Jefferson Center Mandalay (JCM) Small Grants Competition | 26 MMR NOFO 003

Jefferson Center Mandalay (JCM) Small Grants Competition - FAQs

1) What is the Jefferson Center Mandalay (JCM) Small Grants Competition?

The Jefferson Center Mandalay (JCM) Small Grants Competition is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Myanmar (CFDA 19.022). It funds small, focused projects carried out in and around Mandalay, Burma, with activities designed to deliver tangible, measurable benefits to U.S. interests.

2) Who is offering this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Mission to Myanmar. The program is framed around America First foreign policy principles and expects applicants to show how proposed activities make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

3) Where must projects take place?

Projects are intended for implementation in and around Mandalay, Burma.

4) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 19.022.

5) What is the application deadline?

The deadline listed is August 10, 2026.

6) How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling is $10,000 per grant.

7) How many awards are expected?

The opportunity expects to make five awards.

8) What type of funding instrument is used?

Funding is provided as a grant.

9) Who is eligible to apply as a prime applicant?

Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs), alumni of U.S. Government exchanges, private educational institutions, individuals, and public international organizations.

10) Are for-profit entities eligible to apply?

No. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply as prime recipients for this opportunity.

11) Can an organization submit more than one proposal?

No. Applicants may submit only one proposal per organization. Submitting more than one proposal makes all submissions from that organization ineligible.

12) Is subcontracting allowed?

Yes. Subcontracting is allowed, but proposals must clearly define partner roles.

13) Can more than one organization serve as the prime awardee?

No. Only one non-profit, non-governmental entity may serve as the prime awardee.

14) How does the opportunity distinguish subcontractors from subrecipients?

The NOFO references 2 CFR 200.331 for distinctions between subcontractors and subrecipients.

15) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required.

16) What are the main priority tracks or themes?

The priority themes are organized into several tracks: Making America Safer, Making America Stronger, Making America More Prosperous, American Excellence, and a dedicated English Language Learning area.

17) What kinds of activities fit under the “Making America Safer” track?

Making America Safer supports efforts that reinforce democratic governance and rule of law in ways that protect U.S. security interests. Example focus areas listed include counter-trafficking, digital freedom, anti-scam awareness, anti-corruption work, and support for civil society consistent with U.S.-defined human rights and regional peace and security priorities.

18) What kinds of activities fit under the “Making America Stronger” track?

Making America Stronger emphasizes skills-based and vocational training for Burmese youth and young adults to improve U.S.-relevant economic competitiveness. It also supports programming that promotes accurate understanding of U.S. education, institutions, and culture, and builds linkages with American academic, vocational, and cultural institutions, including preparation for lawful study and exchange opportunities.

19) What kinds of activities fit under the “Making America More Prosperous” track?

Making America More Prosperous focuses on strengthening U.S.-Burma economic ties by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, STEM and workforce development, and trade capacity building that directly supports U.S. economic growth and reduces reliance on adversarial actors.

20) What kinds of activities fit under the “American Excellence” track?

American Excellence prioritizes projects that showcase U.S. leadership and achievements in areas like innovation, arts, and community service. Projects may feature U.S. experts or content on Indo-Pacific strategy, maritime and economic security, and resilient supply chains.

21) What is the dedicated “English Language Learning” priority area looking for?

The English Language Learning area supports high-level Business English and English for Entrepreneurship using U.S. materials and business-relevant terminology. The stated aim is enabling engagement with American companies, U.S. standards, lawful trade, and regional supply chains.

22) Who are the target audiences for this grant?

Target audiences include: (1) youth and young adults in Mandalay (students, graduates, and emerging professionals, including those from underserved or marginalized communities); (2) local civil society organizations working on governance, human rights, anti-corruption, and rule of law; (3) individuals and entities tied to innovation, trade, and workforce development aligned with U.S.-Burma economic connections; and (4) educational or cultural institutions such as schools, vocational centers, universities, and cultural organizations that can support exchanges and promote American educational and cultural standards.

23) What overarching outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

Across the target audiences, the stated goals are to advance democratic governance and rule of law, improve employability and U.S.-linked readiness through vocational and English training, strengthen entrepreneurship and trade capacity to deepen U.S.-Burma commercial ties, and promote American cultural excellence and leadership tied to U.S. strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific.

