The U.S. Mission to China Offers Public Diplomacy Small Grants to Strengthen U.S.-China Ties

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks, educational institutions, civil society organizations, and individuals carrying out programs in support of civil society;
• Museums, national parks, and nature reserves, and
• Individuals

The Public Diplomacy Sections of the U.S. Mission to China (Embassy Beijing and Consulates General Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenyang) of the United States Department of State announce an open competition for organizations and individuals to submit applications for awards through our Mission China Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines our broad funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedure for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Purpose of Small Grants:

The U.S. Mission to China invites proposals for projects that strengthen ties between the United States and China. 

Competitive proposals should support a priority program area described below and include some element of engagement with local audiences in the People’s Republic of China. While not required, especially competitive proposals will include content or connections with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) that will promote increased cooperation between the people of the United States, the U.S. Mission in China, and the people of China after the program concludes. Finally, we note that a robust Chinese civil society has the potential to benefit U.S. citizens present in China during times of personal crisis or natural disaster, and our funding priorities reflect this, as well.

Priority Program Areas:

•        U.S.-China relations. Projects that support the enhancement of U.S.-China people-to-people relations, particularly understanding of the United States among the people of China.

•        Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Projects that promote expanding access for persons with disabilities, women’s empowerment, LGBTQI rights, and the preservation of minority cultures, especially including projects to ensure sustainable incomes and prosperity for minority communities and those with otherwise limited access to networks of support.

•        Confronting the climate crisis. Projects that increase public awareness of and engagement in environmental protection and climate change issues, and that promote cooperation in research and innovation to combat climate change. This may include areas such as sustainable development, sustainable finance, energy issues, eco-tourism, and other related fields.

•        Expanding connections in education and cultural exchange. These may include projects that encourage sharing of new approaches, methods, and content in education, and projects that encourage increased understanding of U.S. society and culture through music, drama, and the arts. 

•        Technology and ethics. Programs that provide opportunities for discussion and collaboration on the intersection between technology, standards, privacy, AI, social media, and ethics, and its impact on the future of work.

•        Health. Projects that promote a greater understanding of the value of health cooperation between China and US to improve the health of both countries and the world, including increasing understanding of U.S.-China cooperation on health research, supporting policy development, and enhancing program implementation.

•        English Language. Projects that support innovative, interactive teaching and learning of the English language. Projects that directly support ongoing efforts of the Mission China English Language Office will be especially welcome.