Civil Society Capacity Building Workshops | ND NOFO 17 105

Opportunity Information: Apply for ND NOFO 17 105

The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, offered a discretionary grant opportunity called "Civil Society Capacity Building Workshops" (Funding Opportunity Number: ND NOFO 17 105). The project’s core purpose is to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations in India by improving internal governance and transparency practices, drawing on best practices and expertise from both the United States and India. The program is structured around practical, peer-learning workshops that connect experienced organizations and legal experts with civil society leaders and stakeholders who influence the regulatory environment.

Under this opportunity, the selected grantee would be responsible for designing, organizing, and delivering two separate workshops: one held in New Delhi and a second held in another Indian city. Each workshop is expected to run for two days, suggesting an intensive, hands-on format rather than a single-day conference. The sessions are meant to convene representatives from leading U.S. think tanks, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and law firms that specialize in nonprofit law. The focus is on sharing concrete tools and approaches that help organizations strengthen self-governance and improve public trust through transparency measures.

The workshops are intended to cover topics such as how to draft strong annual reports, how to properly acknowledge and disclose sponsor relationships, and how to structure organizational objectives and activities in ways that are clearly conflict-free and defensible. A key point is that these best practices should be discussed and applied within the framework of Indian law, meaning the programming is not just theoretical but tailored to the Indian compliance and oversight context. The aim is to help CSOs and NGOs operate more effectively while meeting governance expectations that can reduce reputational and compliance risks.

In terms of participation, the opportunity envisions a mixed group of attendees and speakers. Ideal attendees include representatives from leading U.S. and Indian CSOs, legal counsel for large Indian nonprofits, and delegates from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, the government body that oversees CSOs, think tanks, and NGOs in India. This mix signals that the workshops are not only capacity-building for nonprofits but also a forum for dialogue across practitioners and regulators, potentially improving mutual understanding of compliance expectations and sector standards.

Speaker composition is described with some flexibility. Each workshop should include at least one expert from the United States, complemented by additional "target-of-opportunity" speakers recruited as appropriate. These additional experts may come from within or outside the U.S. government-funded alumni community and may be based in India or the United States. The final selection of these speakers would be made in collaboration with PAS New Delhi, indicating the Embassy’s active role in shaping the agenda and ensuring the right mix of expertise for the sessions.

Administratively, the award was planned as a single grant with an expected one awardee. The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $35,000. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity was posted on May 11, 2017, with an original application deadline of July 11, 2017. The funding activity category is listed as education (CFDA 19.040), reflecting the program’s training and knowledge-sharing emphasis rather than direct service delivery.

Overall, the grant centers on producing two well-structured, two-day capacity-building events that connect U.S. and Indian civil society and legal expertise, promote higher standards of nonprofit governance and transparency, and encourage practices that align with Indian legal requirements and oversight realities. For additional requirements, deliverables, and implementation details, applicants were directed to consult the full announcement referenced in the related documents.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Civil Society Capacity Building Workshops" 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 May 11, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 11, 2017. (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 $35,000.00 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 ND NOFO 17 105

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