24) What does the program mean by requiring “tangible, measurable benefits”?

Proposals are expected to include solid monitoring, evaluation, and reporting so results can be demonstrated. The NOFO emphasizes measurable benefits to U.S. interests, strengthening U.S. leadership and credibility, and supporting reciprocal, mutually beneficial engagement with Burma.

25) Are applicants required to align projects with specific measurable objectives?

Yes. The NOFO lays out specific, measurable objectives that applicants are expected to design toward, and applicants should build monitoring, evaluation, and reporting around those objectives.

26) What is the civil society strengthening objective?

One objective is to strengthen at least 10 civil society organizations over a 12-month period. Success is measured through adoption of key organizational policies (such as financial management and transparency protocols), increased advocacy activity, and demonstrable policy influence aligned with U.S. priorities.

27) What is the youth vocational and English instruction objective?

Another objective targets at least 1,500 youth and young adults receiving vocational and advanced English instruction. Progress is measured via standardized assessments, retention, and post-training education or employment outcomes.

28) What is the entrepreneurship and small business objective?

A third objective seeks support for at least 200 entrepreneurs and small businesses through training, mentorship, and capacity-building tied to innovation, STEM, and trade capacity building. Indicators include business growth, increased participation in supply chains, and measurable expansion of U.S.-Burma commercial ties.

29) What is the objective related to cultural, educational, and leadership programming?

A fourth objective calls for cultural, educational, and leadership programming that highlights American innovation, arts, community service, and strategic expertise. Success is measured by audience reach, participant feedback, and improved understanding of U.S. strategic goals.

30) How should proposals address America First foreign policy principles?

Applicants are asked to show, in practical terms, how their activities make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, while also highlighting Freedom250 and American excellence.

31) What is expected regarding monitoring, evaluation, and reporting?

Projects are expected to include solid monitoring, evaluation, and reporting approaches so results can be demonstrated, including measurable indicators aligned with the NOFO objectives (for example, policy adoption, assessment scores, retention, business growth indicators, audience reach, and participant feedback).

32) Do applicants need a UEI and SAM.gov registration?

Most organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active SAM.gov registration. Individuals are exempt from UEI and SAM registration requirements.

33) Are individuals allowed to apply?

Yes. Individuals are listed as eligible applicants, and individuals are exempt from UEI and SAM registration requirements.

34) What kinds of activities are explicitly not funded?

The opportunity will not fund: partisan political activity; direct charitable or development services such as medical, psychological, or humanitarian aid; construction; explicitly religious activities; fundraising campaigns; lobbying for specific legislation or programs; scientific research or surveys; commercial projects; projects primarily for the organization’s own growth or institutional development; duplicative projects; or illegal activities.

35) Does the grant fund construction or infrastructure work?

No. Construction is explicitly listed as an ineligible activity.

36) Does the grant fund humanitarian or direct aid services?

No. Direct charitable or development services, including medical, psychological, or humanitarian aid, are explicitly listed as not funded.

37) Does the grant fund religious programming?

No. Explicitly religious activities are listed as not funded.

38) Does the grant fund lobbying or partisan political activity?

No. The NOFO states it will not fund partisan political activity or lobbying for specific legislation or programs.

39) Does the grant fund scientific research, studies, or surveys?

No. Scientific research or surveys are listed as not funded.

40) Does the grant fund commercial projects?

No. Commercial projects are listed as not funded.

41) Can a project be primarily focused on the applicant organization’s own institutional development?

No. Projects primarily for the organization’s own growth or institutional development are listed as not funded.

42) Are duplicative projects allowed?

No. Duplicative projects are listed as not funded.

43) What does the opportunity say about reciprocal engagement with Burma?

The NOFO emphasizes reciprocal, mutually beneficial engagement with Burma and expects projects to strengthen U.S. leadership and credibility while producing measurable benefits to U.S. interests.

44) Is the program limited to one priority area per proposal?

The NOFO states that projects should clearly fit at least one priority area. It does not state that proposals must be limited to only one, but proposals are expected to clearly align with at least one of the listed tracks.