Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS SAU PD 2206
The Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia and its Public Affairs Section (PAS), announced a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Empowering Saudi Women through the Creation and Launch of an Entrepreneurs Networking and Mentorship Initiative" (Opportunity Number: DOS SAU PD 2206; CFDA: 19.040). The funding is intended to support programs that strengthen U.S.-Saudi bilateral relations by advancing women’s entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, specifically by building a structured, ongoing network and mentorship pipeline connecting experienced entrepreneurs with aspiring Saudi women business leaders.
The opportunity responds to a need identified by Embassy contacts over roughly the prior 18 months: while short-term entrepreneurship programming exists, there is a gap in sustained mentorship and networking that helps women entrepreneurs transfer practical skills, expand professional connections, and improve access to capital and investment networks. PAS notes that the U.S. Mission has already run multiple entrepreneurship-related grants with Saudi and American partners and has an existing pool of potential mentors and participants from those efforts. Applicants are therefore expected to leverage that momentum by formalizing and scaling a durable initiative that can outlast the grant period.
Proposals are expected to cover the full lifecycle of the initiative, including design and setup of the program, a concrete launch plan, and about twelve months of activities that actively grow and engage membership among both established and aspiring Saudi women entrepreneurs. A central requirement is a credible sustainability plan explaining how the network will continue operating after U.S. government funding ends, emphasizing long-term governance, membership growth, partnerships, and practical value to participants.
While PAS will consider a wide range of approaches, competitive proposals are described as those with clearly defined objectives, measurable goals, and quantifiable milestones. Strong applications should prioritize recruiting from groups already connected to U.S. government-supported programming, including alumni of U.S. exchange programs, participants from previous Embassy entrepreneurship grants, and applicants who previously sought participation but were not selected. The initiative should be designed to facilitate peer-to-peer resource sharing, skill transfer, and relationship building, anchored by a mentorship component aimed at accelerating early success and leadership capacity within Saudi business communities.
The Embassy also signals interest in programs that blend traditional and innovative training and networking methods, tying entrepreneurship support to broader outcomes such as women’s empowerment, economic development, job creation, leadership development, diversity awareness, and business growth. In addition, applicants are encouraged to include an integrated messaging and media plan to extend the project’s reach beyond direct participants, helping amplify key themes and attract additional members and stakeholders. Proposals that showcase American expertise, highlight U.S.-Saudi institutional partnerships, or build durable cross-border professional connections between Americans and Saudis are explicitly aligned with the program’s bilateral-relations focus.
Eligibility is limited to entities that qualify to receive U.S. grants and can implement programming in Saudi Arabia within the proposed timeframe. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). Applicants should demonstrate expertise in areas such as business or academic programming, entrepreneurship and management, organizing entrepreneurship training, and building institution-to-institution partnerships. The Embassy and Department of State specifically encourage organizations that have not previously received U.S. government international program funding to apply, signaling openness to new implementers with strong local capacity and credible program design.
In terms of award details, the NOFO listed an award ceiling of $125,000 with an expectation of one award. The opportunity was posted April 6, 2022, with an original application deadline of June 1, 2022. Applicants were instructed to follow the full NOFO instructions and eligibility requirements provided in the official announcement materials.Apply for DOS SAU PD 2206
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the business and commerce, 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 through the Creation and Launch of an Entrepreneurs Networking and Mentorship Initiative" 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The discretionary grant opportunity is titled "Empowering Saudi Women through the Creation and Launch of an Entrepreneurs Networking and Mentorship Initiative."
2. Which U.S. government office is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, Public Affairs Section (PAS).
3. What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?
Opportunity Number: DOS SAU PD 2206. CFDA: 19.040.
4. What is the main purpose of the grant?
The main purpose is to strengthen U.S.-Saudi bilateral relations by advancing women's entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia through a structured, ongoing entrepreneurs network and mentorship pipeline that connects experienced entrepreneurs with aspiring Saudi women business leaders.
