Opportunity Information: Apply for ND NOFO 23 104
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, offered a small, discretionary cooperative agreement to support a targeted research project focused on Tibetan entrepreneurs living in exile in India. The core purpose of the grant was to fund an "ease-of-market-entry" study that would map and measure the real-world barriers Tibetans-in-exile face when trying to start and grow businesses, while also comparing how those conditions differ from one Indian state to another. By backing this kind of applied research, the U.S. government aimed to better understand both the opportunities available to Tibetan communities and the obstacles that limit entrepreneurship, with the broader goal of strengthening the economic and cultural resilience of Tibetans in exile.
The opportunity was specifically limited to an eligible non-profit organization in India that is active, registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), and associated with alumni of the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP). In practice, that means the applicant needed to be a legally compliant Indian non-profit able to receive foreign funding under FCRA rules, and it needed a clear connection to TSP alumni. Only one award was expected, and the maximum funding level for the project was USD 10,000, indicating a small, focused effort rather than a large multi-year program.
The funded organization would be responsible for designing, coordinating, administering, and analyzing the study. The announcement encouraged applicants to build a survey or index-style instrument that could be modeled on existing "ease of doing business" frameworks. While the exact methodology was left to the applicant, the grant expected a structured assessment that could generate usable findings, including comparative insights across different regions. The content areas the study could cover were broad and practical, including how easy or difficult it is to start a business, obtain licenses and approvals, and navigate administrative processes. It also allowed for examining foundational business steps such as conducting market research, developing a business plan or business model, building a team, and identifying pathways to investment, partnerships, and collaboration. The emphasis throughout was on the lived experience of market entry and early business operations, not just high-level policy analysis.
Administratively, the program fell under the categories of Business and Commerce and Community Development (CFDA 19.040) and used a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically implies more involvement or collaboration with the U.S. government during implementation than a standard grant. The opportunity was published on June 22, 2023, with an original application deadline of August 21, 2023, under the funding opportunity number ND NOFO 23 104. The full announcement and detailed requirements were referenced as being available in the related documents section of the posting.Apply for ND NOFO 23 104
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the business and commerce, community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mapping the Entrepreneurial Landscape for Tibetans-in-Exile in India" 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 Jun 22, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 2023. (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 $10,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity about?
This opportunity is a small, discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of State (Public Diplomacy Section, U.S. Embassy in New Delhi) to support a targeted research project on Tibetan entrepreneurs living in exile in India. The funded project is an "ease-of-market-entry" study focused on identifying and measuring real-world barriers Tibetan entrepreneurs face when starting and growing businesses, including how those conditions differ across Indian states.
2) What is the main purpose of funding this study?
The core purpose is applied research that maps and measures practical market-entry barriers for Tibetans-in-exile and compares differences across regions. The broader goal is to improve understanding of both entrepreneurship opportunities and obstacles within Tibetan exile communities, supporting their economic and cultural resilience.
3) Who is offering the funding?
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, is offering the cooperative agreement.
4) What kind of organization is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is limited to an eligible non-profit organization in India that is active, registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), and associated with alumni of the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP).
5) Does the applicant have to be based in India?
Yes. Eligibility is specifically limited to a non-profit organization in India, and it must be able to legally receive foreign funding under FCRA rules.
6) What does it mean to be registered under FCRA for this opportunity?
Based on the announcement, the applicant must be legally compliant and registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which is presented as a requirement for receiving foreign funding tied to this award.
7) What is the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) connection requirement?
The eligible applicant must be associated with alumni of the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP). In practical terms, the announcement requires a clear connection to TSP alumni as part of eligibility.
8) How many awards are expected to be made?
Only one award was expected under this opportunity.
9) What is the maximum funding amount?
The maximum funding level for the project is USD 10,000.
10) Is this a large program or a small project?
This is described as a small, focused effort, reflected by the maximum award amount (USD 10,000) and the targeted research scope.
11) What type of funding instrument is used?
The award uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument.
12) How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant in this announcement?
The announcement notes that a cooperative agreement typically implies more involvement or collaboration with the U.S. government during implementation than a standard grant.
13) What would the funded organization be responsible for doing?
The funded organization would be responsible for designing, coordinating, administering, and analyzing the "ease-of-market-entry" study.
14) What kind of research approach does the opportunity encourage?
Applicants are encouraged to build a survey or index-style instrument that could be modeled on existing "ease of doing business" frameworks. The specific methodology is left to the applicant, but the expectation is a structured assessment that produces usable findings, including comparisons across different regions.
15) Does the study need to compare conditions across India?
Yes. A central feature is comparing how market-entry conditions differ from one Indian state to another, producing comparative insights across regions.
16) What kinds of barriers should the study examine?
The study is intended to map and measure real-world barriers affecting Tibetans-in-exile as they try to start and grow businesses. The announcement emphasizes lived experience and practical obstacles encountered in market entry and early operations.
17) What topics can the study cover related to starting a business?
The announcement allows for broad and practical content areas, including how easy or difficult it is to start a business, obtain licenses and approvals, and navigate administrative processes.
18) Can the study include market research and business planning issues?
Yes. The scope can include foundational steps such as conducting market research and developing a business plan or business model.
19) Can the study address team-building for new ventures?
Yes. Building a team is explicitly listed as one of the possible areas the study could cover.
20) Can the study cover investment, partnerships, or collaboration pathways?
Yes. The announcement allows examination of pathways to investment, partnerships, and collaboration as part of understanding early-stage entrepreneurship realities.
21) Is the study meant to be policy analysis or experience-based research?
The emphasis is on the lived experience of market entry and early business operations, not just high-level policy analysis.
22) What program categories does this opportunity fall under?
The program falls under the categories of Business and Commerce and Community Development, under CFDA 19.040.
23) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is ND NOFO 23 104.
24) When was the opportunity published?
The opportunity was published on June 22, 2023.
25) What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was August 21, 2023.
26) Where were the full announcement and detailed requirements provided?
The posting referenced that the full announcement and detailed requirements were available in the related documents section.
27) What is the intended beneficiary group of the research?
The study is focused on Tibetan entrepreneurs living in exile in India, with the intent of better understanding entrepreneurship opportunities and constraints affecting Tibetan communities in exile.
28) What is the expected output of the research?
The expected output is a structured assessment (often envisioned as a survey or index-style tool) that maps and measures barriers and produces comparative insights across Indian states, generating findings that are usable for understanding market-entry conditions.
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| Regional Startup Network Apply for K NOFO 20 104 Funding Number: K NOFO 20 104 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) Apply for SB OITST 25 001 Funding Number: SB OITST 25 001 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development Funding Amount: $900,000 |
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