Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0019655
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Promoting Technology for the Common Good and Countering Authoritarian Influence" (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0019655). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning the State Department expects to have substantial involvement during the project period rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The opportunity is designed to support a partner that can convene a broad coalition of actors and run a program of research and public engagement focused on emerging technology, human rights, and resistance to authoritarian models of tech governance.
At its core, the program aims to advance a human-centered approach to emerging technology that explicitly grounds technology policy and practice in the inherent dignity of the human person and unalienable natural rights. In practical terms, this points to work that helps shape how technologies such as artificial intelligence, surveillance tools, biometric systems, data infrastructure, digital identity, and other fast-moving innovations are discussed, studied, and governed. The emphasis is not only on technical performance or economic competitiveness, but on ensuring that technology development and deployment align with fundamental freedoms and respect for individual rights.
The implementing partner is expected to bring together stakeholders from multiple sectors: governments, academia, civil society, industry, and faith-based organizations. The activities described include academic research, events, and "other activities" that build intellectual frameworks and shared understanding around dignity and unalienable rights in the context of technology. This could reasonably involve conferences, workshops, speaker series, policy roundtables, commissioned papers, collaborative research projects, educational programming, and networks or working groups that connect practitioners and scholars. A key goal is to develop and strengthen the ideas, language, and arguments that support rights-respecting technology and that can be used in policy debates, institutional decision-making, and public discourse.
Another central pillar is countering authoritarian influence that undermines fundamental freedoms. This signals a focus on understanding and responding to authoritarian approaches to technology, such as models that normalize pervasive surveillance, censorship, social control, politicized data collection, disinformation and manipulation, and the export of digital repression capabilities. The program is positioned to support efforts that expose and analyze these influence strategies, build resilience among institutions and communities, and promote democratic, rights-based alternatives. Because the opportunity explicitly frames the issue as influence that can cross borders, the work may involve international engagement and comparative analysis, and it may support coalitions that can push back against authoritarian narratives in standards-setting, governance discussions, or broader public debate.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations), U.S. or foreign public and private educational institutions, U.S. or foreign for-profit organizations, and public international organizations and governmental institutions. This wide eligibility suggests the State Department is open to different types of implementing partners, including universities, policy institutes, NGOs, consortia, and potentially private sector entities with relevant expertise, as long as they can credibly convene diverse stakeholders and execute the research and convening agenda.
The award ceiling is $1,973,359, indicating the maximum amount available under this opportunity. The original closing date is August 31, 2026, and the opportunity was created on August 14, 2026. The listing notes "ExpectedAwards: 0," which can appear in postings even when an award is anticipated, but it still indicates that applicants should read the full notice carefully for details on anticipated funding levels, program structure, performance period, and any constraints or requirements that may not be captured in the summary fields. The CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number associated with this opportunity is 19.345, and the funding activity category is listed as "Other," which fits a cross-cutting initiative that blends policy research, convening, and democracy and human rights objectives rather than a narrowly defined technical program.
Overall, this grant opportunity is essentially looking for a capable partner to help build a sustained, interdisciplinary effort that strengthens rights-based thinking around emerging technology, turns that thinking into credible research and public-facing engagement, and helps democratic actors counter the spread of authoritarian tech governance models that erode freedoms.Apply for DFOP0019655
- The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Technology for the Common Good and Countering Authoritarian Influence" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-31. (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 $1,973,359.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Promoting Technology for the Common Good and Countering Authoritarian Influence."
2. Who is offering this grant?
The U.S. Department of State is offering the award through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
3. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0019655.
4. What type of award is being offered?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement.
5. What does a "cooperative agreement" mean for applicants?
A cooperative agreement indicates the State Department expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, rather than simply providing funding with minimal engagement.
6. What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to support a partner that can convene a broad coalition of actors and run a program of research and public engagement focused on emerging technology, human rights, and resistance to authoritarian models of tech governance.
7. What overarching approach does the program promote?
The opportunity emphasizes a human-centered approach to emerging technology grounded in the inherent dignity of the human person and unalienable natural rights.
