Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS COL AFCP LG 2020
The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka, announced a funding opportunity for the 2020 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Large Grants Program. Managed locally by the U.S. Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the program begins with a call for project abstracts and invites interested organizations to coordinate with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section while shaping and submitting those abstracts for consideration. AFCP was created in 2000 at the request of Congress and is framed as a way for the United States to support cultural heritage in a manner that is intentionally non-commercial, non-political, and non-military. Beyond preservation itself, the program is positioned as a soft-diplomacy tool that can strengthen civil society, encourage good governance, and contribute to political and economic stability. The Embassy notes prior AFCP Large Grants support in Sri Lanka totaling nearly $250,000 across two projects, signaling that this mechanism has been used in-country before.
The opportunity focuses on tangible cultural heritage preservation in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, specifically targeting major ancient archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, and significant museum collections. A key requirement is that proposed sites or collections must be accessible to the public and protected by law in the host country. While the notice does not list every eligible activity in detail, the emphasis is clearly on preservation work that safeguards important physical heritage resources, typically involving conservation, stabilization, restoration, protection, documentation tied to preservation outcomes, or similar interventions that prevent loss or deterioration. The funding activity category is listed as "Other," which in practice reflects that cultural preservation projects often cross traditional program categories (such as education, arts, heritage, disaster resilience, and community stewardship).
For FY 2020, the Embassy signals that extra consideration will be given to applications that align with specific U.S. policy and programming priorities. These include projects that support U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations, advance U.S. Embassy Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) goals, reduce disaster risk for cultural heritage in disaster-prone areas, support post-disaster cultural heritage recovery, preserve UNESCO World Heritage sites, or connect with other Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs. In other words, proposals are strengthened when they do more than conserve a site in isolation and instead tie preservation to broader resilience, recovery, strategic cooperation, or coordinated cultural programming.
Eligibility is broad and geared toward organizations capable of executing heritage preservation work. The call is open to non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, and comparable institutions and organizations. It also allows participation by U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code. The award instrument is a grant. The notice lists an award ceiling of $800,000 and anticipates up to five awards, indicating a competitive process with potentially substantial funding for large-scale, high-impact preservation efforts.
The application process is structured in two rounds. Round 1 requires submission of a project abstract, and only applicants whose abstracts are positively reviewed will be invited to submit a full project proposal in Round 2. This two-step design means applicants should treat the abstract as a serious screening document that needs to clearly define the heritage resource, the preservation problem, the proposed approach, feasibility, and public benefit, while also demonstrating alignment with the added-consideration priorities where possible. The notice also states that full implementation of the AFCP 2020 program depends on the availability of FY 2020 funds, which is a common condition in federal grantmaking.
Key administrative details included in the announcement are: Funding Opportunity Number PAS COL AFCP LG 2020; CFDA 19.025; Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka; posting/creation date October 24, 2019; and an original closing date of November 23, 2019. Applicants are directed to the Embassy website for complete abstract requirements and instructions: http://lk.usembassy.gov/embassy/grant-opportunities.Apply for PAS COL AFCP LG 2020
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S. AMBASSADORS FUND FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION (AFCP) 2020 LARGE GRANTS PROGRAM" 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 Oct 24, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 23, 2019. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: 2020 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Large Grants Program (Sri Lanka and the Maldives)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity, announced through the U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka, for the FY 2020 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Large Grants Program. It is managed locally by the U.S. Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and begins with a call for project abstracts.
Which agency is offering the grant?
The agency is the U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka. Local management is handled by the U.S. Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
What is the purpose of the AFCP program?
AFCP supports the preservation of cultural heritage in a way that is intentionally non-commercial, non-political, and non-military. In addition to preservation outcomes, it is described as supporting broader aims such as strengthening civil society, encouraging good governance, and contributing to political and economic stability.
What types of cultural heritage does this opportunity focus on?
The opportunity focuses on tangible cultural heritage preservation, specifically major ancient archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, and significant museum collections.
Where must the project take place?
Projects must focus on cultural heritage resources in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as reflected in the announcement by the U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka and management by the Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Are there requirements about public access to the site or collection?
Yes. Proposed sites or collections must be accessible to the public.
Are there legal protection requirements for the heritage resource?
Yes. Proposed sites or collections must be protected by law in the host country.
What kinds of activities are likely to be supported?
While the notice does not list every eligible activity in detail, it emphasizes preservation work that safeguards important physical heritage resources and prevents loss or deterioration. Examples indicated by the notice include conservation, stabilization, restoration, protection, and documentation tied to preservation outcomes.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is listed as "Other," reflecting that cultural preservation projects can cross traditional program categories (for example, education, arts, heritage, disaster resilience, and community stewardship).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, and comparable institutions and organizations. U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code are also eligible.
Is this a grant or another type of award?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $800,000.
How many awards are expected?
The announcement anticipates up to five awards.
Is the application process competitive?
Yes. The notice indicates a competitive process, including a two-round application structure and an expectation of up to five awards.
How does the two-round application process work?
The process is structured in two rounds. Round 1 requires submission of a project abstract. Only applicants whose abstracts are positively reviewed will be invited to submit a full project proposal in Round 2.
What should an applicant include in the project abstract?
The notice frames the abstract as a screening document that should clearly define the heritage resource, the preservation problem, the proposed approach, feasibility, and public benefit. It should also demonstrate alignment with the priorities that receive extra consideration where possible.
Will some proposals receive extra consideration?
Yes. For FY 2020, extra consideration is given to applications that align with specific U.S. policy and programming priorities identified in the announcement.
What priorities may receive extra consideration in FY 2020?
The notice states extra consideration may be given to projects that: support U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations; advance U.S. Embassy Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) goals; reduce disaster risk for cultural heritage in disaster-prone areas; support post-disaster cultural heritage recovery; preserve UNESCO World Heritage sites; or connect with other Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs.
Does the program support disaster risk reduction or post-disaster recovery for cultural heritage?
Yes. The announcement highlights extra consideration for projects that reduce disaster risk for cultural heritage in disaster-prone areas and for projects that support post-disaster cultural heritage recovery.
Do UNESCO World Heritage sites matter for this opportunity?
Yes. The notice indicates extra consideration for projects that preserve UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Do applicants need to coordinate with the U.S. Embassy before submitting?
The announcement invites interested organizations to coordinate with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section while shaping and submitting their project abstracts.
Is the availability of funding guaranteed?
No. The notice states that full implementation of the AFCP 2020 program depends on the availability of FY 2020 funds.
Has AFCP Large Grants funding been used in Sri Lanka before?
Yes. The Embassy notes prior AFCP Large Grants support in Sri Lanka totaling nearly $250,000 across two projects.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS COL AFCP LG 2020.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.025.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting/creation date listed in the announcement is October 24, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is November 23, 2019.
Where can applicants find the complete abstract requirements and instructions?
Applicants are directed to the Embassy website for complete abstract requirements and instructions: http://lk.usembassy.gov/embassy/grant-opportunities
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