Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0019522

The DRL FY 2025 China Programs grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0019522) is a U.S. Department of State initiative run by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) to support programs that address serious and ongoing human rights abuses in the People`s Republic of China, with particular emphasis on abuses in Xinjiang that the U.S. government has described as including genocide and crimes against humanity. The opportunity frames these abuses as not only a domestic Chinese issue but one with global implications, and it draws on the State Department`s annual Human Rights Reports as the core public record documenting the pattern and scope of violations.

The notice highlights a broad set of human rights concerns that potential projects are expected to engage, directly or indirectly. These include severe restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information, arbitrary arrest and detention, and the use of torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. It also points to particularly severe violations of religious freedom, including coercive policies and repression targeting religious and ethnic communities. In the labor space, the opportunity references prohibitions on trade unions and systematic restrictions on workers` freedom of association, alongside trafficking in persons and forced labor. Taken together, the description signals that DRL is looking for programming that can respond to repression across civil and political rights, religious freedom, and labor rights, including forced labor risks that can reverberate through global supply chains.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the instrument type. A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency compared with a standard grant, meaning award recipients should expect closer coordination with DRL on planning, implementation, monitoring, or other aspects of the work. The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing number 19.345, which corresponds to State Department democracy and human rights assistance programming.

Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations), U.S. or foreign public and private educational institutions, and U.S. or foreign for-profit organizations. This wide eligibility suggests DRL is open to a range of implementers, from advocacy and documentation groups to research institutions and specialized implementers that can run technical programs, trainings, monitoring efforts, or other capacity-building and accountability-oriented work.

Key dates and funding parameters included in the source data are as follows: the opportunity was created on 2026-08-04 and lists an original closing date of 2026-08-31, indicating a relatively tight window between posting and the stated close date. The award ceiling is $2,466,699. The dataset line for expected awards is listed as 0, which may reflect that the number of awards was not specified in the source record or had not been finalized at the time of posting, rather than indicating that no awards will be made.

Overall, the opportunity is positioned as a DRL-backed funding vehicle to support efforts that respond to and counteract serious human rights violations connected to China, including mass atrocities and systemic repression in Xinjiang, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and forced labor and trafficking-related abuses. Applicants that are best aligned will typically be those able to demonstrate credible expertise, strong safeguarding and risk management practices for sensitive human rights work, and the ability to operate effectively despite the security, access, and information constraints that commonly surround China-related programming.

  • The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DRL FY 2025 China Programs" 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 2026-08-04.
  • 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 $2,466,699.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for DFOP0019522

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FAQs: DRL FY 2025 China Programs (DFOP0019522)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the DRL FY 2025 China Programs grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0019522), a U.S. Department of State initiative administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) to support programs responding to serious and ongoing human rights abuses in the People`s Republic of China.

Which U.S. government office is running it?

The opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of State`s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).

What issues is DRL prioritizing through this opportunity?

The notice emphasizes programming that addresses serious and ongoing human rights abuses in China, with particular emphasis on abuses in Xinjiang that the U.S. government has described as including genocide and crimes against humanity.

Is the focus only on Xinjiang?

No. While Xinjiang is specifically highlighted and given particular emphasis, the opportunity frames the broader pattern of human rights abuses in China as an area for programming engagement, including restrictions on fundamental freedoms and labor-related violations.

How does the opportunity describe the relevance of these issues?

The notice frames the abuses as not only a domestic Chinese issue but one with global implications, including concerns that can reverberate beyond China.

What source does the opportunity cite as the core public record documenting abuses?

The opportunity draws on the U.S. Department of State`s annual Human Rights Reports as the core public record documenting the pattern and scope of violations.

What types of human rights concerns are referenced in the notice?

The notice highlights a broad set of concerns that projects are expected to engage directly or indirectly, including severe restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information; arbitrary arrest and detention; and the use of torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Does the opportunity address religious freedom issues?

Yes. It points to particularly severe violations of religious freedom, including coercive policies and repression targeting religious and ethnic communities.

Does the opportunity include labor rights and supply chain concerns?

Yes. It references prohibitions on trade unions and systematic restrictions on workers` freedom of association, alongside trafficking in persons and forced labor, signaling an interest in programming connected to labor rights and forced labor risks that can affect global supply chains.

What award instrument will DRL use?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity that uses a cooperative agreement as the instrument type.

What does it mean that the instrument is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency compared with a standard grant. Award recipients should expect closer coordination with DRL on planning, implementation, monitoring, or other aspects of the work.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing number 19.345, corresponding to State Department democracy and human rights assistance programming.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations), U.S. or foreign public and private educational institutions, and U.S. or foreign for-profit organizations.

Are non-U.S. organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes both U.S. and foreign organizations across the eligible organization types listed in the notice.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. U.S. or foreign for-profit organizations are included in the eligibility list.

Are universities and educational institutions eligible?

Yes. U.S. or foreign public and private educational institutions are eligible under the stated eligibility categories.

What types of implementers does DRL appear open to funding under this opportunity?

Based on the wide eligibility, DRL appears open to a range of implementers, including advocacy and documentation groups, research institutions, and specialized implementers that can run technical programs, trainings, monitoring efforts, or other capacity-building and accountability-oriented work.

What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling listed in the source data is $2,466,699.

How many awards will be made?

The dataset line for expected awards is listed as 0. This may reflect that the number of awards was not specified in the source record or had not been finalized at the time of posting, rather than indicating that no awards will be made.

When was the opportunity posted and when does it close?

The opportunity was created on 2026-08-04 and lists an original closing date of 2026-08-31, indicating a relatively tight window between posting and the stated close date.

What kinds of operating conditions should applicants anticipate for China-related programming?

The notice suggests applicants should be able to operate effectively despite security, access, and information constraints that commonly surround China-related programming.

What capabilities are likely important for applicants to demonstrate?

Applicants best aligned with the opportunity are described as those able to demonstrate credible expertise, strong safeguarding and risk management practices for sensitive human rights work, and the ability to operate effectively under the constraints associated with China-related programming.

Does the notice suggest projects must address every issue listed?

No. The notice describes a broad set of concerns that projects are expected to engage directly or indirectly, which indicates flexibility in how a project connects to the highlighted human rights themes.

Is this opportunity framed as accountability-oriented or capacity-building?

Yes. The description indicates interest in work such as monitoring efforts, trainings, technical programs, capacity-building, and accountability-oriented efforts related to the cited human rights concerns.

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