Advancing Labor Rights in the Garment Industry
🏛 Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor (DOS-DRL)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 30, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working to strengthen labor rights in the garment industry within strategic partner countries that have Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs) with the U.S.
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), private/public/state institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations, foreign-based NGOs, and public international organizations.
The program supports activities that help garment workers understand and exercise labor rights, including worker organizing, advocacy, documentation of violations, accountability efforts, and engagement with employers, civil society, and government on labor standards compliance.
Projects must align with U.S. trade policy objectives and support implementation of labor provisions in trade agreements.
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Program description
The program will strengthen labor rights protections consistent with labor rights commitments and support labor rights reforms in strategic partner countries with existing Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs). This program will support garment workers to help them better understand and exercise their labor rights, freely associate, and access timely, non-retaliatory remedies for workplace abuses across the garment supply chain. Activities may include supporting workers and worker organizations to organize and advocate for their rights, documenting labor rights violations, promoting accountability and remediation for workplace abuses, and engaging employers, civil society, and government stakeholders to improve compliance with labor standards and working conditions in the garment sector. By strengthening implementation of labor provisions in trade agreements and supporting labor rights reforms aligned with the Trump administration’s trade and economic policy, this program will support a more level playing field for responsible businesses and reinforces U.S. economic and strategic interests in key manufacturing markets.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational background and capacity
- Letters of support from partner organizations
- Proof of eligibility (e.g., tax documentation for nonprofits)
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
- 📞 202-890-9795
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.345 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$315,860,780
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$315,249,800
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$315,000,000
-
$300,000,000
-
$169,139,219
-
$41,873,445
-
$25,316,509
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$25,249,252
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$18,266,765
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$10,254,124
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
U.S. nonprofits, for-profits, higher education institutions, foreign NGOs, and international organizations are all eligible. You do not need 501(c)(3) status if you are a U.S.-based nonprofit.
What countries can we work in?
You must focus on strategic partner countries that have Agreements on Reciprocal Trade (ARTs) with the U.S. Verify which countries qualify before applying.
What activities does the program support?
Eligible activities include worker organizing, advocacy training, documenting labor abuses, holding employers accountable, and promoting labor standards compliance in garment supply chains.
Is there cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require matching funds or cost-sharing from applicants.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is August 27, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling acceptance.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly identify the strategic partner country and explain why labor rights protections are needed there. Show specific garment sector challenges.
- Connect your activities to U.S. trade policy goals and labor provisions in ARTs. Frame this as supporting a "level playing field" for responsible businesses.
- Demonstrate strong partnerships with local worker organizations, unions, and civil society in the target country. Local legitimacy is critical.
- Be specific about outcomes: how many workers will be reached, what rights awareness increases you expect, and what labor reforms you'll help achieve.
- Address safety and non-retaliation protections carefully. Explain how you'll protect workers from employer backlash when documenting violations or organizing.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they target countries without ARTs or misunderstand which countries qualify. Verify eligible geographies early.
Weak proposals lack concrete partnerships with local workers, unions, and civil society. Garment workers must be central to the project design, not peripheral.
Vague activity descriptions that don't clearly link to labor rights improvements or trade agreement compliance reduce competitiveness significantly.
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