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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Build Your Own Campaign Grant (DOS LONDON PD 2016 02)

What is the Build Your Own Campaign grant opportunity?

The Build Your Own Campaign grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS LONDON PD 2016 02) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program administered through the U.S. Embassy in London (Agency: DOS-GBR). It is designed to fund a single education-focused project.

What is the main goal of this grant?

The goal is to help British Sixth Form students better understand how U.S. presidential elections work by learning through a hands-on, simulation-style experience rather than a purely lecture-based approach.

How many projects does the Embassy expect to fund?

The Embassy anticipates making one award (Expected Awards: 1), meaning the opportunity is intended to support one project.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The maximum award amount is $70,000 (Award Ceiling: 70,000).

Who is the administering agency for this opportunity?

The opportunity is run through the U.S. Embassy in London under the U.S. Department of State (Agency listed as DOS-GBR).

What type of program activity does this funding fall under?

The funding activity category is Education. The program is also listed under CFDA 19.040.

Who is the intended audience for the funded project?

The intended participants are British Sixth Form students, with the learning focus specifically centered on the U.S. presidential election process.

What kind of project is the Embassy looking to fund?

The Embassy is seeking proposals for an online, interactive program where participating students create and run a mock American election campaign. The program should include structured exercises and build toward a culminating online election.

What does "hands-on" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this opportunity, "hands-on" refers to an interactive, simulation-based approach where students learn by actively completing campaign-related exercises and participating in a realistic election-style process, rather than learning only through lectures.

Is the program expected to be online?

Yes. The core concept described is a web-based, interactive experience, including instructional elements, interactive campaign-building steps, and a final online election.

What are applicants expected to design and deliver?

Applicants are expected to design and administer the full online experience. This includes instructional components, the interactive steps that guide students through building a campaign, and the culminating online election event.

What is the "culminating" event of the program?

The program is intended to build toward a final online election, serving as the culminating event after students complete structured campaign-building exercises.

What are examples of the kinds of activities students would do in the simulation?

Based on the description, students would plan, message, and compete in a mock campaign through structured online exercises, leading up to an online vote. The opportunity does not provide a fixed curriculum, but it emphasizes campaign creation and execution as the learning method.

What organizations or entities are eligible to apply?

A wide range of applicants are eligible, including state governments and school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); individuals; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.

Are nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?

No. The eligibility description explicitly includes nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status.

Are for-profit entities eligible to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Is this a formula grant or a discretionary grant?

This is described as a discretionary U.S. Department of State program.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was created and posted on February 8, 2016.

What was the application deadline?

The original and current closing date for applications was March 1, 2016.

Does the grant description specify the number of participants or schools?

No. The provided information identifies the target group (British Sixth Form students) and the program design approach (online simulation), but it does not specify the number of participating students, schools, or cohorts.

Does the opportunity require a particular teaching method?

It emphasizes a simulation-style, experiential approach rather than a purely lecture-based approach, with students learning by building and running a mock campaign online.

Does the opportunity require a specific platform or technology stack?

No specific platform or technology stack is named in the provided information. The key requirement is that the program be online and interactive, with structured exercises and a culminating online election.

What is the main deliverable implied by this grant?

The main deliverable is the development and delivery of a web-based election simulation program that teaches U.S. presidential election mechanics through campaign-building activities and an online vote.

Is this opportunity focused on U.S. students or UK students?

It is focused on British Sixth Form students in the United Kingdom, with the content centered on understanding U.S. presidential elections.

What does the project help students learn about?

It helps students understand how U.S. presidential elections work, using an interactive campaign simulation to teach concepts through participation.

Is the Embassy asking applicants to run only the final election, or the full program?

The description indicates applicants should design and administer the full online experience, from instructional components through interactive campaign-building steps and the final online election event.