Opportunity Information: Apply for WHAP WHAAQPPC 15 003

  • The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in the education employment, labor and training other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cuban Nonprofit Management Scholarship Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.750 Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Grant Programs (including Energy and Climate Partnership for the Americas).
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 23, 2015 and posted on Jun 23, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 23, 2015 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,584,158.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,584,158.00 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 WHAP WHAAQPPC 15 003

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Opportunity Summary:

The Cuban Nonprofit Management Scholarship Program was a discretionary U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) to strengthen the professional pipeline of emerging nonprofit leaders from Cuba. The core purpose was capacity building through formal academic training in the United States, specifically by placing Cuban participants in U.S. university graduate-level programs that lead to certificates or degrees in nonprofit management. The program was designed as practical professional development rather than purely classroom-based study, aiming to equip participants with modern nonprofit leadership skills, organizational management tools, and exposure to how U.S. civil society and professional associations operate.

A central feature of the opportunity was a bundled training model that combined education with language and experiential learning. In addition to graduate coursework, participants were to receive English language training to ensure they could fully participate in academic instruction and professional environments. The program also required a hands-on internship component hosted by a U.S. nonprofit organization or a professional association, giving participants direct, real-world experience in nonprofit operations, governance, fundraising or resource development approaches, program design and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and other day-to-day management practices commonly used in U.S.-based organizations. The overall structure indicates the award sought to produce leaders who could apply what they learned in the U.S. to strengthen nonprofit work and civic initiatives when returning to Cuba.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity was issued as a grant with one expected award. The total estimated funding was $1,584,158, and both the award ceiling and award floor were the same amount ($1,584,158), meaning the agency anticipated making a single grant at that fixed level rather than multiple awards of varying sizes. No cost sharing or matching funds were required, which typically reduces barriers for applicants and signals that the program was intended to be fully supported by federal funding. The funding activity categories were listed under Education, Employment/Labor/Training, and a professional development designation, reflecting the scholarship and workforce development orientation of the project.

Eligibility was open to several common categories of U.S.-based implementing organizations capable of administering an international scholarship and exchange-style program. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). In practical terms, this points to universities, university-affiliated centers, and established nonprofit program administrators as the intended implementers, particularly those with experience managing international participants, delivering academic or certificate training, coordinating English instruction, and arranging compliant internships with host organizations.

Key timeline details show the opportunity was posted and created on June 23, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 23, 2015, and it was later archived on August 22, 2015. The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 19.750 (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs grant programs). For technical issues accessing the full announcement, the listed support channel was the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov, 1-800-518-4726), indicating the competition was managed through the standard federal grant portal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Cuban Nonprofit Management Scholarship Program

1) What is the Cuban Nonprofit Management Scholarship Program?

The Cuban Nonprofit Management Scholarship Program was a discretionary U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA). Its purpose was to strengthen the professional pipeline of emerging nonprofit leaders from Cuba through capacity-building training in the United States.

2) What was the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The core goal was capacity building through formal academic training in the United States. The program aimed to develop modern nonprofit leadership and organizational management skills and increase participants' exposure to how U.S. civil society and professional associations operate, with the expectation that participants could apply what they learned after returning to Cuba.

3) Was this opportunity intended to fund scholarships for Cuban participants?

Yes. The program was structured as a scholarship-style opportunity focused on placing Cuban participants into U.S. university graduate-level programs that lead to certificates or degrees in nonprofit management.

4) What kind of academic training was emphasized?

The opportunity emphasized graduate-level study in nonprofit management at U.S. universities, leading to a certificate or degree. It was framed as practical professional development rather than purely classroom-based study.

5) What does "practical professional development" mean in this program context?

Based on the opportunity description, practical professional development meant pairing formal academic coursework with additional components that build job-relevant skills and real-world exposure, including English language training and a hands-on internship with a U.S. nonprofit organization or professional association.

6) Did the program include English language training?

Yes. English language training was included so participants could fully participate in academic instruction and professional environments in the United States.

7) Was an internship required as part of the program?

Yes. The program required a hands-on internship component hosted by a U.S. nonprofit organization or a professional association.

8) What kinds of activities could the internship cover?

The internship was intended to provide direct experience in nonprofit operations and management practices commonly used in U.S.-based organizations. The announcement specifically referenced areas such as governance, fundraising or resource development approaches, program design and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and day-to-day management practices.

9) Who was the intended beneficiary of the program?

The program targeted emerging nonprofit leaders from Cuba, with the intent to strengthen nonprofit work and civic initiatives when participants returned to Cuba.

10) What type of federal funding instrument was used?

This opportunity was issued as a grant.

11) How many awards were expected under this opportunity?

One award was expected. The agency anticipated making a single grant rather than multiple awards.

12) What was the total estimated funding amount?

The total estimated funding was $1,584,158.

13) What were the award ceiling and award floor?

Both the award ceiling and the award floor were $1,584,158. This indicates the agency anticipated a single award at a fixed funding level rather than a range of award sizes.

14) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching funds were not required for this opportunity.

15) What funding activity categories were associated with this opportunity?

The funding activity categories were listed under Education, Employment/Labor/Training, and a professional development designation. These categories reflect the scholarship and workforce development orientation of the project.

16) Who was eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligibility was open to U.S.-based implementing organizations, including:

  • Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions)

17) What kinds of organizations did this opportunity appear to target as implementers?

Based on the eligibility and program design, the intended implementers included universities, university-affiliated centers, and established nonprofit program administrators capable of administering an international scholarship and exchange-style program. The description points to organizations with the ability to coordinate academic placement, English instruction, and internships with host nonprofits or professional associations.

18) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted (and created) on June 23, 2015. The original closing date and the current closing date were both July 23, 2015.

19) When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on August 22, 2015.

20) Which U.S. government entity administered this grant opportunity?

The opportunity was administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA).

21) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 19.750 (Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs grant programs).

22) Where was the competition managed and where would applicants access the full announcement?

The competition was managed through the standard federal grant portal, Grants.gov.

23) Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the announcement?

For technical issues accessing the full announcement, the listed support channel was the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726.

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