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Grants / Department of State / Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor

SFOP0010197: DRL Scholar Rescue Fund

Closed Closed March 22, 2024 Opportunity SFOP0010197

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: FY26 DRL/IRF Global Request for Statements of Interest (DFOP0019929). Status: Closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor notices from 2024.

Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor offered grants of up to $5.5 million (at least $5.5 million) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on March 22, 2024.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 22, 2024. Checked November 7, 2026.

Key dates

PostedJanuary 22, 2024
DeadlineMarch 22, 2024

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited. Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.

Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that strengthen democracy and human rights through the protection of free speech and diverse voices in civil society, which are threatened when scholars in closing societies face harassment, detention, torture, and other forms of persecution.

Category: Other.

Who has won International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor grants before

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (19.345) awarded $1.7 billion across 53 grant awards, an average of $31.2 million per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
National Endowment for DemocracyDistrict of Columbia5$1.6 billion
Vital Voices Global Partnership IncDistrict of Columbia2$31.4 million
International Coalition of Sites of ConscienceNew York2$22.2 million
Freedom House, Inc.District of Columbia2$20.2 million
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation1$2.6 million

Top states: District of Columbia ($1.6 billion), New York ($22.2 million), California ($3.8 million), Oregon ($2.0 million), Massachusetts ($1.7 million).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DFOP0019929, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is SFOP0010197 still open?

No. It closed on March 22, 2024. A newer notice is open: DFOP0019929, closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left).

Who can apply for DRL Scholar Rescue Fund?

Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for DRL Scholar Rescue Fund?

Closed March 22, 2024. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $5.5 million each.

Who has won International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were National Endowment for Democracy, Vital Voices Global Partnership Inc, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. The program made 53 awards worth $1.7 billion in that time.

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