2019 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit | 19 BKK NOFO 1

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - 2019 YSEALI Summit (U.S. Embassy Bangkok) Grant Opportunity

1) What is the 2019 YSEALI Summit grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary U.S. Department of State grant opportunity, administered by U.S. Embassy Bangkok (U.S. Mission to Thailand), to fund the design, implementation, and overall management of the 2019 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit.

2) Who is administering this award?

The opportunity is administered by U.S. Embassy Bangkok (U.S. Mission to Thailand) on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.

3) What is the purpose of this grant?

The purpose is to select an organization to create and deliver a four- to five-day regional summit in Thailand that convenes emerging leaders from Southeast Asia in a structured, outcomes-oriented program focused on collaboration, partnerships, and practical solutions.

4) What type of event is expected: a conference or something else?

The core expectation is a high-energy, dynamic program that is explicitly not just a conference. The summit should be structured and outcomes-oriented, with participants actively collaborating, building partnerships, and producing ideas and practical solutions.

5) Where will the summit take place?

The summit is expected to take place in Thailand.

6) How long is the summit expected to be?

The summit is expected to be four to five days long.

7) How many participants are expected to attend?

The summit is expected to convene roughly 150 emerging leaders from Southeast Asia.

8) What is the typical age range of participants?

Participants are generally expected to be in the 18 to 35 age range.

9) What theme should summit programming align with?

Summit programming is intended to align with the 2019 ASEAN theme: "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability."

10) What does "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability" mean for proposals?

Proposals should show how the event will foster cross-border and cross-sector cooperation around sustainability-related challenges and opportunities, and how participants will be guided to form durable networks, develop initiatives, and strengthen leadership skills.

11) What outcomes is the summit supposed to produce?

The opportunity emphasizes clear outputs and practical results, including participants producing ideas and practical solutions, forming partnerships, developing initiatives, strengthening leadership skills, and building durable networks that continue beyond the event.

12) What is the funded organization expected to do?

The funded organization is expected to oversee end-to-end execution of the summit. This typically includes agenda and content design, participant engagement formats, logistical coordination, facilitation, and mechanisms to capture results and maintain momentum after the event.

13) What does "end-to-end execution" typically include for this summit?

It typically includes agenda and content design, participant engagement formats, logistical coordination, facilitation, and setting up mechanisms to capture results and sustain post-summit momentum.

14) Is post-summit follow-through part of the expectation?

Yes. The opportunity calls for mechanisms to capture results and maintain momentum after the event, emphasizing meaningful follow-through beyond the summit itself.

15) What funding instrument and category does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses a grant instrument under the Education funding activity category.

16) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 19.040.

17) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is 19 BKK NOFO 1.

18) How much funding is available?

The total award ceiling is up to USD 600,000.

19) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?

The Embassy anticipates making one award, meaning one organization (or a lead organization working with partners, depending on the proposal approach) would be selected to deliver the full summit.

20) Is funding guaranteed?

No. The award is contingent on the availability of FY 2019 funds.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, U.S.-based or non-U.S.-based nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as applicable), and other entities as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.

22) Do applicants have to be U.S.-based organizations?

No. Both U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based nonprofits are included in the listed eligible applicant types.

23) Is 501(c)(3) status required for nonprofits?

Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as applicable) are included among eligible applicants.

24) When was this opportunity posted?

The grant was posted on March 7, 2019.

25) What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline was April 5, 2019.

26) What kind of organization is the opportunity trying to select?

The opportunity is aimed at selecting a capable implementer that can translate the sustainability partnership theme into a well-managed, participant-driven regional summit with clear outputs, strong facilitation, and meaningful follow-through.

27) Does the opportunity allow partners or consortium approaches?

The Embassy anticipates making one award. The description notes that this could be one organization or a lead organization with partners, depending on the proposal approach, but only one award is expected.

28) What is the expected program style and participant experience?

The expected style is high-energy and dynamic, built around active collaboration rather than passive attendance. Participants should be engaged through structured formats that support partnership-building and the creation of practical ideas and solutions.