Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS PTA AFCPL19
The U.S. Mission to South Africa, through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy, is soliciting project abstracts for the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). This opportunity supports efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage, with the expectation that funded projects will also advance U.S. foreign policy objectives and highlight American leadership in cultural preservation as a way to encourage prosperity and stability. Applicants are directed to follow the detailed requirements in the full program description provided with the notice (via the "Related Documents" section), and additional background on the AFCP program is available through the U.S. Department of State's Cultural Heritage Center.
AFCP was created by the U.S. Department of State at the request of Congress (referenced in Conference Report 106-1005 accompanying H.R. 4942, dated October 26, 2000). The core idea behind the program is to provide grant funding for on-the-ground preservation work that safeguards important cultural resources. While the notice is specific to South Africa, the program is part of a broader global effort to preserve cultural heritage in ways that align with U.S. diplomatic priorities, including strengthening international partnerships and supporting community resilience through protection of heritage assets.
This is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS PTA AFCPL19; CFDA/Assistance Listing: 19.025) under the funding activity category of Arts. The opportunity was created on October 15, 2018, and had an original closing date of November 30, 2018. The listed award ceiling is $800,000. The notice emphasizes submission of abstracts first, meaning applicants are expected to propose their project concept in summary form according to the instructions in the full program description before any potential invitation to submit a complete proposal.
Eligibility is broad and includes a range of government entities and nonprofit or educational organizations. Specifically, eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education). The call particularly highlights interest in participation from non-profit organizations, public international organizations, and higher education institutions in both South Africa and the United States, reflecting the program's interest in credible, mission-driven implementers with relevant cultural preservation capacity.
In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at organizations that can design and carry out cultural preservation projects with clear public value, credible stewardship plans, and outcomes that can be tied to both heritage protection and broader stability and prosperity goals. Anyone preparing an abstract would need to rely on the attached full program guidance for specifics such as allowable activities, required elements of the abstract, evaluation criteria, and any compliance or reporting expectations tied to Department of State grantmaking.Apply for DOS PTA AFCPL19
- The U.S. Mission to South Africa in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Mission to South Africa: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation" 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 2018-10-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-11-30. (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 $800,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, 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)
What is the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) opportunity described here?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity, administered for South Africa through the U.S. Mission to South Africa's Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy. It solicits project abstracts for the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which supports efforts to preserve and protect cultural heritage.
Who is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Mission to South Africa through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy, under the AFCP program of the U.S. Department of State.
What is the main purpose of AFCP funding?
The purpose is to provide grant funding for on-the-ground preservation work that safeguards important cultural resources. The notice also states an expectation that funded projects will advance U.S. foreign policy objectives and highlight American leadership in cultural preservation as a way to encourage prosperity and stability.
What kinds of projects does this opportunity support?
Based on the notice, supported projects are those focused on preserving and protecting cultural heritage and cultural resources through on-the-ground preservation efforts. Specific allowable activities are not listed in the summary and are expected to be defined in the full program description referenced in the notice.
Is this opportunity limited to South Africa?
The notice is specific to South Africa (it is issued by the U.S. Mission to South Africa), but AFCP is described as part of a broader global effort by the U.S. Department of State to preserve cultural heritage in ways that align with U.S. diplomatic priorities.
What is meant by "submission of abstracts first"?
The notice emphasizes that applicants should submit project abstracts first. This indicates applicants are expected to propose a project concept in summary form according to instructions in the full program description, and only later may be invited to submit a complete proposal.
Where can applicants find the detailed requirements for the abstract?
Applicants are directed to follow the detailed requirements in the full program description provided with the notice via the "Related Documents" section. The summary indicates that specifics such as required elements of the abstract and evaluation criteria are in that full guidance.
Where can applicants learn more about the AFCP program overall?
