Opportunity Information: Apply for SMY300 FY2023 PASKL
The U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Public Affairs Section (PAS), under the U.S. Department of State, is offering funding through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program under an Annual Program Statement titled "U.S. Embassy KL PAS Annual Program Statement" (Funding Opportunity Number: SMY300 FY2023 PASKL). This opportunity supports projects that advance U.S. government public diplomacy objectives while strengthening bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding between the United States and Malaysia. It is designed as a standing, year-long call for proposals that explains PAS Kuala Lumpur's priority themes and the process for requesting funding, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis as funds become available rather than through a single one-time review cycle.
The program is looking for proposals that clearly connect to U.S.-Malaysia engagement and that have an explicit public diplomacy purpose, meaning the activities should build people-to-people ties, improve mutual understanding, and increase awareness of U.S. policies and perspectives in a constructive way. A core requirement is that every proposed project must include a substantive American element. In practical terms, this means proposals should incorporate meaningful involvement from U.S. experts, U.S. organizations, or U.S. institutions, or otherwise demonstrate a clear U.S. connection that adds real content and credibility to the program. The American element is not meant to be symbolic; it should be integrated into the design of the project so that participants come away with a deeper understanding of U.S. experience, approaches, or viewpoints related to the program topic.
Funding is provided through either a grant or a cooperative agreement, both of which are standard federal assistance instruments. The maximum award amount listed is up to USD 99,000 per award, and the opportunity anticipates making around 30 awards, indicating a small-grants structure intended to support multiple projects rather than a single large initiative. The activity areas are broad and include education, environment, and humanities (including cultural affairs), along with other eligible activities as defined in the full announcement. This range suggests PAS is open to a variety of program formats, such as workshops, trainings, speaker series, cultural or academic exchanges, collaborative initiatives, community-based programming, or other public-facing efforts, as long as they align with the embassy's strategic themes and advance U.S.-Malaysia mutual understanding.
Eligibility is relatively wide, which makes the opportunity accessible to many types of implementers. Eligible applicants include state governments and local governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and individuals. The sponsoring agency is the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malaysia, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing associated with the opportunity is 19.040, which is commonly used for public diplomacy programs administered by the State Department.
Timing-wise, the announcement was created on December 22, 2022, and lists an original closing date of September 19, 2023, but the most important operational detail is the rolling review process. Rolling review generally means applicants can submit throughout the open period and proposals may be evaluated and selected as they arrive, depending on remaining funds and alignment with priorities. For applicants, that typically increases the value of submitting earlier and presenting a clear, well-scoped project with strong outcomes, a realistic budget, and a credible U.S. component that is directly tied to the program goals.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a flexible public diplomacy funding mechanism from the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to support relatively modest, high-impact initiatives that connect Malaysians and Americans, highlight U.S. expertise or perspectives in a substantive way, and contribute to stronger U.S.-Malaysia relations through education, cultural/humanities engagement, environmental programming, and other aligned themes.Apply for SMY300 FY2023 PASKL
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malaysia in the education, environment, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy KL PAS Annual Program Statement" 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 Dec 22, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 19, 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 $99,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Public Affairs Section (PAS) Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, offered under an Annual Program Statement titled "U.S. Embassy KL PAS Annual Program Statement" (Funding Opportunity Number: SMY300 FY2023 PASKL).
Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malaysia, through the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur Public Affairs Section (PAS).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program supports projects that advance U.S. government public diplomacy objectives while strengthening bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding between the United States and Malaysia. Projects should build people-to-people ties, improve mutual understanding, and increase awareness of U.S. policies and perspectives in a constructive way.
Is this a one-time deadline, or can proposals be submitted throughout the year?
This is designed as a standing, year-long call for proposals. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as funds become available, rather than through a single one-time review cycle.
What does "rolling basis" review mean for applicants?
Rolling review means proposals may be evaluated and selected as they are received, depending on remaining funds and alignment with PAS priorities. Practically, this tends to reward earlier submission and clear, well-scoped proposals.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SMY300 FY2023 PASKL.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) associated with this opportunity is 19.040.
How much funding is available per award?
The maximum award amount listed is up to USD 99,000 per award.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making around 30 awards, reflecting a small-grants approach intended to support multiple projects.
What kinds of projects are a good fit?
Projects should clearly connect to U.S.-Malaysia engagement and have an explicit public diplomacy purpose. Activities should be designed to build people-to-people ties, improve mutual understanding, and increase awareness of U.S. policies and perspectives in a constructive way.
What does it mean to have an "explicit public diplomacy purpose"?
It means the project is intentionally designed to strengthen relationships and mutual understanding between Malaysians and Americans, including by helping participants engage with U.S. perspectives, policies, approaches, or expertise in a constructive manner.
What is the "American element" requirement?
Every proposed project must include a substantive American element. This means meaningful involvement from U.S. experts, U.S. organizations, or U.S. institutions, or another clear U.S. connection that adds real content and credibility to the program.
Can the American element be symbolic (for example, just adding a U.S. flag or a brief mention of the U.S.)?
No. The American element is not meant to be symbolic. It should be integrated into the design of the project so participants gain a deeper understanding of U.S. experience, approaches, or viewpoints related to the topic.
What activity areas are eligible?
The activity areas described include education, environment, and humanities (including cultural affairs), along with other eligible activities as defined in the full announcement. The scope is broad as long as the proposal aligns with the embassy's strategic themes and advances U.S.-Malaysia mutual understanding.
What are examples of program formats that may be supported?
The announcement suggests PAS is open to many formats, such as workshops, trainings, speaker series, cultural or academic exchanges, collaborative initiatives, community-based programming, and other public-facing efforts, provided they align with PAS priorities and include a substantive U.S. component.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Funding is provided through either a grant or a cooperative agreement, both of which are standard federal assistance instruments.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments and local governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and individuals.
Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are listed among the eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Is the program limited to certain topics only?
The activity areas are described as broad (including education, environment, and humanities/cultural affairs), and the key requirement is alignment with PAS Kuala Lumpur priority themes and U.S.-Malaysia public diplomacy objectives, including a substantive American element.
When was the opportunity created, and what closing date is listed?
The announcement was created on December 22, 2022, and lists an original closing date of September 19, 2023. The operational detail emphasized is that proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis as funds are available.
What are the biggest factors emphasized for a strong application (based on this description)?
This description emphasizes submitting early (due to rolling review), clearly connecting the project to U.S.-Malaysia engagement, designing activities with an explicit public diplomacy purpose, including a substantive American element, and presenting a well-scoped project with strong outcomes and a realistic budget.
What is the overall goal of the program in practical terms?
In practical terms, the program is meant to fund relatively modest, high-impact initiatives that connect Malaysians and Americans, highlight U.S. expertise or perspectives in a substantive way, and strengthen U.S.-Malaysia relations through education, cultural/humanities engagement, environmental programming, and other aligned themes.
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