5. What problem or gap is this grant intended to address?
The opportunity responds to a gap identified by Embassy contacts over roughly the prior 18 months: although short-term entrepreneurship programs exist, there is a need for sustained mentorship and networking that helps women entrepreneurs transfer practical skills, expand professional connections, and improve access to capital and investment networks.
6. What types of activities is the project expected to include?
Proposals are expected to cover the full lifecycle of the initiative, including program design and setup, a concrete launch plan, and about twelve months of activities that grow and engage membership among established and aspiring Saudi women entrepreneurs. The initiative is also expected to support peer-to-peer resource sharing, skill transfer, relationship building, and a mentorship component.
7. How long is the project period described in the opportunity?
The description calls for a launch plan and approximately twelve months of active programming and engagement to grow and serve the network.
8. Is a mentorship component required?
Yes. The initiative is described as being anchored by a mentorship component intended to accelerate early success and leadership capacity among aspiring Saudi women entrepreneurs.
9. What is meant by an "ongoing network" in this grant?
The opportunity emphasizes building a structured, durable initiative rather than a one-time or short-term program. Applicants are expected to formalize and scale a network that can continue operating beyond the grant period.
10. Is sustainability after the grant ends a requirement?
Yes. A central requirement is a credible sustainability plan describing how the network will continue after U.S. government funding ends, including long-term governance, membership growth, partnerships, and practical value to participants.
11. What makes a proposal "competitive" according to the announcement?
Competitive proposals are described as those with clearly defined objectives, measurable goals, and quantifiable milestones. Proposals that leverage existing Embassy-supported entrepreneurship momentum and demonstrate a durable model aligned with bilateral-relations goals are also highlighted as strong fits.
12. Who should the initiative prioritize recruiting?
Strong applications should prioritize recruiting from groups already connected to U.S. government-supported programming, including alumni of U.S. exchange programs, participants from prior Embassy entrepreneurship grants, and individuals who previously applied to participate in such programs but were not selected.
13. Does the Embassy have existing contacts that applicants can build on?
Yes. PAS notes that the U.S. Mission has run multiple entrepreneurship-related grants with Saudi and American partners and has an existing pool of potential mentors and participants from those efforts. Applicants are expected to leverage that momentum.
14. What outcomes or themes does the Embassy want projects to connect to?
The announcement signals interest in programs that tie entrepreneurship support to broader outcomes such as women's empowerment, economic development, job creation, leadership development, diversity awareness, and business growth.
15. Are innovative or hybrid approaches encouraged?
Yes. PAS indicates interest in programs that blend traditional and innovative training and networking methods.
16. Is a messaging and media plan part of the expectation?
Applicants are encouraged to include an integrated messaging and media plan to extend the project's reach beyond direct participants, amplify key themes, and attract additional members and stakeholders.
17. How does this grant relate to U.S.-Saudi bilateral relations?
The funding is intended to strengthen U.S.-Saudi bilateral relations. Proposals that showcase American expertise, highlight U.S.-Saudi institutional partnerships, or build durable cross-border professional connections between Americans and Saudis are explicitly aligned with this bilateral focus.
18. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to entities that qualify to receive U.S. grants and can implement programming in Saudi Arabia within the proposed timeframe. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
19. What kinds of organizational expertise should applicants demonstrate?
Applicants should demonstrate expertise in areas such as business or academic programming, entrepreneurship and management, organizing entrepreneurship training, and building institution-to-institution partnerships.
20. Are first-time implementers encouraged to apply?
Yes. The Embassy and Department of State specifically encourage organizations that have not previously received U.S. government international program funding to apply, indicating openness to new implementers with strong capacity and credible program design.
21. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The NOFO listed an award ceiling of $125,000.
22. How many awards were expected?
The announcement states an expectation of one award.
23. When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 6, 2022.
24. What was the application deadline listed in the announcement?
The original application deadline was June 1, 2022.
25. What official instructions were applicants expected to follow?
Applicants were instructed to follow the full NOFO instructions and eligibility requirements provided in the official announcement materials.
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