Opportunity Information: Apply for M NOFO 18 103
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, is soliciting proposals for a discretionary grant opportunity called the "Alumni Mentorship Program for Youth Leaders in Environment Conservation" (Funding Opportunity Number: M NOFO 18 103; CFDA 19.040). The grant is designed to connect young environmental leaders in western India with U.S. exchange program alumni, using a structured mentorship model that blends training, project development, competitive pitching, and short-term on-the-ground implementation.
The core of the project is a six-month mentorship program. The selected grantee is expected to recruit and manage a cohort of 15 youth mentees and match them with five U.S. exchange alumni based in western India, with the alumni serving as mentors. The program is meant to build the mentees' practical skills and confidence as emerging environmental changemakers, while also activating the alumni network in a sustained, hands-on way rather than limiting engagement to one-off events.
Program activities are clearly outlined. First, the grantee will organize three capacity-building workshops in Mumbai. These workshops are intended to strengthen participants in areas that typically support effective community-based environmental work, such as problem identification, project design, stakeholder engagement, communications, and proposal development. Alongside the workshops, mentoring continues throughout the program as mentees develop their own environmental project proposals with guidance from the alumni mentors. The mentorship component is not incidental; it is an ongoing process that should help mentees refine ideas into realistic, community-responsive plans.
After proposal development, the program includes a pitching session where participants present their projects. From this pitch event, three winning proposals are selected to receive seed funding. The final phase is a three-month implementation period during which the winning teams carry out their community-level environmental projects. While workshops and the pitching session are centered in Mumbai, the implementation sites for the funded projects can be in any of the listed western Indian states: Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. This structure indicates the program is both training-oriented and outcome-oriented, ending with tangible community projects rather than stopping at planning.
In terms of funding and eligibility, the award ceiling is $20,000, and the agency anticipates making one award. The funding instrument is a grant, and the eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was originally posted on April 13, 2018, with an original closing date of June 13, 2018. Applicants are directed to consult the full announcement on Grants.gov for detailed requirements, application instructions, and any mandatory compliance or reporting expectations tied to U.S. government assistance awards.Apply for M NOFO 18 103
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Mentorship Program for Youth Leaders in Environment Conservation" 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 Apr 13, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 13, 2018. (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 $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Alumni Mentorship Program for Youth Leaders in Environment Conservation".
2) Who is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai.
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO) and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is M NOFO 18 103, and the CFDA number is 19.040.
4) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to connect young environmental leaders in western India with U.S. exchange program alumni using a structured mentorship model. The intent is to build practical skills, strengthen youth-led project development, and generate tangible community-level environmental projects.
5) What kind of grant is this?
This is a discretionary grant and the funding instrument is a grant.
6) How long is the mentorship program?
The core program is a six-month mentorship program.
7) What is the expected cohort size for youth participants?
The selected grantee is expected to recruit and manage a cohort of 15 youth mentees.
8) How many mentors are involved, and who are they?
The program is designed to match the youth mentees with five U.S. exchange alumni based in western India, who serve as mentors.
9) What does the mentorship component involve?
Mentoring is intended to be ongoing throughout the program, supporting mentees as they develop environmental project proposals and refine them into realistic, community-responsive plans. The alumni engagement is meant to be sustained and hands-on rather than limited to one-off events.
10) What are the main program activities?
The outlined activities include:
- Three capacity-building workshops in Mumbai
- Continuous mentorship while mentees develop environmental project proposals
- A pitching session where participants present their proposals
- Selection of three winning proposals to receive seed funding
- A three-month implementation period during which winning teams carry out their projects
11) Where will the workshops take place?
The program includes three workshops in Mumbai.
12) What topics are the workshops expected to cover?
The workshops are intended to strengthen skills commonly needed for community-based environmental work, including:
- Problem identification
- Project design
- Stakeholder engagement
- Communications
- Proposal development
13) What happens after participants develop project proposals?
Participants take part in a pitching session where they present their environmental projects. From this pitch event, three winning proposals are selected to receive seed funding.
14) How many proposals receive seed funding?
Three proposals are selected as winners and receive seed funding.
15) How long is the implementation phase?
The final phase includes a three-month implementation period for the winning teams to carry out their community-level environmental projects.
16) Where can the funded projects be implemented?
While workshops and the pitching session are centered in Mumbai, implementation sites for funded projects can be located in the following western Indian states:
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
17) What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $20,000.
18) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making one award.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, and this eligibility excludes institutions of higher education.
20) Is this opportunity open to universities or colleges?
No. The eligibility criteria specify nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and explicitly exclude institutions of higher education.
21) What is the focus area for participants and projects?
The program focuses on environment conservation and supports youth as emerging environmental changemakers through training, mentorship, proposal development, and real-world community project implementation.
22) What are the key outcomes the program is designed to produce?
The structure indicates both training-oriented and outcome-oriented goals, ending with tangible community projects implemented by winning teams, rather than stopping at planning or workshops alone.
23) When was the opportunity originally posted and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was originally posted on April 13, 2018, with an original closing date of June 13, 2018.
24) Where should applicants find the full requirements and instructions?
Applicants are directed to consult the full announcement on Grants.gov for detailed requirements, application instructions, and any mandatory compliance or reporting expectations tied to U.S. government assistance awards.
25) Does the opportunity mention compliance or reporting obligations?
Yes. The description notes that the Grants.gov announcement will include mandatory compliance or reporting expectations associated with U.S. government assistance awards.
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