Opportunity Information: Apply for S DR860 24 NOFO 002
Voces que nos unen: Dominican youth advocate for human rights through storytelling is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic that funds an arts-and-education program using visual storytelling to help at-risk Dominican youth explore and advocate for human rights. The central idea is to partner U.S. and Dominican organizations (and/or U.S. artists) to bring U.S. artists into workshop settings where young people learn how to turn lived experience and community issues into compelling stories, especially through comics and graphic formats. The program is designed to empower disadvantaged communities through the arts while also building participants knowledge of human rights history and modern advocacy, with explicit attention to examples of human rights movements in both the United States and the Dominican Republic.
The required program model combines civic learning with hands-on creative production. Workshops must include modules that cover human rights history, advocacy strategies, and real-world case examples from both countries, alongside practical training in story development and comic creation (such as comic books, graphic novels, and/or comic strips). A key deliverable is a public-facing competition: participants develop their stories, publish them on an online platform, and readers vote for their favorites. The strongest stories are then selected for print publication and distribution, with at least 1,000 printed copies shared through binational centers and Dominican universities. The printed materials must also include information on how to access EducationUSA resources, linking the creative experience to pathways for learning more about arts education opportunities in the United States.
In terms of target audience and intended outcomes, the program is expected to reach at least 50 Dominican youth ages 16 to 30. By the end, participants should have stronger storytelling and visual narrative skills, increased exposure to U.S. arts education information, and a deeper understanding of human rights concepts and movements in both national contexts. The notice also highlights a broader influence goal: through the competition and the sharing of alumni stories, the program should help shape youth perspectives in the Dominican Republic in ways that align with U.S. positions on issues such as equality, diversity, and inclusion.
The award parameters are relatively compact. The performance period is 12 to 18 months, and all activities must be completed within 18 months or less, subject to funding availability. The funding opportunity lists an award ceiling of $30,000, with an expectation of making 1 award. Cost sharing is encouraged (cash or in-kind) but not required, meaning applicants can strengthen their proposal by contributing resources like volunteer time, donated venues, or partner support, but they are not disqualified if they cannot provide a match.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. and Dominican nonprofits (including think tanks and civil society/NGOs), public and private educational institutions in both countries, organizations connected to arts and/or human rights advocacy, and individual U.S. artists. For organizations, a major compliance requirement is active registration in SAM.gov (including a UEI). Foreign-based organizations may need an NCAGE code before completing SAM registration, and applicants must ensure registrations are current and renewed as required. Entities with exclusions in SAM are not eligible to receive an award.
The application is submitted by email to SantoDomingoGrants@state.gov, and the deadline is August 15, 2024. The application package must be in English, with budgets in U.S. dollars, and follow specific formatting rules (page numbering, 8.5 x 11 pages, single-spaced Word documents in 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins). Required forms include SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a cover-style summary page and a proposal of no more than 10 pages. The proposal itself is expected to clearly explain the project for a reader unfamiliar with the idea and must cover: organizational background and prior U.S. government funding (if any), a problem statement, measurable goals and objectives, detailed activities and methods (a logic model where appropriate), a timeline with dates and locations, key personnel roles and time allocations, partners and sub-awardees, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability beyond the grant period. Attachments include one-page CVs for key personnel, letters of support from partners, NICRA documentation if indirect costs are charged under a negotiated rate, and any official permission letters needed to run activities.
Proposals are scored by a Grants Review Committee using defined criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (25 points), organizational capacity and record managing grants (25 points), planning and ability to achieve objectives (15 points), budget realism and justification (10 points), monitoring and evaluation strength (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Award administration follows standard Department of State assistance rules: the Grants Officer issues and manages the agreement; spending can only begin on the official start date; additional funding is not guaranteed; and final payments may be partially withheld until reporting is complete. Grantees must submit financial and narrative program reports, comply with applicable federal terms and conditions (including branding/marking requirements such as U.S. flag branding), and follow budget rules (for example, grant funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages).Apply for S DR860 24 NOFO 002
- The U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic in the arts, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Voces que nos unen: Dominican youth advocate for human rights through storytelling" 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 2024-07-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-15. (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 $30,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the "Voces que nos unen" grant opportunity?
"Voces que nos unen: Dominican youth advocate for human rights through storytelling" is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic. It funds an arts-and-education program that uses visual storytelling (especially comics and other graphic formats) to help at-risk Dominican youth explore and advocate for human rights.
2) What is the main program concept the grant wants to support?
The core model is a partnership that connects U.S. and Dominican organizations (and/or U.S. artists) to bring U.S. artists into workshop settings. Participants learn to turn lived experience and community issues into compelling visual stories, with explicit civic learning focused on human rights history and advocacy in both the United States and the Dominican Republic.
