Freetown Small Grants Program
🏛 U.S. Mission to Sierra Leone
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for civil society organizations and community-based groups in Sierra Leone seeking to support democratic governance, civil rights, and civic engagement initiatives. Eligible recipients typically include local NGOs, educational institutions, and grassroots organizations registered in Sierra Leone with demonstrated capacity to implement public diplomacy and people-to-people exchange programs. The program supports activities that strengthen democratic institutions, promote civic participation, advance social development, and foster mutual understanding between Sierra Leone and the United States. Grants are generally small in scale and designed to support community-level projects that align with U.S. Mission priorities, with geographic focus limited to Sierra Leone, particularly the Freetown area.
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Key dates
- May 21, 2025 Applications open
- Jun 27, 2025 Application deadline
- Oct 1, 2025 Project start
Program description
Important: See attached Notice of Funding Opportunity; Required Standard Budget Template, Grant Application Template
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application form (as specified in the official grant announcement)
- Project narrative or proposal (typically 3-5 pages describing objectives, activities, timeline, and expected outcomes)
- Detailed budget with justification for all line items
- Organization background document (history, mission, past projects)
- Board roster or governance documentation
- Letter(s) of support from community partners or stakeholders
- Financial documentation (bank statements, audit report, or financial management policies)
- Evidence of legal registration/tax status in Sierra Leone
Program contact
- 👤 PASGrants Freetown Grantor
- 📧 pasgrantsfreetown@state.gov
- 📞 0023299105366
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.040 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$4,682,072
-
$3,371,312
-
$2,650,000
-
$2,446,525
-
$2,050,500
-
$1,861,451
-
$1,700,000
-
$1,565,795
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,480,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.040). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $129,428,262 | |
| 2019 est. | $34,549,598 | |
| 2020 | $129,979,440 | |
| 2021 | $128,999,999 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the PAS Freetown Small Grants Program?
Typically, local NGOs, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and civil society groups registered in Sierra Leone with legal status and demonstrated organizational capacity are eligible. U.S.-based organizations may partner with local entities but the primary applicant should be a Sierra Leone-based organization.
What types of projects does this grant support?
The program generally supports projects advancing democracy, civic engagement, civil rights, educational exchange, cultural initiatives, and activities that strengthen mutual understanding between Sierra Leone and the United States. Projects should have clear community impact and alignment with U.S. Mission priorities.
Is there a deadline, and when can I apply?
Applications open May 21, 2025. Check the official grant announcement for specific application deadlines and any rolling submission periods. Contact the U.S. Mission to Sierra Leone for the most current timeline.
What is the typical funding range for these grants?
Small grants programs from the U.S. Department of State typically award amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per project, though the exact range should be confirmed in the official program guidelines.
What makes a competitive application?
Strong applications demonstrate clear community need, realistic project design with measurable outcomes, local organizational capacity, partner engagement, and direct connection to democratic values, civic participation, or educational exchange. Letters of support from community stakeholders strengthen competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly align your project with U.S. public diplomacy objectives and the specific focus areas mentioned in the grant announcement; demonstrate how your work advances democracy, governance, or civic engagement in Sierra Leone.
- Build strong partnerships and include letters of support from community members, local government officials, or other organizations demonstrating local stakeholder buy-in and collaborative approach.
- Develop realistic budgets with itemized costs and clear justification; small grants programs scrutinize every expense, so ensure all spending directly supports project objectives and activities.
- Include specific, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans that show how you will track project success; demonstrate how you will sustain or scale the initiative beyond grant funding.
- Ensure your organization has basic legal documentation, a board of directors or equivalent governance structure, and clear financial management procedures; provide evidence of past project implementation if available.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Small grant applications often fail due to vague project descriptions that don't clearly connect to the funder's priorities or lack specific, measurable outcomes. Another common issue is unrealistic budgeting—either inflated costs that don't reflect local market rates or insufficient detail to demonstrate cost-effectiveness. Applicants frequently underestimate organizational capacity requirements; the U.S. Mission typically requires evidence of legal registration, financial management systems, and past project delivery experience, so organizations without established credibility struggle to compete.
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