The U.S. Embassy in Guyana is pleased to announce the 2024 open call for proposals for the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Grants Program Funding Opportunity.

The purpose of this program is to support projects that aim to protect and preserve the cultural patrimony of Guyana. Under the AFCP 2024 Grants Program, funding for projects range from US$10,000 to US$500,000 per project. Projects need to be carried out from 12 up to 60 months.

The application process will proceed in two rounds. During the first round, the embassy will collect project ideas in the form of concept notes. During the second round, those that submitted promising concept notes will be asked to submit complete project applications. The deadline for submitting concept notes to the Public Affairs Section at pdgeorge@state.gov is January 5, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. local time. Please see concept note guidelines. Background: Established by Congress in 2001, the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation aims to assist countries such as Guyana in preserving museum collections, ancient and historic sites, and traditional forms of expression. Since its inception, the program has supported more than 1,000 projects worldwide.

Funding Opportunities: The AFCP 2024 Grants Program supports the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, museum collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression, such as indigenous languages and crafts.  Appropriate project activities may include:

• Anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts)
• Conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to an object or site)
• Consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of an object or site)
• Documentation (recording in analog or digital format the condition and salient features of an object, site, or tradition)
• Inventory (listing of objects, sites, or traditions by location, feature, age, or other unifying characteristic or state)
• Preventive Conservation (addressing conditions that threaten or damage a site, object, collection, or tradition)
• Restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of an object or site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings)
• Stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance of an object or site)

Sites and Objects Having a Religious Connection: The Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution permits the government to include religious objects and sites within an aid program under certain conditions. For example, an item with a religious connection (including a place of worship) may be the subject of a cultural preservation grant if the item derives its primary significance and is nominated solely on the basis of architectural, artistic, historical, or other cultural (not religious) criteria.

Who can apply? Eligible project applicants are reputable and accountable non-commercial entities that are registered and active in SAM.gov and able to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage.  This may include non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based organizations subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code.  The AFCP will not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or past award recipients that have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous awards.

SAM Registration: An implementing partner must be registered in the U.S. government’s System for Award Management (SAM) prior to receiving U.S, federal assistance unless they meet one of the exemptions specified in the Federal Assistance Directive. SAM is the official, free online registration database for the U.S. government. SAM.gov collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of federal agency acquisition and grant award mission. The SAM registration process can take weeks or months, especially for non-U.S. applicants. SAM will assign a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) automatically to any entity registering or renewing its record in the system. Registration in SAM is free: https://sam.gov/

Submission Requirements: To apply, eligible project applicants must submit a concept note to the Public Affairs Section by 11:59 p.m. January 6, 2024. Applications must comply with the concept note guidelines which can be found here. Please consult the guidelines and the additional AFCP resources while preparing the concept note for submission. Each concept note should be emailed to pdgeorge@state.gov with the subject line: “AFCP 2024 GRANTS Program: Project Name – Applicant Name”. If selected for further consideration by the panel of experts in Washington, D.C., applicants will be asked to submit more detailed information by mid-March 2024 For additional information about the fund, please contact the Public Affairs Section at pdgeorge@state.gov or visit the AFCP website http://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/ambassadors-fund-cultural-preservation. Further guidance on AFCP 2024 can be found at the More Information box.

Disclaimer:  Issuance of this funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the AFCP program or the U.S. government. The Department of State reserves the right to waive program formalities and to reduce, revise, or increase project scopes and budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.