The notice states that additional background on AFCP is available through the U.S. Department of State's Cultural Heritage Center.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The notice describes it as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS PTA AFCPL19.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 19.025.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category listed in the notice is Arts.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on October 15, 2018, and the original closing date listed is November 30, 2018.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $800,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes government entities and nonprofit or educational organizations. Specifically, the notice lists:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
Does the notice encourage any particular types of applicants?
Yes. The call highlights interest in participation from non-profit organizations, public international organizations, and higher education institutions in both South Africa and the United States.
Can organizations outside South Africa apply?
The notice explicitly highlights interest in higher education institutions in both South Africa and the United States, implying that U.S.-based institutions may be relevant applicants or partners for this South Africa-specific opportunity. Any additional geographic eligibility conditions would be defined in the full program description referenced in the "Related Documents" section.
What is the program's origin and why does it exist?
AFCP was created by the U.S. Department of State at the request of Congress (referenced in Conference Report 106-1005 accompanying H.R. 4942, dated October 26, 2000). The core idea is to fund on-the-ground preservation work to safeguard important cultural resources.
How are projects expected to align with U.S. foreign policy objectives?
The notice states that funded projects are expected to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives and highlight American leadership in cultural preservation, with the broader intent of encouraging prosperity and stability. It also notes the program aligns with diplomatic priorities such as strengthening international partnerships and supporting community resilience through protection of heritage assets.
What should a competitive project concept demonstrate, based on the notice summary?
The notice suggests the opportunity is aimed at organizations that can design and carry out cultural preservation projects with clear public value, credible stewardship plans, and outcomes that can be tied to both heritage protection and broader stability and prosperity goals.
Are allowable activities, evaluation criteria, and compliance requirements described in the summary?
No. The summary notes that anyone preparing an abstract must rely on the attached full program guidance for specifics such as allowable activities, required elements of the abstract, evaluation criteria, and any compliance or reporting expectations tied to Department of State grantmaking.
What should applicants do if they only have the notice summary?
The notice directs applicants to consult the full program description in the "Related Documents" section for the detailed instructions needed to prepare an abstract, including required content and how submissions will be reviewed.
What outcomes does the notice connect to cultural preservation work?
The notice links cultural preservation outcomes not only to safeguarding heritage, but also to broader goals such as prosperity, stability, community resilience, and strengthening international partnerships.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DOS PTA AFCPL19) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| U.S. Embassy Conakry, Annual Program Statement: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for DOS CONAK FY18 02 Funding Number: DOS CONAK FY18 02 Agency: U.S. Mission to Guinea Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Ukraine: U.S. government Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program –Culture Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2019 001 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2019 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Arts Funding Amount: $24,000 |
| NEA USArtists International, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1806 Funding Number: NEAPS1806 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $435,000 |
| NEA Performing Arts Discovery, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1807 Funding Number: NEAPS1807 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Performing Arts Global Exchange, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1805 Funding Number: NEAPS1805 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Prose, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2019NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Art Works 1, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01AW1 Funding Number: 2019NEA01AW1 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Challenge America, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01CA Funding Number: 2019NEA01CA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| NEA Art Works 2, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01AW2 Funding Number: 2019NEA01AW2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Our Town, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01OT Funding Number: 2019NEA01OT Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NEA Research Labs, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1901 Funding Number: NEAPS1901 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NEA Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1902 Funding Number: NEAPS1902 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| NEA Research Grants in the Arts, FY2020 Apply for 2020NEA01ORA Funding Number: 2020NEA01ORA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Sound Health Network, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1903 Funding Number: NEAPS1903 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA03LFTP Funding Number: 2020NEA03LFTP Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Creative Forces: Clinical Component, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1904 Funding Number: NEAPS1904 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $4,400,000 |
| U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for AFCP 2020 S ABUJA Funding Number: AFCP 2020 S ABUJA Agency: U.S. Mission to Nigeria Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Ukraine: U.S. Embassy Book Translation Program Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 001 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2020 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Arts Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Poetry, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2020NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Grants for Arts Projects 1, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA01GAP1 Funding Number: 2020NEA01GAP1 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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