3) Who is the target audience for the program?
The program is expected to reach at least 50 Dominican youth ages 16 to 30.
4) What outcomes are expected for participants?
By the end of the program, participants are expected to have stronger storytelling and visual narrative skills, increased exposure to U.S. arts education information (including EducationUSA resources), and a deeper understanding of human rights concepts and movements in both the U.S. and Dominican contexts.
5) What topics must the workshops include?
Workshops must combine civic learning and hands-on creative production. Required modules include human rights history, advocacy strategies, and real-world case examples from both the United States and the Dominican Republic, alongside practical training in story development and comic creation.
6) What kinds of creative outputs are expected?
The notice describes comic-focused deliverables such as comic books, graphic novels, and/or comic strips, created through structured story development and visual narrative training.
7) Is there a competition component?
Yes. A key deliverable is a public-facing competition where participants publish their stories on an online platform and readers vote for their favorites.
8) What happens to the winning or strongest stories?
The strongest stories are selected for print publication and distribution. The program must print at least 1,000 copies and share them through binational centers and Dominican universities.
9) Are there any required elements for the printed materials?
Yes. Printed materials must include information on how to access EducationUSA resources, linking the creative experience to pathways for learning more about arts education opportunities in the United States.
10) How long can the project run?
The performance period is 12 to 18 months, and all activities must be completed within 18 months or less (subject to funding availability).
11) What is the maximum award amount and how many awards are expected?
The award ceiling is $30,000, and the opportunity indicates an expectation of making 1 award.
12) Is cost sharing (matching funds) required?
No. Cost sharing is encouraged (cash or in-kind) but not required. Proposals may be strengthened by contributions such as volunteer time, donated venues, or partner support, but an inability to provide a match does not disqualify an applicant.
13) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S. and Dominican nonprofits (including think tanks and civil society/NGOs), public and private educational institutions in both countries, organizations connected to arts and/or human rights advocacy, and individual U.S. artists.
14) Are there registration requirements for organizations?
Yes. A major compliance requirement for organizations is active registration in SAM.gov (including a UEI). Foreign-based organizations may need an NCAGE code before completing SAM registration. Registrations must be current and renewed as required.
15) Are there any restrictions related to SAM.gov status?
Yes. Entities with exclusions in SAM are not eligible to receive an award.
16) How do applicants submit an application?
Applications are submitted by email to SantoDomingoGrants@state.gov.
17) What is the application deadline?
The deadline is August 15, 2024.
18) What language and currency are required for the application?
The application package must be in English, and budgets must be in U.S. dollars.
19) What formatting rules apply to the application narrative?
The notice specifies formatting rules including page numbering, 8.5 x 11 pages, single-spaced Word documents in 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. The proposal narrative must be no more than 10 pages.
20) What forms are required?
Required forms include SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a cover-style summary page and a proposal (maximum 10 pages).
21) What should the proposal include?
The proposal is expected to clearly explain the project for a reader unfamiliar with the idea and cover: organizational background and prior U.S. government funding (if any), a problem statement, measurable goals and objectives, detailed activities and methods (including a logic model where appropriate), a timeline with dates and locations, key personnel roles and time allocations, partners and sub-awardees, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability beyond the grant period.
22) What attachments are required or mentioned?
Attachments include one-page CVs for key personnel, letters of support from partners, NICRA documentation if indirect costs are charged under a negotiated rate, and any official permission letters needed to run activities.
23) How will proposals be evaluated?
A Grants Review Committee scores proposals using these criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (25 points), organizational capacity and record managing grants (25 points), planning and ability to achieve objectives (15 points), budget realism and justification (10 points), monitoring and evaluation strength (15 points), and sustainability (10 points).
24) Who manages the award after selection?
A Department of State Grants Officer issues and manages the agreement under standard Department of State assistance rules.
25) When can a selected applicant start spending grant funds?
Spending can only begin on the official start date of the award agreement.
26) Is additional funding guaranteed after the award?
No. Additional funding is not guaranteed.
27) What reporting requirements apply to the grantee?
Grantees must submit financial and narrative program reports and comply with applicable federal terms and conditions.
28) Are there branding or marking requirements?
Yes. The notice references branding/marking requirements, including U.S. flag branding.
29) Can final payments be withheld?
Yes. Final payments may be partially withheld until reporting is complete.
30) Are there any explicit restrictions on how grant funds may be used?
Yes. The notice highlights budget rules including that grant funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.
31) Does the opportunity describe a broader influence goal beyond participant skill-building?
Yes. In addition to skill-building and civic learning, the notice describes an influence goal: through the competition and sharing of alumni stories, the program should help shape youth perspectives in the Dominican Republic in ways that align with U.S. positions on issues such as equality, diversity, and inclusion.
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