U.S. Embassy Tbilisi PDS Cultural Small Grants Program

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Cultural Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Purpose of Small Grants: PDS Tbilisi invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Georgia through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Examples of PDS Cultural Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

· Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs.

· Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions.

· Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs.

· Professional and academic exchanges and programs.

Priority Program Areas:

· Strengthening democracy, culture, institutions, values, and civil society through arts, particularly with a U.S. connection, in the regions of Georgia.

· Community-based cultural (heritage) preservation projects, or projects to support community engagement around or with Georgia's cultural heritage.

· International Festivals held in Georgia to foster closer U.S.- Georgian ties and share U.S. culture.

· Sporting events and exchanges to foster closer U.S.- Georgian ties through sports, promote inclusive sports, foster healthy living, or advance other shared priorities.

Participants and Audiences:

The U.S. Embassy seeks geographically and demographically diverse audiences within the country and prioritizes proposals with a significant programming component outside of the capital. The Embassy encourages projects to focus on engaging youth, women and girls, seniors, people with disabilities, regions with ethnic and religious minority communities, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and other vulnerable communities.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

· Programs relating to partisan political activity;

· Charitable or development activities;

· Construction programs;

· Programs that support specific religious activities;

· Fund-raising campaigns;

· Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

· Scientific research;

· Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or

· Programs that duplicate existing programs.

Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding:

19.040 Smith-Mundt, Public Diplomacy Funding, FY24

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: up to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: 15 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $24,000

Total available funding: $250,000

Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding

Anticipated program start date: four to six months after submission deadline

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award, or Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that PDS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

PDS will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from organizations within the U.S. and Georgia that are:

· Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience.

· Non-profit or governmental educational institutions.

• Governmental Institutions.

· Legal Entities of Public Law.

For-profit or commercial entities/educational institutions are not eligible to apply.

Individuals are not eligible to apply.