U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Small Grants | EAPBJ 22 GR 002 EAP 051622

Opportunity Information: Apply for EAPBJ 22 GR 002 EAP 051622

The U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Small Grants program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Diplomacy Sections at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates General in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenyang. It is designed to fund relatively small, targeted projects that build or deepen ties between the United States and China, with a clear public diplomacy focus. The core idea is to support activities that promote mutual understanding and practical cooperation, especially through direct engagement with local audiences in the People's Republic of China.

Projects are expected to fit within at least one of the program's priority areas and include an element of outreach or participation inside China. Proposals tend to be stronger when they do more than simply deliver content and instead create real interaction, collaboration, or sustained exchange with Chinese participants or communities. While it is not mandatory, the Mission signals that proposals become more competitive when they include connections to American experts, organizations, or institutions, particularly when those relationships are likely to continue after the grant-funded activities end. The notice also highlights a broader civic rationale: a stronger and more resilient Chinese civil society can also indirectly benefit U.S. citizens in China during emergencies or disasters, and that perspective is reflected in the kinds of projects the Mission is interested in supporting.

The funding priorities cover seven main themes. One major area is U.S.-China relations, with an emphasis on people-to-people engagement and improving understanding of the United States among the Chinese public. Another is diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, which includes expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities, supporting women's empowerment, advancing LGBTQI rights, and preserving minority cultures; the program particularly encourages projects that help minority communities and other underserved groups build sustainable livelihoods and access support networks. A third theme is confronting the climate crisis, supporting public awareness, environmental protection, and cooperation on research and innovation related to climate change, including related topics like sustainable development, sustainable finance, energy, and eco-tourism. The program also prioritizes education and cultural exchange, including efforts that share new approaches in teaching and learning and cultural projects that increase understanding of U.S. society and culture through music, drama, and the arts. Another focus area is technology and ethics, supporting dialogue and collaboration on how technology intersects with standards, privacy, AI, social media, and ethics, and what that means for the future of work. Health is also a priority, especially projects that explain and strengthen the value of U.S.-China health cooperation in research, policy development, and practical program implementation. Finally, the program supports English language projects, particularly those that use innovative and interactive approaches to English teaching and learning, with special interest in efforts that complement or support the Mission China English Language Office's ongoing work.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program (not a formula entitlement). The opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number EAPBJ 22 GR 002 EAP 051622, with a grant funding instrument and a humanities/cultural affairs activity category (CFDA 19.040). Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that category), and individuals, with the opportunity described as broadly open within those eligibility groupings subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice. The award ceiling is $30,000 per grant, and the Mission anticipated making about 10 awards. The original posting date was March 21, 2022, and the original application deadline was May 16, 2022.

Overall, the program is best understood as a small-grants platform for practical, audience-facing public diplomacy projects that connect U.S. and Chinese people and institutions around shared interests, with a strong preference for activities that create measurable engagement in China and leave behind lasting relationships or capacity after the funded period ends.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to China in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Mission China Public Diplomacy Small Grants" 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 Mar 21, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2022. (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 10 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, Individuals, Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for EAPBJ 22 GR 002 EAP 051622

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