Julia Taft Refugee Fund 2019 | DOS HAR FY2019

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Julia Taft Refugee Fund 2019

What is the Julia Taft Refugee Fund 2019 grant opportunity?

The Julia Taft Refugee Fund 2019 is a discretionary grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Embassy in Harare (U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe). It is designed to fund small, practical, one-time, low-cost projects that address urgent gaps in refugee protection and assistance.

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The main purpose is to support targeted activities that make a clear, tangible difference for refugees by closing urgent gaps that existing humanitarian systems are not already covering. The program emphasizes quick impact rather than large, multi-year programming.

What kind of projects is this program looking to support?

The program is looking for small, focused interventions with a defined beginning and end, modest budgets, and outcomes that can be clearly demonstrated. Projects should be practical, feasible as a one-time effort, and aimed at filling an urgent unmet need in refugee protection or assistance.

What types of activities have been funded in the past under the Julia Taft Refugee Fund?

Examples mentioned include youth sports programs for structured positive engagement, initiatives to improve hygiene and sanitation, small-scale income generation efforts to promote self-reliance, and vocational education programs that build employable skills.

What makes a project a strong fit for this opportunity?

Based on the description, a strong fit is a proposal that identifies a concrete service or protection gap affecting refugees, explains why major actors are not addressing it, and proposes a focused, efficient project that can fill that gap without duplicating existing work.

What needs are specifically prioritized?

The opportunity prioritizes important unmet needs that are not being handled by UNHCR, other international organizations, or NGOs already receiving U.S. government funding for the same types of support.

Does this program fund projects that duplicate existing humanitarian assistance?

No. The opportunity specifically seeks projects that address gaps not currently being handled by UNHCR, other international organizations, or NGOs already funded by the U.S. government for similar assistance.

What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount) for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is $25,000.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity indicated that one award was expected to be made.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as community development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 19.517.

Who issued this grant opportunity?

The grant opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State through PRM and the U.S. Embassy in Harare (U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe). The issuing agency is listed as the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe.

What is the funding opportunity title and number?

The funding opportunity title is "Julia Taft Refugee Fund 2019" and the opportunity number is "DOS HAR FY2019."

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 7, 2019.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was March 7, 2019.

How long was the application window based on the dates provided?

Based on the creation date (February 7, 2019) and the original closing date (March 7, 2019), the application window was approximately one month.

What does "discretionary grant program" mean in this context?

In this context, it means the program is intended to fund selected proposals that best meet the stated goal of filling urgent, overlooked gaps through small, practical, one-time projects, rather than serving as an entitlement or formula-based funding stream.

What does the opportunity mean by "one-time, low-cost projects"?

It refers to projects that are designed to be delivered as a single, limited-scope intervention (not ongoing multi-year programming) and that can realistically be completed within a modest budget, with clearly demonstrable results.

What are applicants expected to explain about the gap they are addressing?

Applicants are expected to identify a concrete gap in refugee services or protection, explain why it is not currently being addressed by major actors on the ground (such as UNHCR or U.S.-funded organizations), and describe how their proposed project will fill that gap efficiently.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility is stated as "nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education."

Is this opportunity intended for large humanitarian operations?

No. The small award ceiling ($25,000) and the expectation of funding a single award indicate it is meant for small, tightly scoped projects rather than broad humanitarian operations.

What kind of impact is the program designed to achieve?

The program is designed for quick, tangible impact through targeted community-level solutions that complement larger humanitarian programming and make a clear difference for refugees where urgent needs are currently unmet.

What should a project budget realistically account for under this opportunity?

Projects should be designed to be realistic and complete within the $25,000 ceiling, including any operational needs, staffing, materials, and monitoring needs required to deliver results.

Where is the issuing U.S. mission located?

The opportunity references the U.S. Embassy in Harare and the U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe.