Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF)

HRDF supports innovative programming designed to uphold democratic principles, support democratic institutions, promote human rights, and build civil society in countries and regions of the world that are geo-strategically critical to the U.S.

Funds Allocated for HRDF:
FY 2004: $43,740,400
FY 2003: $36,448,000
FY 2002: $13,000,000
FY 2001: $13,421,000

How to Apply for Funding:
DRL implements 95% of its program funds through open competition RFPs. In the past, DRL has issued solicitations for China, the Muslim World, Africa, Latin and South America, and the Community of Democracies. These RFPs have addressed DRL's regional priorities. While certain issues and countries within these areas may change from year-to-year based on shifting realities in a region, DRL presumes that these regions of focus will remain fairly constant and anticipates issuing future RFPs for similar regional priorities.

DRL publishes the majority of its RFPs between March - June and September - October. RFPs are posted on FEDGRANTS.GOV as well as on this website at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/c12302.htm.

In occasional situations, DRL will consider unsolicited proposals for projects that fall outside of the regions listed above. For example, DRL does fund projects in non-Muslim Southeast Asia and non-Muslim Europe. Organizations may submit unsolicited proposals that do not address past or future RFP regions. There is no standardized review process for unsolicited proposals in terms of when proposals might be reviewed or in terms of process. Unsolicited proposals do not necessarily receive as full a review as would a proposal submitted via a RFP. Unsolicited proposals are considered on a case-by-case basis as time, funding, and priorities permit. Because so little of our funds are available outside the RFP process, unsolicited proposals do not have a high rate of approval, and organizations should bear that in mind before submitting proposals or concept papers.