. Embassy Seoul’s main platform for conducting public diplomacy programming. The ADH network provides niche programs for Korean students (aged 18-25 high school students and university students) who are interested in becoming future leaders. Currently, there are seven ADH centers in Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, Pyeongtaek, Gangneung, and Jeju, and we are solicitating individuals for five centers as listed in the Priority Region section above. “Let’s Talk Diplomacy” is an ADH grantee-led discussion program series that enables the Embassy to meaningfully communicate with program participants. Conducted in the English language, the “Let’s Talk Diplomacy” series aims to provide engaging opportunities for Korean students to discuss current global events and key Korean issues in international affairs with the aim to raise their awareness of their shared equities in these issues as members of the global community. The goal of the program is to provide an opportunity for Korean youth to discuss the value of both Korean and American diplomatic efforts to support to advocate for and influence important global issues. “Let’s Talk Diplomacy” also places equal emphasis on exploring the evolution of the U.S.-ROK Alliance and how we can continue to optimize its benefits for both countries. At the end of each session, participants should demonstrate improved diplomatic vocabulary skills, improved knowledge about U.S. and ROK government roles in influencing important global issues and an enhanced interest in their individual or country’s equities in the issues. The topic of each program session will be drawn from Public Diplomacy Section priorities as identified in the section-wide strategic planning process in coordination with ADH Seoul. Five ADHN grantees (facilitators) will conduct 27 sessions each over one year (twice a month basis) at their assigned ADH center (Busan, Gwangju, Pyeongtaek, Gangneung, and Jeju). The expected program dates are January 2023 to December 2023. The grantees may also be asked to facilitate Embassy-led programs. The grantees will prepare thematic teaching materials; lead discussions with participants in English on current issues; help participants learn more about U.S.-ROK relations, ROK’s role as a global leader, U.S. policy, and society. Instructors are expected to lead an interactive discussion with participants and share ideas. Specific goals include: - To improve participants’ understanding of the value of American diplomacy and its role in supporting bilateral U.S.-ROK relations. - To enhance participants to define their viewpoint on what it means to be a conscientious global citizenship (at the individual and country level) - To improve participants’ English language and speaking proficiency skills. *Program format may be flexible (virtual / in-person / hybrid program) depending on the COVID-19 situation in the Republic of Korea. *Estimated Budget: Grand Total $42,000 (for five individual grantees to cover honorarium, program materials, and local travel expenses, etc.) Participants and Audiences: 18-25-year-old South Korean high school and university students interested in international relations and in becoming future leaders NOTE: Participants will be solicited/selected by each ADH center in coordination with the Embassy and the grantees.

The U.S. Embassy Seoul Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for individuals to submit applications to carry out a program to support young Korean professionals’ innovation and creativity in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) fields, and to share expertise while supporting entrepreneurial partnerships. Please visit Embassy website (link provided) for details.