Opportunity Information: Apply for S SA 800 14 GR 006
Apply for S SA 800 14 GR 006
- The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) community development education humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Saudi American Educational and Cultural Initiative Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040 Public Diplomacy Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 15, 2014 and posted on Jul 1, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Saudi American Educational and Cultural Initiative Grant (SAECIG) is a U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia Public Affairs Section grant program designed to fund joint Saudi-U.S. projects that deepen people-to-people ties through education, professional engagement, and cultural exchange. The core aim is to broaden and diversify Saudi-U.S. partnership activities while helping develop the next generation of leaders, with particular interest in projects that meaningfully engage youth, young professionals, and women. At its center, the program is about long-term mutual understanding and respect, built through sustained collaboration between partners in both countries rather than one-off events.
Eligible applicants include Saudi and U.S. non-governmental and community organizations, universities and other higher education institutions (public or private), cultural organizations, entrepreneurs, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and qualified individuals. A key requirement is that proposals must be genuinely collaborative: submissions have to include a letter of support from the counterpart partner (Saudi or U.S.). If the Saudi partner is hosting U.S. participants, the Saudi partner must also confirm in writing that they can sponsor any required visas and will take responsibility for in-Kingdom travel and logistics. The Embassy notes that it cannot help with visas or travel arrangements under this grant, so those responsibilities need to be clearly owned by the partner(s) in the proposal.
Projects funded by SAECIG can take many forms as long as they strengthen educational, cultural, or professional ties. Examples listed in the announcement include academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation; cultural, professional, and academic exchanges; and professional development trainings. The Embassy signals strong interest in partnerships that create professional linkages in areas like business, healthcare, and media (including social media), that align with Saudi efforts to modernize and expand a knowledge-based economy, that expand Saudi-U.S. educational partnerships, or that are led by or include alumni of U.S. or Saudi government-sponsored exchange programs.
Funding requests must fall between $3,000 and $25,000 per award, with a total program funding level listed as about $250,000 and an expected number of awards around 10. While cost sharing is not formally required, the announcement makes clear that the most competitive proposals will show significant financial support from other sources, meaning applicants who can bring matching resources or third-party funding may be viewed more favorably. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis (no fixed deadline in the program description), and an Embassy committee reviews submissions monthly, selecting projects with strong educational, artistic, or cultural merit and seeking a mix of geographic and demographic audiences. Priority tends to go to proposals that create direct, in-depth professional interaction and are likely to lead to sustained collaboration, especially when they demonstrate innovation and a track record of professional accomplishment.
The evaluation criteria emphasize practical readiness and clear planning. Reviewers look for evidence that both partners have the expertise and capacity to deliver; that the project substantively expands the types of Saudi-U.S. partnerships; that the topic is well understood by the applicants; and that the intended beneficiaries are clearly identified with a manageable scope. Strong applications pair innovative ideas with concrete activities and a detailed work plan, and they include a well-organized, line-item budget with realistic figures (no vague "miscellaneous" lines). The grant forbids using Embassy funds for food, drink, or entertainment, and it requires a serious monitoring and evaluation plan using quantitative and qualitative measures. Sustainability also matters: proposals should explain how the partnership or outcomes will continue beyond the grant period. For any airfare paid with U.S. Government funds, applicants must comply with the Fly America Act by using economy-class service on U.S. flag carriers when applicable.
Several project types are explicitly ineligible. The program will not fund proposals from applicants who are neither Saudi nor American, partisan political activity, humanitarian or charitable activities, conferences and individual trips abroad, trade promotion, fundraising campaigns, commercial ventures, scientific research, projects focused primarily on building the applicant organization itself (institutional development), or projects that duplicate existing efforts. In practical terms, the program is meant for collaborative exchange and engagement projects, not for business development, charity work, research programs, or routine travel/conference attendance.
To apply, applicants submit a completed application form (available through the U.S. Embassy Riyadh website) and the required federal form SF-424 (parts A, B, and C, available via Grants.gov or the Embassy site). Applications must be submitted by email to RiyadhGrants@state.gov and include an original signature on the last page. Proposals should be written in English or include an English translation; supporting documents may be in Arabic. The narrative is expected to cover organizational details and key staff, current and previous funding (including any prior U.S. Embassy or U.S. government grants), a one-page executive summary, clear goals and measurable objectives tied to Saudi-U.S. collaboration, specific activities, monitoring and evaluation methods, a strong justification explaining what is unique and innovative, precise dates and venues, and a detailed budget in Saudi Riyals for Saudi applicants or U.S. dollars for U.S. applicants. Awards are processed and funded depending on the availability of funds after committee approval. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number S-SA-800-14-GR-006 and CFDA 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs).
Saudi American Educational and Cultural Initiative Grant (SAECIG) FAQs
What is the Saudi American Educational and Cultural Initiative Grant (SAECIG)?
SAECIG is a U.S. Embassy Saudi Arabia Public Affairs Section grant program that funds joint Saudi-U.S. projects designed to deepen people-to-people ties through education, professional engagement, and cultural exchange. The program emphasizes long-term mutual understanding built through sustained collaboration between partners in both countries (not one-off events).
What is the main goal of SAECIG?
The core aim is to broaden and diversify Saudi-U.S. partnership activities while supporting the development of the next generation of leaders. The program is especially interested in projects that meaningfully engage youth, young professionals, and women.
Who can apply for SAECIG funding?
Eligible applicants include Saudi and U.S. non-governmental and community organizations, universities and other higher education institutions (public or private), cultural organizations, entrepreneurs, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and qualified individuals.
Do applicants have to be Saudi or American?
Yes. Proposals from applicants who are neither Saudi nor American are explicitly ineligible.
