2018 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Small Grants | PA18 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA18 002

The 2018 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Small Grants competition, administered through the U.S. Embassy in Amman, invited proposals to protect and preserve cultural heritage as a way to reinforce U.S. respect for diverse cultures worldwide. Established in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, AFCP supports projects that follow recognized international standards for cultural preservation. For this round, individual awards could range from a minimum of USD 10,000 to a maximum of USD 200,000 per project, with recent awards (FY 2017) illustrating typical grant sizes between about USD 24,000 and USD 174,000.

Projects needed to fit within one of three main preservation areas. The first area, Cultural Sites, covered hands-on conservation of ancient or historic buildings, preservation of archaeological sites, and documentation efforts meant to guide future preservation. The second area, Cultural Objects and Collections, supported conservation treatment for objects or collections, formal condition or needs assessments, inventorying for protection, creating safe storage and display environments, and specialized training focused on collection care. The third area, Forms of Traditional Cultural Expression, emphasized documentation and audiovisual recording of traditions such as music and dance for dissemination and teaching, as well as training initiatives aimed at sustaining endangered traditional crafts and applied arts.

Within those broad areas, the 2018 Small Grants competition highlighted several priorities that could strengthen an application. Preference was given to projects that helped meet U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations related to cultural property protection, addressed disaster risk reduction for cultural heritage (especially in seismic or disaster-prone settings), supported post-disaster cultural heritage recovery, or contributed to the preservation of UNESCO-inscribed World Heritage sites. The announcement also clarified how religiously connected sites or objects could be eligible: they could be funded when their primary significance is architectural, artistic, historic, or otherwise cultural, and when the nomination is based on those cultural criteria rather than religious purpose.

Eligibility was limited to reputable, accountable, non-commercial organizations with the capacity to manage preservation projects. Typical eligible applicants included NGOs, museums, ministries of culture, and similar institutions; U.S.-based nonprofits could apply if they qualified under Section 501(c)(3). Applicants were expected to be registered and active in SAM.gov and to demonstrate relevant experience and managerial capability. Individuals, commercial entities, and embassies were not eligible, and past AFCP awardees that had not met prior reporting obligations were also excluded.

The opportunity was strict about what it would not fund, and proposals that included ineligible activities or unallowable costs would be disqualified. AFCP would not support preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned cultural property, natural heritage projects (such as habitats, fossils, or geological formations), preservation of human remains, preservation of news media or widely available published materials, or development of classroom curricula. It also excluded archaeological excavations or exploratory surveys done for research, most standalone historical research (unless essential to project success), acquisition or creation of new exhibits or collections, new construction or major additions, commemorative commissions of new art or architecture, and the creation or modern adaptation of traditional performances. Other exclusions included replicas or re-creations of lost heritage, relocating sites, removing objects from the country, and digitization unless it was clearly part of a larger conservation or documentation effort. Financially, AFCP would not allow endowments or revolving funds, fundraising campaign costs, contingency or miscellaneous fees, most pre-award costs unless specifically allowable and approved, international travel unless clearly essential, professional development travel, or any project with a total cost under USD 10,000. Independent U.S. projects overseas were also deemed ineligible.

Applications had to be submitted in English by email to AmmanAFCPGrants@state.gov by 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2017, with award notifications anticipated in September 2018. Applicants were required to use the official 2018 application form and budget worksheet and to include supporting documentation. The required narrative and planning elements were extensive and practical: project basics and location, applicant details (including DUNS number and SAM registration status), proof of official permission to carry out the work, a clear purpose and objectives, a chronological list of activities, and a detailed schedule with milestones. Projects could run for up to 60 months (five years), structured into five one-year budget periods, but had to start before September 30, 2018 and end no later than September 30, 2023. Applications also needed participant estimates (U.S. and non-U.S., primary and secondary) and resumes for key personnel, plus statements addressing importance (cultural significance), urgency (why action is needed now), and sustainability (how the results will be maintained or how documentation and skills will be preserved and shared).

Budgeting expectations were equally detailed. Applicants had to provide a multi-year budget broken out by year and by standard federal cost categories (personnel, fringe, travel and per diem, equipment, supplies, contractual, other direct costs, indirect costs, and any cost sharing). A line-by-line budget narrative was required to show how estimates were calculated, and any international travel had to be justified as integral to the work. While there was no required cost-share percentage, the program encouraged cost sharing and in-kind contributions; if offered, applicants were responsible for tracking and reporting those contributions as part of the award. For larger requests, the notice stressed the need for federal identifiers and registrations: applicants seeking USD 25,000 or more in federal assistance needed a DUNS number, an NCAGE code (for non-U.S. entities), and active SAM registration before applying.

Supporting materials were a key part of competitiveness and eligibility. At minimum, applicants had to include five high-quality digital images (or audiovisual files) showing the site, object, or tradition and its condition, ideally documenting visible threats such as structural collapse, water damage, or material deterioration. Where available, applicants were encouraged to include relevant technical documentation such as historic structure reports, conservation needs assessments, and other planning materials developed in preparation for the project. In addition to the AFCP-specific application form, applicants also had to complete standard federal forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and, when applicable, SF-LLL.

After submission, proposals were first screened for basic technical eligibility and for compliance with AFCP rules on allowable activities, costs, and applicant types. Eligible proposals were then scored using a point-based rubric that emphasized both the strength of the preservation plan and the justification for funding. The scoring categories included: purpose and overall project design (including timeframe, description, and significance) worth up to 25 points; urgency (10 points); sustainability (10 points); rationale for U.S. support as provided by the U.S. embassy (15 points); media and outreach plan (10 points); budget and budget narrative quality (15 points); and the strength of supporting materials such as resumes, images, and official permission letters (15 points). Finally, the notice included standard federal disclaimers that the announcement did not guarantee an award and that the program reserved the right to waive formalities or adjust budgets based on program needs and available funds.

• The U.S. Mission to Jordan in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2018 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.025.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-12-28. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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