The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) has announced an open competition for the FY24 Global Equality Fund Programs, aimed at supporting LGBTQI+ individuals and communities worldwide. This funding opportunity seeks proposals that empower LGBTQI+ communities to prevent, mitigate, and recover from violence and human rights violations, advocate for the elimination of discriminatory laws, and advance protections for fundamental freedoms. The Global Equality Fund operates through a public-private partnership involving various governments, international organizations, and private sector entities. Proposed programs should address one or more key focus areas: freedom from violence, access to justice, empowerment of inclusive movements and organizations, and social inclusion. Cross-cutting priorities include locally-led initiatives, organizational development and capacity building, and resources for psychosocial health and well-being.

The program’s purpose is to enhance safety and security for LGBTQI+ individuals, strengthen advocacy efforts, promote legal reforms, and foster societal inclusion. Objectives include building local capacity to document human rights violations, improving engagement with law enforcement, ensuring equal protection under the law, and advancing shared strategies within LGBTQI+ communities. Projects should be rooted in local needs and involve strong collaboration with grassroots organizations. Proposals must allocate at least 30% of total direct costs to local LGBTQI+ organizations through sub-grants. Activities such as humanitarian aid, language instruction, or theoretical studies without capacity-building elements are not eligible for funding.

The funding opportunity anticipates awarding between three and six grants or cooperative agreements, with individual awards ranging from $750,000 to $1,250,000, subject to the availability of funds. The total funding available is $2,100,000, and the program duration ranges from 24 to 60 months. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, NGOs, public international organizations, higher education institutions, and for-profit organizations (with restrictions on profit-making). Cost-sharing or matching funds are not required and will not affect proposal competitiveness.

Applicants must submit a detailed application that includes mandatory forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B), a proposal narrative, a budget and budget narrative, a logic model, a monitoring and evaluation plan, a gender and inclusion analysis, and a security plan. Psychosocial health resources for staff and beneficiaries must also be integrated into the project design and budget. Proposals must demonstrate a commitment to inclusive approaches, risk mitigation strategies, and long-term sustainability beyond the funding period.

Evaluation criteria include the quality of the program idea, planning and capacity to achieve objectives, institutional capacity and experience, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and monitoring and evaluation systems. Proposals must demonstrate innovative solutions, a focus on underserved communities, and measurable outcomes. The application deadline is March 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST, and submissions must be made through Grants.gov or MyGrants.

Successful applicants will receive notification and instructions for addressing any panel recommendations before the final award is issued. Post-award reporting will include quarterly financial and programmatic reports, with a focus on progress towards stated objectives, inclusivity, and sustainability. More information and resources for applicants are available on the U.S. Department of State's DRL website.