Opportunity Information: Apply for LBN PDS 2024 SOI
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut, through its Public Diplomacy Section (PDS Beirut) at the U.S. Department of State, is inviting organizations and individuals to submit a short Statement of Interest (SOI) for potential grant funding. This opportunity is meant to support public diplomacy programs in Lebanon that strengthen ties and collaboration between American and Lebanese organizations and communities. The embassy is looking for practical, well-scoped ideas that can be turned into tangible programs, especially those that create meaningful people-to-people connections and showcase shared values and mutual exchange.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it uses a two-step application process. Applicants do not start by writing a full proposal. Instead, the first step is a concise SOI that is limited to three pages and should clearly explain the program idea, its objectives, and a basic budget. The SOI is essentially a concept submission meant to help the embassy evaluate ideas without requiring applicants to invest the time and effort needed for a complete proposal up front. After a merit review of eligible SOIs, the embassy will invite selected applicants to move to step two, where they will develop and submit a full proposal application. Those full proposals will then go through a second merit review before any final funding decisions are made.
The embassy highlights several thematic priorities that proposed programs should address. These include arts and culture, climate action, human rights and freedom of expression, sports, and experiential learning, described as learning by doing. While applicants can propose a wide range of activities within these themes, the general expectation is that programs will be interactive and impact-focused rather than purely academic or discussion-based, with a clear sense of how participants will engage, build skills, and apply what they learn in real settings.
Across all themes, proposals are expected to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility considerations. In practice, that means applicants should think intentionally about who benefits from the project, how underserved or marginalized groups will be included, and what steps will be taken to reduce barriers to participation, whether those barriers are related to disability access, geography, gender, socioeconomic status, language, or other factors. The embassy is also explicitly interested in programs that build partnerships and durable connections, so concepts that include collaboration between U.S. and Lebanese partners, joint programming, exchanges, mentorship, or network-building are likely to align well with the stated objectives.
This is a discretionary grant opportunity issued under Funding Opportunity Number LBN PDS 2024 SOI, with funding administered by the U.S. Mission to Lebanon. The maximum award amount listed is $25,000, and the embassy anticipates making around five awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity categories include arts, environment, and other. Eligible applicants include individuals, nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and private institutions of higher education. The original closing date for submitting the SOI was June 28, 2024, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on April 17, 2024.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a call for strong program concepts that fit within the embassy's priority themes, can be delivered at a modest grant size, and clearly advance U.S.-Lebanon engagement through partnerships, inclusion, and hands-on learning. The immediate task for applicants is to present a crisp, compelling three-page SOI that communicates what they want to do, why it matters, what outcomes they expect, and how the budget supports the plan, with the understanding that only selected SOIs will be invited to develop full proposals for final consideration.Apply for LBN PDS 2024 SOI
- The U.S. Mission to Lebanon in the arts, environment, other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon - PDS Statement of Interest" 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 2024-04-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-28. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut (Public Diplomacy Section, PDS Beirut) under the U.S. Department of State. It invites organizations and individuals to submit a short Statement of Interest (SOI) for potential funding of public diplomacy programs in Lebanon that strengthen ties and collaboration between American and Lebanese organizations and communities.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is LBN PDS 2024 SOI.
Who is administering the funding?
Funding is administered by the U.S. Mission to Lebanon through the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
What is the main purpose of the programs this opportunity aims to support?
The purpose is to support public diplomacy programs in Lebanon that create meaningful people-to-people connections, strengthen U.S.-Lebanon engagement, and encourage collaboration between American and Lebanese organizations and communities, while highlighting shared values and mutual exchange.
What kinds of program ideas is the embassy looking for?
The embassy is looking for practical, well-scoped concepts that can be turned into tangible, interactive programs. Ideas are expected to be impact-focused and designed for real participant engagement (for example, building skills and applying learning in real settings), rather than being purely academic or limited to discussion.
What are the thematic priorities for proposed programs?
Proposed programs should align with one or more of the following themes: arts and culture, climate action, human rights and freedom of expression, sports, and experiential learning (learning by doing).
Does the opportunity require diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) considerations?
Yes. Proposals are expected to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility considerations. Applicants should think through who benefits, how underserved or marginalized groups will be included, and what steps will reduce barriers to participation related to disability access, geography, gender, socioeconomic status, language, or other factors.
Is collaboration between U.S. and Lebanese partners expected?
The embassy is explicitly interested in programs that build partnerships and durable connections, so concepts that include collaboration between U.S. and Lebanese partners, joint programming, exchanges, mentorship, or network-building are likely to align well with the stated objectives.
What is the application process?
This opportunity uses a two-step application process. Step one is submitting a short Statement of Interest (SOI). After a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to step two to develop and submit a full proposal application. Full proposals then undergo a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.
What is an SOI in this program, and why is it used?
The SOI is a concept-level submission used as the first step. It allows the embassy to evaluate ideas without requiring applicants to invest the time and effort needed for a complete proposal at the start.
How long can the SOI be?
The SOI is limited to three pages.
What should the SOI include?
Based on the opportunity description, the SOI should clearly explain the program idea, the objectives, and a basic budget. It should communicate what you want to do, why it matters, what outcomes you expect, and how the budget supports the plan.
What happens after I submit an SOI?
Eligible SOIs go through a merit review. If your SOI is selected, you will be invited to submit a full proposal in step two. Those full proposals are reviewed again before final funding decisions are made.
Do applicants submit a full proposal right away?
No. The first step is only the three-page SOI. Full proposals are submitted only by applicants who are invited after the initial SOI merit review.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $25,000.
How many awards does the embassy expect to make?
The embassy anticipates making around five awards.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The activity categories listed include arts, environment, and other.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include individuals; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The eligibility description includes nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the condition that they are not institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible. Nonprofit organizations that are institutions of higher education are not eligible under the nonprofit eligibility category described.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates it was created on April 17, 2024.
What was the closing date for submitting the SOI?
The original closing date listed for submitting the SOI was June 28, 2024.
What makes an SOI a good fit for this opportunity?
A strong SOI for this call is crisp and compelling, fits within the embassy's priority themes, can be delivered at a modest grant size (up to $25,000), and clearly advances U.S.-Lebanon engagement through partnerships, inclusion, and hands-on learning with tangible outcomes.
Are programs expected to be interactive?
Yes. The embassy emphasizes interactive, impact-focused programming that builds skills and supports participants applying what they learn in real settings, rather than purely academic or discussion-based activities.
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