Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS SAU PD 2203
The U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the U.S. Department of State Public Affairs Section (PAS), is offering a limited, competitive grant opportunity to fund a project that strengthens U.S.-Saudi bilateral relations by empowering Saudi women and youth through sports. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), listed as DOS SAU PD 2203, is designed to support practical, on-the-ground programming in Saudi Arabia that uses sports as a pathway to skills development, leadership, and broader social and economic participation, especially for groups that have fewer opportunities or less access to quality training.
Funding is provided as a discretionary grant with an award ceiling of $125,000, and the Embassy anticipates making one award. The program falls under education and workforce-related categories (education, employment, labor and training, plus related areas described in the NOFO). The application window opened April 6, 2022, with an original closing date of June 1, 2022, and applicants are expected to be able to implement the proposed activities in Saudi Arabia within the timeframe they present in their application.
Eligible applicants include U.S.-grant-eligible organizations such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The Embassy notes that it welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received U.S. government international program funding, which signals an interest in bringing in new partners and fresh program models. At the same time, applicants are expected to bring demonstrated expertise in one or more relevant areas, including sports business or academic programming, sports management and entrepreneurship, sports training, sports entrepreneurship training, and building sports-focused institution-to-institution partnerships.
The Embassy is looking for proposals that are clearly structured and measurable. Strong applications are expected to present a well-defined objective, supporting goals, and quantifiable milestones so progress can be tracked in concrete terms. The Embassy also emphasizes that proposed activities should complement existing sports initiatives in Saudi Arabia rather than duplicate or compete with them. This means applicants should show they understand the current landscape and can fill gaps by reaching underserved communities, operating in areas where training is limited, or tackling topics that are not being addressed sufficiently.
A major priority is inclusion beyond the largest urban centers. Proposals that recruit participants from outside Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Dhahran/Dammam area receive special consideration, reflecting an interest in broader geographic reach and equitable access. The Embassy also encourages programs that focus on sports where Saudi women and youth are traditionally underrepresented. Examples mentioned include soccer, basketball, motorsports, and American football, though the NOFO leaves room for other disciplines that align with the empowerment goals.
In terms of activities and outcomes, the Embassy highlights several features that are especially valued. One is building or expanding networks, such as a womens sports network or a broader sports federation network, to encourage sharing resources, transferring skills, and creating durable connections among institutions and practitioners. Another is professionalization through training and certification, particularly the development of a diverse pipeline of qualified coaches and referees, with a specific emphasis on training and certifying women referees. This focus suggests the program is not only about participation in sports, but also about creating leadership and employment pathways within the sports ecosystem.
The NOFO also promotes mentorship and international linkages as a core strategy. It calls for mentorship models that pair emerging or women/girl-focused Saudi sports federations with successful counterpart federations in the United States in a structured and sustainable way. This element is meant to accelerate institutional growth, transfer proven practices, and build lasting U.S.-Saudi professional relationships. More broadly, proposals are expected to highlight American expertise or tangible U.S.-Saudi collaboration, using the project as a platform to strengthen cross-border networks between Americans and Saudis.
Sustainability is treated as a key requirement rather than an optional add-on. Applicants are expected to provide a strategic plan that ensures participants gain skills and knowledge that remain useful after the grant ends. The Embassy encourages the use of both traditional and innovative educational approaches, along with networking tools, to advance wider outcomes tied to empowerment and development. These outcomes can include leadership development, sports business capacity-building, economic development, job creation, and increasing appreciation for diversity, indicating that the program is intended to generate benefits that extend beyond athletics alone.
Finally, the Embassy expects an integrated messaging and media plan that amplifies the programs impact beyond direct participants. In practice, this means applicants should think about how stories, lessons learned, and key messages will reach wider Saudi audiences through media, outreach, or digital engagement, helping the project create broader visibility and longer-term influence. As with all U.S. government grant competitions, applicants must meet the stated eligibility requirements and follow the detailed submission instructions contained in the full NOFO under the related documents, since compliance with those requirements is necessary for an application to be considered.Apply for DOS SAU PD 2203
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia 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 "Empowering Saudi Women and Youth through Sports" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 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.
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