Is a Saudi-U.S. partnership required?
Yes. Proposals must be genuinely collaborative and must include a letter of support from the counterpart partner (Saudi or U.S.). The program is centered on sustained collaboration between partners in both countries.
What must the letter of support include?
At minimum, the submission must include a letter of support from the counterpart partner (Saudi or U.S.) to demonstrate the collaboration is real and active. If the Saudi partner is hosting U.S. participants, the Saudi partner must also confirm in writing that they can sponsor any required visas and will take responsibility for in-Kingdom travel and logistics.
Can the U.S. Embassy help with visas or travel arrangements?
No. The Embassy notes that it cannot help with visas or travel arrangements under this grant. Those responsibilities must be clearly handled by the partner(s) and addressed in the proposal, especially when U.S. participants are hosted in the Kingdom.
What kinds of projects can be funded?
Projects can take many forms as long as they strengthen educational, cultural, or professional ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Examples include academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation; cultural, professional, and academic exchanges; and professional development trainings.
What topics or areas does SAECIG seem most interested in?
The Embassy signals strong interest in partnerships that create professional linkages in areas such as business, healthcare, and media (including social media); initiatives aligned with Saudi efforts to modernize and expand a knowledge-based economy; projects that expand Saudi-U.S. educational partnerships; and projects led by or including alumni of U.S. or Saudi government-sponsored exchange programs.
How much funding can an applicant request?
Funding requests must fall between $3,000 and $25,000 per award.
How much total funding is available and how many awards are expected?
The total program funding level is listed as about $250,000, and the expected number of awards is around 10.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Cost sharing is not formally required. However, the announcement states that the most competitive proposals will show significant financial support from other sources, so proposals that bring matching resources or third-party support may be more competitive.
Is there a deadline to apply?
Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, and the program description does not list a fixed deadline.
How often are applications reviewed?
An Embassy committee reviews submissions monthly.
How are projects selected?
The Embassy committee selects projects with strong educational, artistic, or cultural merit and aims for a mix of geographic and demographic audiences. Priority tends to go to proposals that create direct, in-depth professional interaction and are likely to lead to sustained collaboration, particularly when they show innovation and a track record of professional accomplishment.
What evaluation criteria does SAECIG emphasize?
Reviewers look for evidence that both partners have the expertise and capacity to deliver; that the project substantively expands the types of Saudi-U.S. partnerships; that the topic is well understood by the applicants; and that intended beneficiaries are clearly identified with a manageable scope. Strong applications include a detailed work plan, an organized line-item budget with realistic figures, a serious monitoring and evaluation plan using quantitative and qualitative measures, and a clear sustainability plan for continuing outcomes beyond the grant period.
What should be avoided in the budget?
The budget is expected to be well organized and line-item based with realistic figures. The guidance specifically discourages vague budget lines such as broad "miscellaneous" categories.
Are there restrictions on what Embassy funds can pay for?
Yes. The grant forbids using Embassy funds for food, drink, or entertainment.
Are there airfare rules if U.S. Government funds are used?
Yes. For any airfare paid with U.S. Government funds, applicants must comply with the Fly America Act by using economy-class service on U.S. flag carriers when applicable.
Does SAECIG require monitoring and evaluation?
Yes. The program requires a serious monitoring and evaluation plan that uses both quantitative and qualitative measures.
Does SAECIG require sustainability planning?
Yes. Sustainability is a stated priority. Proposals should explain how the partnership or project outcomes will continue beyond the grant period.
What project types are not eligible for funding?
Ineligible projects include partisan political activity; humanitarian or charitable activities; conferences and individual trips abroad; trade promotion; fundraising campaigns; commercial ventures; scientific research; projects focused primarily on institutional development (building the applicant organization itself); and projects that duplicate existing efforts.
Can SAECIG fund conference attendance or individual travel?
No. The program does not fund conferences or individual trips abroad and is intended for collaborative exchange and engagement projects rather than routine travel or conference participation.
Can SAECIG fund charitable or humanitarian projects?
No. Humanitarian or charitable activities are explicitly listed as ineligible.
Can SAECIG fund scientific research?
No. Scientific research is explicitly listed as ineligible.
Can SAECIG fund commercial ventures, trade promotion, or fundraising?
No. Commercial ventures, trade promotion, and fundraising campaigns are explicitly ineligible.
Can SAECIG fund projects mainly meant to develop the applicant organization?
No. Projects focused primarily on institutional development (building the applicant organization itself) are listed as ineligible.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applicants submit a completed application form (available through the U.S. Embassy Riyadh website) and the required federal form SF-424 (parts A, B, and C, available via Grants.gov or the Embassy site). Applications must be submitted by email to RiyadhGrants@state.gov and must include an original signature on the last page.
Which forms are required for the application?
The application requires the program application form and the federal SF-424 (parts A, B, and C).
What email address is used for submission?
Applications must be emailed to RiyadhGrants@state.gov.
Is a signature required?
Yes. The application must include an original signature on the last page.
What language should the proposal be written in?
Proposals should be written in English or include an English translation. Supporting documents may be in Arabic.
What content is expected in the proposal narrative?
The narrative is expected to cover organizational details and key staff; current and previous funding (including any prior U.S. Embassy or U.S. government grants); a one-page executive summary; clear goals and measurable objectives tied to Saudi-U.S. collaboration; specific activities; monitoring and evaluation methods; a justification explaining what is unique and innovative; precise dates and venues; and a detailed budget.
In what currency should the budget be prepared?
The budget should be in Saudi Riyals for Saudi applicants and in U.S. dollars for U.S. applicants.
When are awards funded?
Awards are processed and funded depending on the availability of funds after committee approval.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number S-SA-800-14-GR-006.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs).
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