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FAQs: All-India Alumni Conference (Funding Opportunity Number ND NOFO 16 104)

What is the All-India Alumni Conference grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, issued through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The funding supports the design and delivery of a single, nationwide alumni conference in India.

Who is the issuing agency for this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, through the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ND NOFO 16 104.

What type of award is being offered?

The award is a cooperative agreement. This means the selected implementer is expected to work closely with the U.S. Embassy throughout planning and execution, rather than operating fully independently.

Is this a competitive or discretionary funding opportunity?

It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.

What program or activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity sits in the education activity category and is associated with CFDA 19.040.

What is the overall purpose of the conference this grant supports?

The conference is intended to convene alumni of U.S. government-supported exchange and related programs in India to strengthen U.S.-India alumni networks, deepen connections across the alumni community, and encourage ongoing engagement on shared priorities.

How many conferences is this grant intended to support?

The announcement is designed to support a single, nationwide alumni conference.

How many awards does the Embassy expect to make under this announcement?

The Embassy anticipated making one award under this announcement.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The maximum award amount is USD 95,000.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).

Are individuals eligible to apply?

The eligible applicant types listed are institutions of higher education and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Individuals are not listed among the eligible applicant categories in the provided announcement summary.

What does "working closely with the Embassy" mean in this context?

Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the implementer should expect close coordination with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi across planning and execution. The announcement also notes collaboration with the Embassy on items such as speaker selection and shaping the grants-focused capacity-building session.

Who is the intended audience for the conference?

The intended participants are alumni of U.S. government-supported exchange and related programs in India.

What kinds of conference programming are expected?

The conference is expected to provide practical value through structured programming, including breakout sessions and targeted discussions, with the goal of strengthening networks and building participants personal and professional skills.

Are speakers and U.S. government participants expected to be included?

The announcement states that sessions may feature speakers and visiting U.S. government participants.

What topics are expected to be covered during the conference?

The announcement expects sessions to address themes relevant to the U.S.-India relationship. Illustrative topics listed include regional connectivity, climate change, entrepreneurship and innovation, gender-based violence, and youth activism, with flexibility for additional themes aligned with bilateral priorities.

Can the conference include additional themes beyond the examples listed?

Yes. The announcement provides illustrative topics and leaves room for additional themes, as long as they are aligned with U.S.-India bilateral priorities.

How will speakers be selected?

Speaker selection is envisioned as a collaborative process with the U.S. Embassy. Speakers may be drawn from within and outside the alumni community and may include experts from India and the United States.

Is there a specific capacity-building requirement in the conference agenda?

Yes. A distinctive element described in the announcement is a capacity-building session focused on grants, intended to help alumni become more competitive in applying for funding and more capable in managing grants once awarded.

What kinds of skills might the grants capacity-building session cover?

Based on the announcement description, the session implies skill development that can include proposal development, budgeting, compliance, reporting, and project management in a grants context, shaped in coordination with the Embassy.

What is the broader goal of including a grants-focused session?

The grants-focused session points to a broader goal of enabling alumni to design and deliver impactful projects beyond the conference itself, by improving their ability to compete for and manage grant funding.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 11, 2016.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was August 10, 2016.

Where is the implementing partnership centered?

The partnership and coordination are centered with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, specifically through its Public Affairs Section.

What outcomes is the grant designed to support?

The announcement emphasizes outcomes including stronger alumni network cohesion across India, leadership and professional growth for participants, and informed engagement on priority issues linking the United States and India, delivered through a nationwide convening implemented in close collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.