Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation | AF WHK FY23 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for AF WHK FY23 02

The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2023 Grants Program, offered through the U.S. Department of State via the U.S. Mission to Namibia, is a competitive grant opportunity aimed at protecting and conserving significant cultural heritage in Namibia. The program focuses on tangible and intangible cultural resources, including archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, museum and archival collections, and traditional cultural expressions such as indigenous languages, knowledge systems, and crafts. Overall, the opportunity is meant to support projects that safeguard cultural heritage at risk from deterioration, damage, environmental threats, neglect, or other pressures, using credible preservation methods and clear project planning.

The application process is structured in two stages. In Round 1, interested organizations submit brief concept notes that outline a project idea and its preservation goals. The Embassy then reviews these concept notes and selects a limited number to move forward. In Round 2, those selected applicants are invited to develop and submit full project proposals, expanding the concept into a detailed plan with activities, timelines, and budgets. This two-step approach allows the Embassy to screen for strong ideas early while giving finalists time to prepare complete, technically sound applications.

AFCP funding supports a range of preservation activities that are standard in the cultural heritage field. Eligible work may include anastylosis, which involves reassembling a site using its original materials; conservation treatments that address deterioration or damage to objects or structures; consolidation work that reconnects or reinforces elements of a site or object; and stabilization to reduce further physical disturbance. The program also supports documentation and inventory efforts, including analog or digital recording of a site's condition, the key features of an object, or the characteristics of a cultural tradition, as well as systematic listing and cataloging of cultural assets. In addition, projects may include preventive conservation measures that address underlying threats such as improper storage, humidity, pests, handling practices, or exposure, and may include restoration in limited cases where it is appropriate, particularly for fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings.

The opportunity also clarifies how it treats sites or objects with religious connections. Religious places or items can be funded when the justification is cultural rather than devotional, meaning the nomination must be based solely on architectural, artistic, historical, or other cultural significance, not on religious practice or promotion. This distinction is important for applicants proposing work on churches, missions, sacred structures, or religiously associated artifacts, because proposals must frame significance and outcomes in cultural heritage terms.

In terms of eligibility, the program is open to a range of institutional applicants, including NGOs, museums, and similar organizations, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Both U.S.-style 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status may apply (as long as they meet the stated eligibility categories). The funding instrument is a grant, categorized under arts and cultural affairs (CFDA 19.025).

Key administrative details from the posting include the funding opportunity number AF WHK FY23 02, a maximum award amount (ceiling) of up to USD 250,000, and an anticipated number of awards of 1. The opportunity was created on November 30, 2022, with an original closing date of December 30, 2022. Applicants considering similar future rounds of AFCP should pay close attention to the Embassy's current year instructions and deadlines, since AFCP competitions are typically run on specific annual timelines and may update requirements from year to year.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Namibia in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.025.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 30, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 30, 2022. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for AF WHK FY23 02

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: