Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008442

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announced a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) for FY21 China Programs under funding opportunity number SFOP0008442. This is a discretionary grant opportunity tied to CFDA 19.345 and is focused on soliciting early-stage concept ideas (Statements of Interest, or SOIs) for programs aimed at protecting and promoting human rights in China. In practice, an RSOI is usually used to identify promising program concepts and potential implementers before the government invites full proposals, so applicants should expect that the initial submission is more about a clear, credible program idea and fit with DRL priorities than a fully built application package.

The core purpose of this opportunity is to support initiatives that advance human rights conditions connected to China. While the notice does not list specific thematic sub-areas in the excerpt provided, DRL human rights programming commonly involves work such as documentation and reporting, support for civil society actors, protection of vulnerable or targeted communities, legal and rights awareness, digital safety, advocacy capacity, and other efforts that strengthen respect for internationally recognized human rights. Any SOI should be framed around tangible human rights outcomes and a realistic plan for achieving them given the operating constraints surrounding China-related human rights work.

A key condition highlighted in the announcement concerns projects that would work mainly with diaspora or overseas groups. DRL is signaling that it will consider diaspora-centered approaches, but only if the applicant can clearly explain and demonstrate how those activities will produce meaningful benefits for people inside China. In other words, proposals cannot rely solely on the fact that the target community is ethnically or culturally connected to China; they need a persuasive theory of change showing how overseas engagement translates into improved access to information, protection, support, or rights outcomes for citizens in China. This typically implies that applicants should spell out pathways such as information flows, service delivery mechanisms, safe cross-border support models, or other credible links between offshore activities and in-country impact.

The opportunity was created on November 15, 2021, with an original closing date of December 16, 2021, indicating a roughly one-month window for submitting the SOI. The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000, which suggests DRL was open to funding relatively substantial projects if later invited to full proposal and selected, though the announcement lists expected awards as 0, which often reflects that an RSOI stage does not itself guarantee awards and may be used for market research, pipeline development, or a subsequent competitive process.

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with details referenced in an additional eligibility clarification field (not included in the excerpt). That typically means DRL may allow a range of organization types to submit, potentially including non-profits, NGOs, educational institutions, or other qualified entities, but applicants would need to consult the full notice for any restrictions (such as cost share expectations, geographic registration requirements, or ineligibility categories).

Overall, this RSOI is best understood as DRL inviting organizations to put forward strong, well-justified human rights program concepts related to China, with special attention to ensuring that diaspora- or overseas-focused work is not an end in itself but clearly designed to deliver real benefits to individuals and communities within China.

  • The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Statements of Interest: FY21 China Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Nov 15, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 16, 2021. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for SFOP0008442

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)

Next opportunity: Fiscal Year 2022 Distinguished Early Career Program

Previous opportunity: National Digital Newspaper Program

Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for SFOP0008442

 

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (SFOP0008442) also looked into and applied for these:

Funding Opportunity
U.S. Embassy Cotonou PDS Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement Apply for PAS SGP FY22 01

Funding Number: PAS SGP FY22 01
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Benin
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $20,000
Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program Apply for PDS CHISINAU FY22 03

Funding Number: PDS CHISINAU FY22 03
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Moldova
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $50,000
U.S. Mission to South Africa Public Affairs Section Annual Program Statement 2022 Apply for PAS ZAF FY22 01

Funding Number: PAS ZAF FY22 01
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Africa
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $25,000
2022 Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey CN Apply for SFOP0008443

Funding Number: SFOP0008443
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $4,000,000
Building an Independent and Democratic Labor Movement to Protect Worker Rights in Mexico Apply for NOI ILAB 22 01

Funding Number: NOI ILAB 22 01
Agency: Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $30,000,000
2022 Request for Concept Notes - Continuity of Humanitarian Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic Apply for SFOP0008436

Funding Number: SFOP0008436
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $300,000
U.S. Embassy Yaoundé PAS Annual Program Statement Apply for PAS CMR FY22 01

Funding Number: PAS CMR FY22 01
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Cameroon
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $25,000
U.S. Embassy Dakar Public Affairs Section Request for Statements of Interest Apply for PASDKRRSOIFY22 01

Funding Number: PASDKRRSOIFY22 01
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Senegal
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $50,000
PDS Zagreb Annual Program Statement Apply for HRV2022 APS001

Funding Number: HRV2022 APS001
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Croatia
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $25,000
FY2022 Wounded Warrior Service Dog Project (WWSDP) Apply for HU000122USU0001

Funding Number: HU000122USU0001
Agency: Department of Defense, USUHS Medical - Non- Research Projects
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $1,000,000
U.S. Embassy LIMA PAS Annual Program Statement Apply for PAS LIMA FY22 01

Funding Number: PAS LIMA FY22 01
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Peru
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $75,000
2022 U.S. Exchange Programs Logistics Management Apply for PAS ZAF FY22 03

Funding Number: PAS ZAF FY22 03
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Africa
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $110,000
Romanian-language TV Content Fund Apply for PDS CHISINAU FY22 11

Funding Number: PDS CHISINAU FY22 11
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Moldova
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $500,000
Russian-language TV Content Fund Apply for PDS CHISINAU FY22 12

Funding Number: PDS CHISINAU FY22 12
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Moldova
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $500,000
DRL FY2021: Global LGBTQI+ Inclusive Democracy and Empowerment (GLIDE) Fund Apply for SFOP0008448

Funding Number: SFOP0008448
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $2,500,000
U.S. Embassy Freetown PAS Annual Program Statement Apply for PAS FRE FY22 01

Funding Number: PAS FRE FY22 01
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sierra Leone
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $24,999
U.S. Embassy Asuncion, Paraguay - PD Annual Program Statement Fiscal Year 2022 Apply for SPA10022GR001WHA11302021

Funding Number: SPA10022GR001WHA11302021
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Paraguay
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $50,000
DRL Atrocity Prevention Apply for SFOP0008463

Funding Number: SFOP0008463
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $1,728,394
DRL Transitional Justice Apply for SFOP0008465

Funding Number: SFOP0008465
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $4,938,270
USAID/Senegal Transparency and Accountability in the Extractive Sector (TRACES) Apply for 72068521RFA00016

Funding Number: 72068521RFA00016
Agency: Agency for International Development, Senegal USAID-Dakar
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $10,000,000

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

Inside Our Applicants Portal

  • Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
  • Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
  • Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Access Applicants Portal

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Learn More

 

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "SFOP0008442", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.

 

Ask a Question: