There are several ways that the FGDC personnel have either conducted training, participated in workshops and related activities either representing the FGDC or in conjunction with other organizations like the FIG (International Federation of Surveyors), International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), the International Cartographic Association (ICA), Permanent Committees, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), many UN Organizations, the private sector, and many, many others.

There are many other ways that the FGDC International Component has flavored training events and exposure.

At roughly the same time the FGDC helped to stand-up the GSDI Association, the FGDC announced a Small Grant Program designed to help developing nations with emerging SDI programs by providing $2500 USD to an organization that is trying to build and/or implement some component of a NSDI.  The FGDC allocated $25,000 to start the activity or 10 grants at $2500 USD each.  Together with their own contributions, developing countries could apply for the money to help with things like: creating metadata for their holdings, building a clearinghouse or a portal, developing and/or instituting ISO approved standards, bringing a group together to agree on framework data or identifying formal policy barriers to data sharing, and the like.  Nine grants were issued in that year and another nine in 2004.  In 2004 the FGDC received 77 applications for the grant.

In 2005, the FGDC was successful in turning the operations of the program to the GSDI Association along with $30,000 hoping that this will help leverage other donors.  In 2005 the GSDI Small Grants Program plans to issue 12 grants at $2500 USD each.  URISA’s GISCorps has graciously collaborated with the GSDI to provide in-kind time and talent to help with additional grants.  Between 90 and 100 applications were received, and the applications are currently being reviewed.