Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0010241
The FY23 J/IRF Supporting Religious and Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0010241) is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, through the Office of International Religious Freedom (J/IRF). The program is focused on advancing freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka by supporting efforts connected to the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites. In practice, this points to projects that help safeguard heritage and reduce risks to culturally or religiously significant places in ways that reinforce religious freedom goals, such as improving community-based protection approaches, strengthening documentation and preservation planning, supporting training and capacity building for local stakeholders, and encouraging inclusive engagement that reduces tensions around heritage and identity.
A central restriction in this notice is that the grant cannot pay for construction, repair, or maintenance of religious properties, artifacts, or cultural heritage sites. That means applicants need to shape proposals around non-construction activities rather than physical restoration or facilities work. The opportunity is framed broadly under the funding activity category of "Other" (CFDA 19.345), which typically gives applicants flexibility to propose programming, technical assistance, convenings, education, documentation, policy support, or other protective measures that do not involve paying for building works or ongoing upkeep of sites or objects.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, and the Department of State indicates it will consider applications from a wide range of organization types. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, public international organizations, private and public institutions (including state institutions) of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses. Even though for-profits may apply, the notice makes clear the Department prefers to work with nonprofit entities. It also signals that if a for-profit is selected by the review panel, that application may face extra scrutiny after panel selection. Separately, and importantly for budget design, the Department of State does not allow profit under its assistance awards to commercial or for-profit entities. In other words, a for-profit recipient cannot build a profit margin into the grant budget; "profit" is defined as any amount above allowable direct and indirect costs.
For cost rules affecting commercial organizations, the notice points to federal cost principles under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), including 48 CFR 30 (Cost Accounting Standards Administration) and 48 CFR 31 (Contract Cost Principles and Procedures). The practical takeaway is that budgets must be built around costs that are allowable, allocable, and reasonable under the applicable federal standards, and commercial entities should be prepared to justify cost accounting practices accordingly. Nonprofits and universities typically apply different federal cost principles in other contexts, but this announcement specifically flags FAR standards for commercial organizations.
In terms of funding scale and timing, the award ceiling is $700,000, and the Department anticipates making two awards. The opportunity was created on February 13, 2024, and the original application closing date is April 15, 2024. As a result, proposals are likely expected to be competitive and clearly scoped, with strong implementation plans and measurable outcomes tied to religious freedom and heritage protection in Sri Lanka. The program is administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which generally signals an emphasis on rights-based outcomes, stakeholder inclusion, and conflict-sensitive approaches rather than purely technical heritage programming.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as funding for project activities that protect religious and cultural heritage in Sri Lanka in ways that directly support freedom of religion or belief, while explicitly excluding any grant-funded construction, repairs, or maintenance at religious or cultural sites. Applicants that can demonstrate credible partnerships, local engagement, and a realistic set of non-construction deliverables aligned with religious freedom objectives are positioned to fit the intent of the competition.Apply for SFOP0010241
- The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 J/IRF Supporting Religious and Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-15. (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 $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: FY23 J/IRF Supporting Religious and Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka (SFOP0010241)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), through the Office of International Religious Freedom (J/IRF). It is titled "FY23 J/IRF Supporting Religious and Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka" and uses Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0010241.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is focused on advancing freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka by supporting efforts connected to the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites. The intent is to reduce risks to culturally or religiously significant places in ways that reinforce religious freedom goals.
What types of activities does the opportunity seem to support?
Based on the notice description, the opportunity points to non-construction approaches such as:
- Improving community-based protection approaches
- Strengthening documentation and preservation planning
- Supporting training and capacity building for local stakeholders
- Encouraging inclusive engagement that reduces tensions around heritage and identity
- Programming, technical assistance, convenings, education, and policy support tied to protective measures
Are construction, repair, or maintenance costs allowed?
No. A central restriction is that the grant cannot pay for construction, repair, or maintenance of religious properties, artifacts, or cultural heritage sites. Proposals need to be designed around non-construction activities rather than physical restoration or facilities work.
Can the grant pay for restoring or physically rehabilitating a heritage site?
No. The notice explicitly excludes paying for construction, repair, or maintenance of religious properties, artifacts, or cultural heritage sites. That means projects cannot use grant funds for physical restoration or rehabilitation work.
What country is the program focused on?
The program is focused on Sri Lanka.
How does heritage protection connect to religious freedom in this competition?
The framing emphasizes protecting religious and cultural heritage in ways that directly support freedom of religion or belief. In practice, that means activities are expected to reinforce rights-based outcomes, reduce risks to significant sites, and reduce tensions around heritage and identity through inclusive engagement and stakeholder participation.
What is the funding activity category and assistance listing?
The funding activity category is listed as "Other" under CFDA 19.345. This typically signals flexibility in the types of non-construction program activities an applicant may propose.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, and the Department of State indicates it will consider applications from a wide range of organization types, including:
- U.S.-based and foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs
- Public international organizations
- Private and public institutions of higher education (including state institutions)
- For-profit organizations or businesses
Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations or businesses are listed among eligible applicants. However, the notice indicates a preference for working with nonprofit entities.
If a for-profit applies, are there special considerations?
Yes. The notice indicates that if a for-profit is selected by the review panel, the application may face extra scrutiny after panel selection. In addition, the Department of State does not allow profit under its assistance awards to commercial or for-profit entities.
Can a for-profit include profit or a fee in the grant budget?
No. The Department of State does not allow profit under its assistance awards to commercial or for-profit entities. The notice defines "profit" as any amount above allowable direct and indirect costs.
What cost principles apply to commercial (for-profit) organizations?
The notice points commercial organizations to federal cost principles under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), including 48 CFR 30 (Cost Accounting Standards Administration) and 48 CFR 31 (Contract Cost Principles and Procedures). Budgets should be built around costs that are allowable, allocable, and reasonable under the applicable federal standards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $700,000.
How many awards are expected?
The Department anticipates making two awards.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on February 13, 2024, and the original application closing date is April 15, 2024.
Which part of the U.S. Department of State is administering the program?
The program is administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), through the Office of International Religious Freedom (J/IRF).
What kind of project approach seems to fit the intent of DRL and J/IRF based on the description?
The description suggests an emphasis on rights-based outcomes, stakeholder inclusion, and conflict-sensitive approaches, rather than purely technical heritage programming. Competitive proposals are likely to be clearly scoped, have strong implementation plans, and include measurable outcomes tied to religious freedom and heritage protection in Sri Lanka.
Does the notice suggest anything about partnerships or local engagement?
Yes. The opportunity description highlights that applicants able to demonstrate credible partnerships, local engagement, and realistic non-construction deliverables aligned with religious freedom objectives are positioned to fit the intent of the competition.
Can projects focus only on technical heritage documentation without a religious freedom connection?
The program description frames heritage protection as a way to advance freedom of religion or belief. Based on that framing, proposed activities are expected to connect clearly to religious freedom objectives, not only technical heritage outcomes.
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