Combating Discrimination and Social Injustice through Capacity Building and Policy Reform | C NOFO 20 106

Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 20 106

The grant opportunity "Combating Discrimination and Social Injustice through Capacity Building and Policy Reform" (Funding Opportunity Number: C NOFO 20 106) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, under the Community Development funding activity category (CFDA 19.040). It was created on July 7, 2020, with an original application closing date of July 21, 2020. The program anticipates making one award, with a maximum funding ceiling of $30,000. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions within that nonprofit category).

At its core, the opportunity is designed to strengthen local capacity in South India to confront discrimination and social injustice through practical leadership development and policy-oriented thinking, while also leveraging digital platforms to reach wider audiences. A central project requirement is to train at least 25 young community leaders, equipping them with tools and methods to develop realistic, actionable strategies that counter discrimination and promote a more inclusive and democratic society. The program is explicitly results-focused, requiring measurement of learning and attitude shifts through pre- and post-event participant surveys, so the proposed activities need to be structured in a way that allows clear before-and-after comparisons.

Another major component focuses on online influence and public engagement. The project must inspire at least 15 social media influencers to create or support initiatives that actively oppose discrimination and intolerance, using their platforms to amplify inclusive messages and constructive narratives. Evaluation here is not limited to attendance or participation; it also includes pre- and post-workshop surveys and a close look at how participants apply workshop techniques in their actual social media output. In other words, the grant expects the training to translate into visible online behavior, content strategies, and real campaigns rather than remaining a purely educational exercise.

The opportunity also places importance on sustained networks and longer-term civic engagement beyond the initial training. It requires inducting at least 40 participants into a broader alumni network of U.S. Government-supported programs in South India, specifically referencing initiatives like the Volunteer for India project. This indicates the program is intended not only to deliver a one-time workshop, but to connect participants to an ongoing community of practice, increasing the chance that collaborations, mentoring, and follow-on projects continue after the grant period.

Finally, the grant stresses measurable social media interventions as a key outcome. Participants are expected to establish and lead effective interventions across different platforms, supported by interactions with a U.S. speaker, suggesting an exchange or expert-led component that strengthens credibility and introduces tested approaches. Success is intended to be tracked using concrete engagement metrics such as comments, shares, follower changes, and views of multimedia content. To make performance verifiable, the project calls for periodic analytical reports that document these engagement parameters over time, meaning applicants would need a plan for monitoring, analytics collection, and regular reporting that ties online performance back to the training objectives and anti-discrimination goals.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Combating Discrimination and Social Injustice through Capacity Building and Policy Reform" 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 Jul 07, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2020. (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 1 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, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for C NOFO 20 106

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