Public Diplomacy Small Grants Competition

About this funding opportunity

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

PD small grants’ projects must clearly advance America First foreign policy principles by demonstrating how the proposed activities make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, while celebrating Freedom250 and American excellence.

Priority will be given to projects that deliver tangible, measurable benefits to U.S. interests; elevate U.S. leadership and credibility; promote reciprocal and mutually beneficial engagement with Burma, and focus on one of the priority areas outlined below.

COMMERCIAL ADVANCEMENT, Projects that advance U.S.-Burma economic ties and U.S. prosperity by strengthening entrepreneurs and businesses that align with U.S. commercial and strategic interests. Proposals should promote robust commercial diplomacy and workforce competitiveness, including through the use of innovation, digital tools, and AI‑enabled technologies, and create concrete opportunities for U.S.-linked trade, investment, and integration into U.S.-relevant supply chains.

DIGITAL FREEDOM, ONLINE SAFETY, AND ANTI‑SCAM AWARENESS, Projects that strengthen digital literacy and help protect users from online harms that threaten U.S. and Burmese interests. Proposals should focus on exposing and countering fraudulent online schemes and scam centers; building skills to recognize, avoid, and report online fraud, identity theft, and financial scams; and promoting responsible, secure use of digital platforms and tools, including in cross‑border and U.S.‑linked online activity.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, Programs that advance America First priorities by providing Business English and English for Entrepreneurship essential to U.S.-linked trade, investment, and regional stability. Proposals should build high‑level English skills needed to work with American companies, navigate U.S. standards and contracts, participate in regional supply chains, and engage in lawful, rules‑based economic activity. Activities may include targeted English training for professionals, entrepreneurs, and future business leaders that uses U.S. materials, terminology, and case studies and clearly supports U.S. economic and strategic interests in the Indo‑Pacific.

REGIONAL STABILITY AND AMERICAN EXCELLENCE, Projects that explain and highlight the U.S. role in maintaining a free, open, and secure Indo‑Pacific, and that underscore American excellence in security cooperation, governance, innovation, and economic leadership. Proposals should deepen understanding of how U.S. policies, alliances, and economic engagement contribute to regional stability and why this benefits the United States. Activities may include programs that feature U.S. experts or content on Indo‑Pacific strategy, maritime and economic security, or resilient supply chains, and that clearly communicate U.S. strengths, values, and strategic objectives to Burma‑based audiences.

EDUCATION, Programs that advance America First priorities and American excellence by equipping Burma’s students and young adults with skill‑based and vocational training that strengthens U.S.-relevant economic competitiveness. Proposals should promote accurate understanding of U.S. education, institutions, and culture; and build durable linkages with American academic, vocational, and cultural institutions. Activities may include training for students, faculty, or artists that uses U.S. curricula, standards, or expertise and clearly supports U.S. interests, policies, and reputation in Burma, consistent with applicable travel restrictions and visa policies.

Project Audiences: Primary beneficiaries of PD small grants may include, but are not limited to:

• Emerging leaders across Burma seeking to expand professional collaboration and leadership impact;

• Youth and early-career professionals developing workforce, digital, entrepreneurial, or technical skills aligned with economic growth sectors;

• Educators, entrepreneurs, civil society professionals, or public and private…

Topic areas: Education and Training, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Workforce Development, Public Policy and Governance.

Funding amount

This grant provides $5K-$50K in funding, up to $50K per award.

Deadline

Applications are due Jul 31, 2026. Confirm the exact closing time on the official program page before applying.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Other
• NGOs
• Individuals
• University
• Research Organization

Eligibility

1. Eligible ApplicantsThe following organizations, both U.S. and foreign, are eligible to apply:• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations• Alumni of USG Exchanges• Educational institutions• Individuals• Public International OrganizationsFor-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR 200.331.2. Cost Sharing or MatchingCost sharing or matching is encouraged, but not required for this funding opportunity.3. Other Eligibility RequirementsAll organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.4. This opportunity will not support:• Projects relating to partisan political activity;• Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support• Construction projects;• Projects that support specific religious activities;• Fund-raising campaigns;• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs• Scientific research or surveys;• Commercial projects;• Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;• Projects that duplicate existing projects;• Illegal activities

Agency

Public Diplomacy Small Grants Competition is administered by U.S. Mission to Myanmar (MMR), listed via Grants.gov.