Opportunity Information: Apply for OPAPDFY23003
The American Palestinian Arts, Culture, and Sports Initiative is a U.S. Department of State public diplomacy grant run through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S. OPA) under the U.S. Mission to Jerusalem. It is an open competition intended to fund projects that use arts, culture, and sports as practical tools for strengthening ties between Americans and Palestinians while also supporting broader U.S. OPA mission goals. At its core, the program looks for partnerships with American and/or Palestinian nonprofit organizations that can deliver activities benefiting Palestinian communities and institutions, helping them better meet local needs and aspirations, and supporting conditions for a more prosperous economy driven by a healthy private sector with equitable and inclusive opportunities.
A central requirement of the opportunity is that each proposal includes a substantive American element. That means projects cannot simply take place in Palestinian communities without real engagement from American people, organizations, or professional expertise. The goal is to create meaningful interaction with American institutions, ideas, and ideals in ways that improve American-Palestinian relations and open the door to future cooperation. In practice, this could look like joint programs with American artists, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, theater professionals, cultural organizations, coaches, athletic trainers, leagues, or sports institutions, with collaboration built into the design rather than added as a token feature.
Geographically, the program prioritizes activities implemented in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, either in one location or in a combination of two or all three. The intended participants and audiences should mainly be Palestinian professionals and/or students working in arts, culture, and sports fields, though other target groups may be acceptable if they clearly advance the program objectives. In other words, applicants need to show a direct line from who they plan to serve to what the initiative is trying to accomplish.
Projects are expected to advance the U.S. OPA mission goals and accomplish at least one of four main objectives. The first objective focuses on increasing understanding and collaboration between Americans and Palestinians through direct exchange and joint work with U.S. arts, cultural, and sports professionals or institutions. Examples mentioned include joint performances, co-productions, exhibitions, workshops, tournaments, trainings, and other collaborative creations or events. The second objective centers on workforce and economic outcomes in the creative and sports sectors, such as improving employability, entrepreneurship, and career development for artists, creatives, cultural workers, and sports professionals. The third objective highlights the use of arts, culture, and sports to positively address conflict resolution and community well-being, including mental health, resilience, and trauma therapy. The fourth objective emphasizes civic and social impact, aiming to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, along with environmental protection, human rights, and stronger civil society through arts, culture, and sports programming and exchange.
The grant also signals that proposals will be viewed more favorably when they clearly advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility. This includes attention to participation and impact across race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. Applicants are therefore encouraged to show, with concrete program design choices, how their activities broaden access, reduce barriers to participation, and include communities that are often left out of arts, cultural, and sports opportunities.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number OPAPDFY23003) supports awards through instruments such as cooperative agreements, grants, or other mechanisms, and it is categorized under areas including arts and cultural affairs, education, employment and training, environment and natural resources, health, humanities, and related fields (CFDA 19.021). Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. The posted maximum award amount is up to $100,000, with an expectation of making about two awards. The opportunity was originally posted on May 3, 2023, with an original closing date of June 4, 2023.Apply for OPAPDFY23003
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jerusalem in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), education, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, health, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "American Palestinian Arts, Culture, and Sports Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.021.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 03, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 04, 2023. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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 American Palestinian Arts, Culture, and Sports Initiative?
The American Palestinian Arts, Culture, and Sports Initiative is a U.S. Department of State public diplomacy grant competition run through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S. OPA) under the U.S. Mission to Jerusalem. It is intended to fund projects that use arts, culture, and sports as practical tools to strengthen ties between Americans and Palestinians while also advancing broader U.S. OPA mission goals.
What is the overall purpose of this grant program?
The program aims to support projects that benefit Palestinian communities and institutions by helping them better meet local needs and aspirations, and by supporting conditions for a more prosperous economy driven by a healthy private sector with equitable and inclusive opportunities. A key emphasis is creating meaningful American-Palestinian engagement through arts, culture, and sports activities.
Who is running and administering this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S. OPA) under the U.S. Mission to Jerusalem.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OPAPDFY23003.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 19.021.
What kinds of projects are a good fit?
