2025 U.S. - Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Alumni Small Grants Opportunity | OFOP0001742

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001742

The "2025 U.S. - Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Alumni Small Grants Opportunity" (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0001742) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State grant competition run by the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS (PDS Bridgetown). It is specifically designed for alumni of U.S. Department of State-sponsored academic and professional exchange programs, offering small grants to help them carry out community-based projects that align with U.S. Embassy mission goals. The overall idea is to keep the momentum going after an exchange program ends by giving alumni a practical way to apply what they learned, build local partnerships, and deliver visible benefits in their home countries or communities.

The program is framed as an "alumni-driven" funding opportunity: applicants are expected to propose and implement projects themselves, using the skills, networks, and experience gained through U.S. Government-funded exchanges to respond to real needs. The Embassy notes that it is accredited to seven Eastern Caribbean islands and that the region includes more than 300 alumni from ECA exchange programs. These alumni represent a wide cross-section of professions and roles, from educators and students to entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, legal professionals focused on rule of law, and even senior government officials. In that context, the grants are meant to support post-program activities that demonstrate how engaged alumni can serve as local changemakers and contribute to development and community growth.

In practical terms, this opportunity funds small, locally relevant projects rather than large multi-year initiatives. The award ceiling is listed as $5,000, and the eligible applicant type is "Individuals," meaning the competition is aimed at individual alumni applicants (rather than organizations as the primary applicant category). The funding instrument type is a grant, and the listed funding activity category is Disaster Prevention and Relief (CFDA 19.040), which signals the general assistance area used for classification, even though the description emphasizes broader community impact and alignment with Embassy priorities. The notice also makes clear that awards depend on the availability of funds, so even well-prepared applications may be affected by budget timing or constraints.

The application window, as provided in the source data, closes on June 1, 2025 (Original Closing Date: 2025-06-01), and the opportunity was created on January 14, 2025. While the excerpt does not provide detailed priority themes or submission steps, it explicitly states that the announcement includes funding priorities, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting requests, and instructs applicants to follow the posted guidance carefully. In short, this is a small-grants mechanism for U.S. exchange alumni in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to turn exchange experience into concrete, mission-aligned community projects with modest, targeted financial support.

• The U.S. Mission to Barbados in the disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2025 U.S. - Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Alumni Small Grants Opportunity" 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 2025-01-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-01. (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 $5,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Individuals.

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