8. What kinds of technology topics are relevant to this opportunity?
The notice points to emerging and fast-moving areas such as artificial intelligence, surveillance tools, biometric systems, data infrastructure, digital identity, and other innovations that raise governance and human rights questions.
9. Is the focus primarily technical innovation or something else?
The emphasis is not only on technical performance or economic competitiveness. A key focus is ensuring technology development and deployment align with fundamental freedoms and respect for individual rights.
10. What kinds of activities does the program expect an implementing partner to run?
Activities described include academic research, events, and other activities that build intellectual frameworks and shared understanding around dignity and unalienable rights in the context of technology.
11. What are examples of events or engagement activities that fit this opportunity?
Based on the description, relevant formats could include conferences, workshops, speaker series, policy roundtables, commissioned papers, collaborative research projects, educational programming, and networks or working groups connecting practitioners and scholars.
12. What is the coalition or convening expectation?
The implementing partner is expected to convene a broad coalition across multiple sectors and help build shared understanding and usable ideas for technology and rights-based governance.
13. Which stakeholder groups are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity explicitly mentions convening stakeholders from governments, academia, civil society, industry, and faith-based organizations.
14. What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to build in public discourse and policy debates?
A stated goal is to develop and strengthen the ideas, language, and arguments that support rights-respecting technology and that can be used in policy debates, institutional decision-making, and public discourse.
15. What does "countering authoritarian influence" mean in the context of this opportunity?
It signals a focus on understanding and responding to authoritarian approaches to technology that undermine fundamental freedoms, including models that normalize pervasive surveillance, censorship, social control, politicized data collection, disinformation and manipulation, and the export of digital repression capabilities.
16. Does the opportunity support work related to cross-border or international influence?
Yes. The description frames authoritarian influence as something that can cross borders and notes the work may involve international engagement and comparative analysis.
17. What kinds of counter-influence efforts are suggested by the summary?
The summary suggests efforts that expose and analyze authoritarian influence strategies, build resilience among institutions and communities, and promote democratic, rights-based alternatives, including engagement in standards-setting and governance discussions.
18. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations), U.S. or foreign public and private educational institutions, U.S. or foreign for-profit organizations, and public international organizations and governmental institutions.
19. Are foreign organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes foreign not-for-profit organizations, foreign educational institutions, and foreign for-profit organizations.
20. Are for-profit entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. or foreign for-profit organizations.
21. Are universities and other educational institutions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. or foreign public and private educational institutions.
22. Are governmental institutions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes governmental institutions, and it also includes public international organizations.
23. What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling (maximum amount) is $1,973,359.
24. How many awards are expected?
The listing shows "ExpectedAwards: 0." The summary notes this can appear in postings even when an award is anticipated, so applicants are encouraged to review the full notice for details.
25. When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 14, 2026.
26. What is the application closing date?
The original closing date is August 31, 2026.
27. What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number associated with this opportunity is 19.345.
28. What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is listed as "Other," reflecting a cross-cutting initiative blending policy research, convening, and democracy and human rights objectives.
29. What kind of implementing partner is the State Department looking for?
The opportunity describes a partner capable of running sustained research and public engagement and of convening a broad, interdisciplinary coalition across sectors to strengthen rights-based technology governance ideas and counter authoritarian influence.
30. Does the summary describe any specific required deliverables or a required project structure?
The summary describes research, events, and other activities, but it does not list a definitive set of deliverables or a fixed structure. It also advises reading the full notice for details on program structure, performance period, and constraints or requirements not captured in the summary.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other
Previous opportunity: FY26 Collaborative Reform Initiative Program
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| Promoting Responsible Investment and Rights-Respecting Production Models Apply for DFOP0019659 Funding Number: DFOP0019659 Agency: Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other Funding Amount: $2,959,500 |
| Countering Weaponized Migration to Central and Eastern Europe Apply for DFOP0019651 Funding Number: DFOP0019651 Agency: Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other Funding Amount: $1,973,359 |
| Documenting Human Rights Abuses and Countering DPRK Propaganda Apply for DFOP0019674 Funding Number: DFOP0019674 Agency: Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other Funding Amount: $2,960,039 |
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