Projects that use arts, culture, and/or sports to strengthen American-Palestinian ties and advance U.S. OPA mission goals are a fit. The opportunity specifically looks for partnership-based programs that deliver tangible activities for Palestinian communities and institutions, and that include meaningful engagement with American people, organizations, or professional expertise.
Is an "American element" required in every proposal?
Yes. A central requirement is that each proposal includes a substantive American element. Projects cannot simply take place in Palestinian communities without real engagement from American people, organizations, or professional expertise. The American component should be built into the design of the project, not added as a token feature.
What does "substantive American element" mean in practice?
It means the project should create meaningful interaction with American institutions, ideas, and ideals, and encourage future cooperation. Examples described include joint programs with American artists, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, theater professionals, cultural organizations, coaches, athletic trainers, leagues, or sports institutions, where collaboration is integral to the activities.
Where are projects expected to be implemented?
The program prioritizes activities implemented in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Activities may be carried out in one location or in a combination of two or all three.
Who should the project serve as participants or audiences?
The intended participants and audiences should mainly be Palestinian professionals and/or students working in arts, culture, and sports fields. Other target groups may be acceptable if the proposal clearly shows how they advance the program objectives.
What are the main program objectives applicants should address?
Projects are expected to advance U.S. OPA mission goals and accomplish at least one of four main objectives: (1) increase understanding and collaboration between Americans and Palestinians through direct exchange and joint work; (2) improve workforce and economic outcomes in the creative and sports sectors; (3) use arts, culture, and sports to positively address conflict resolution and community well-being, including mental health, resilience, and trauma therapy; and (4) promote civic and social impact, including diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, environmental protection, human rights, and stronger civil society.
What are examples of activities that support Objective 1 (exchange and collaboration)?
Examples mentioned include joint performances, co-productions, exhibitions, workshops, tournaments, trainings, and other collaborative creations or events that involve American and Palestinian engagement.
What types of outcomes fit Objective 2 (workforce and economic outcomes)?
Objective 2 focuses on improving employability, entrepreneurship, and career development for artists, creatives, cultural workers, and sports professionals, supporting stronger economic outcomes in the creative and sports sectors.
How does the opportunity describe Objective 3 (conflict resolution and community well-being)?
Objective 3 emphasizes using arts, culture, and sports to positively address conflict resolution and community well-being, including mental health, resilience, and trauma therapy.
What does Objective 4 (civic and social impact) include?
Objective 4 emphasizes civic and social impact through arts, culture, and sports programming and exchange, including promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, as well as environmental protection, human rights, and stronger civil society.
How important are diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in proposal evaluation?
The grant signals that proposals will be viewed more favorably when they clearly advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility. Applicants are encouraged to show concrete design choices that broaden access, reduce barriers to participation, and include communities that are often left out.
Which dimensions of inclusion are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity highlights participation and impact across race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The eligibility description specifies that eligible applicants are nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education.
What award mechanisms may be used for this opportunity?
Awards may be issued through instruments such as cooperative agreements, grants, or other mechanisms.
What is the maximum award amount?
The posted maximum award amount is up to $100,000.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of making about two awards.
What subject areas or fields does the opportunity cover?
The opportunity is categorized under areas including arts and cultural affairs, education, employment and training, environment and natural resources, health, humanities, and related fields.
What is the timeline provided for this opportunity?
The opportunity was originally posted on May 3, 2023, with an original closing date of June 4, 2023.
Does the program require projects to directly support Palestinian communities and institutions?
Yes. The initiative seeks activities that benefit Palestinian communities and institutions, helping them better meet local needs and aspirations while supporting broader conditions for prosperity and equitable opportunity.
Can a project focus on only one of the four objectives?
Yes. Projects are expected to accomplish at least one of the four main objectives while advancing U.S. OPA mission goals.
How should applicants justify their target audience?
Applicants should show a clear connection between who they plan to serve (primarily Palestinian professionals and/or students in arts, culture, and sports) and what the initiative is trying to accomplish. If proposing other target groups, the proposal should clearly explain how that choice advances the program objectives.
What is the core partnership model encouraged by the initiative?
The initiative looks for partnerships with American and/or Palestinian nonprofit organizations that can deliver activities benefiting Palestinian communities and institutions, with meaningful American engagement integrated into the program design.
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