U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. EMBASSY SOFIA, PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION
Notice of Funding Opportunity

Title: U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Annual Program Statement
Funding Opportunity Number: PDS-APS-FY24-01-SOFIA
Deadline for Applications: Rolling Deadlines (see details below)
CFDA Number: 19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs
Total Amount Available: $300,000; pending funds availability
Maximum for Each Award: $25,000.00

 

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy 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 Sofia invites proposals for programs that bolster the people-to-people ties between the United States and Bulgaria 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 and promote shared values.

Competitive proposals should focus on one or more of the following priority themes:

• Promote leadership skills, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and innovation among secondary and university students.
• Deepen the social, cultural, and educational connections between the United States and Bulgaria, especially through the development of active, sustainable alumni networks.
• Boost public understanding of and support for Bulgaria’s role as a strong NATO Ally as it celebrates its 20th year in the Alliance.
• Develop youth skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), especially focused on assisting youth from underserved, vulnerable, or rural communities (outside major metropolitan areas).
• Strengthen the development of robust independent media and civil society organizations to bolster civic participation and improve societal trust in democratic institutions.
• Increase media and digital literacy and improve Bulgarian society’s resilience to disinformation.
• Advance the inclusion and integration of historically underserved and vulnerable communities, including women, Roma and other minority groups, LGBTQI+ individuals, Ukrainian refugees, other migrants, and disadvantaged youth.
• Increase interconnectivity between Bulgaria and other countries in the region, including joint projects that foster cooperation between the citizens of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
• Promote dialogue and civic participation in programs that confront climate change and that advance environmental sustainability and energy diversification.

Participants and Audiences: Audiences, which will vary by program and focus, include but are not limited to: students (particularly at secondary and university levels), academics and think-tanks, government officials (at all levels), journalists and media professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and various underserved or vulnerable populations.

While not required, the most competitive proposals will include components that reach audiences outside of Sofia, in regions with less exposure to the United States, including Northwest and Southeast Bulgaria and the Black Sea coast.

Grantees are also encouraged to host programming and take advantage of existing resources at American Corners in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, and Burgas, especially when programming involves youth (secondary/university) audiences.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;
• Charitable activities;
• Construction programs;
• Programs that support specific religious activities;
• Fundraising campaigns;
• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
• Scientific research;
• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
• Programs that duplicate existing programs; or
• For-profit programs.

Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: Funding authority rests in the Smith-Mundt Act and the Fulbright-Hays Act. The source of funding is Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding.

Deadlines and Funding Decisions: Proposals will be evaluated according to the following rolling deadlines: Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Sofia time on December 29, March 29, and August 2. Grant panels will meet in January, April, and August to consider submitted proposals. No exceptions will be given for late or incomplete proposals. Note: see Submission Dates and Times in Part D below for more specific information.

Priority will be given to applicants who submit proposals earlier in the fiscal year. Note: available funding may be exhausted before the scheduled August review if there are enough qualified proposals already recommended for funding.

Whenever possible, applicants should submit proposals for projects at least 2-3 months prior to anticipated program start dates. PDS Sofia is unable to approve/fund proposals that are submitted last minute and are slated to begin 1-1.5 months after they are submitted.

For more details about the program and how to apply please visit: Annual Program Statement – 2024 (PDF 318 KB).

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. Embassy Sofia / Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title:                U.S. Embassy Sofia 2024 Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP 2024)
Funding Opportunity Number:         PDS-AFCP-FY24-01-SOFIA
Deadline for Applications:                 January 8, 2024
Maximum for Each Award:                $10,000 to $500,000

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S.  Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit proposals for funding through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). The application process involves two rounds.  In Round 1, the U.S. Embassy will collect project ideas from eligible applicants in the form of concept notes, due by January 08, 2024, to SofiaGrants@state.gov using the subject line “AFCP Application for Round 1.”  Only applicants with promising ideas in Round 1 will be notified of the next steps in the application process.

Project Objectives: The AFCP Grants Program supports the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, museum collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression, such as indigenous languages and crafts. Appropriate project activities may include:

a) Anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts)
b) Conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to an object or site)
c) Consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of an object or site)
d) Documentation (recording in analog or digital format the condition and salient features of an object, site, or tradition)
e) Inventory (listing of objects, sites, or traditions by location, feature, age, or other unifying characteristic or state)
f) Preventive Conservation (addressing conditions that threaten or damage a site, object, collection, or tradition)
g) Restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of an object or site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings)
h) Stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance of an object or site)

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Closing Date for applications: January 8, 2024
Funding Type: Grant
Award amounts: $10,000 to $500,000
Length of performance period: 12 to 60 months

This notice is subject to availability of funding.  U.S. Embassy Sofia does not guarantee availability of funding by receiving applications under this announcement.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants/Implementers
The Center defines eligible project implementers as reputable and accountable non-commercial entities that can demonstrate they have the requisite capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage. Eligible implementers may include non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), museums, educational institutions, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based educational institutions and organizations subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. The AFCP will not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or past award recipients that have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous awards.

Cost Sharing or Matching:
Cost sharing is encouraged by not required.

Other Eligibility Requirements:
Potential implementers must be registered and active in the U.S. government’s System for Award Management (SAM) to receive U.S. federal assistance. If an embassy’s project idea is advanced to Round 2 and the anticipated implementer is not registered in SAM, the embassy should initiate the registration process immediately so that it is in place in the event the project is ultimately selected for an award. See paragraph 23 below for information on how to register. The registration process can take several weeks to complete so it is important to avoid any delay.

For more information and full instructions on how to apply please visit: AFCP-2024-Grants-Program-Application-Guide-for-Applicants (PDF 173 KB)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. EMBASSY SOFIA, PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION
Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title:                U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2024)
Funding Opportunity Number:         PDS-AEIF-FY24-01-SOFIA
Deadline for Applications:                 February 10, 2024
Maximum for Each Award:                $35,000.00

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2024 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2024).   We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below.  Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2023 should submit proposals to SofiaGrants@state.gov by February 10, 2024.  Note: all submitted/emailed proposals must include “AEIF” in the subject line.

AEIF provides alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition.

This year, Embassy Sofia will accept proposals for projects managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni which support one or more of the following priority themes:

• Promote leadership skills, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and innovation among secondary and university students.
• Deepen the social, cultural, and educational connections between the United States and Bulgaria, especially through the development of active, sustainable alumni networks.
• Boost public understanding of and support for Bulgaria’s role as a strong NATO Ally as it celebrates its 20th year in the Alliance.
• Develop youth skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), especially focused on assisting youth from underserved, vulnerable, or rural communities (outside major metropolitan areas).
• Strengthen the development of robust independent media and civil society organizations to bolster civic participation and improve societal trust in democratic institutions.
• Increase media and digital literacy and improve Bulgarian society’s resilience to disinformation.
• Advance the inclusion and integration of historically underserved and vulnerable communities, including women, Roma and other minority groups, LGBTQI+ individuals, Ukrainian refugees, other migrants, and disadvantaged youth.
• Increase interconnectivity between Bulgaria and other countries in the region, including joint projects that foster cooperation between the citizens of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
• Promote dialogue and civic participation in programs that confront climate change and that advance environmental sustainability and energy diversification.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Closing Date for applications: February 10, 2024
Funding Type: Small grant awards
Decision Date: No later than March 31, 2024
Award amounts: $5000 to $35,000
Length of performance period: 1-12 months

This notice is subject to availability of funding.  U.S. Embassy Sofia does not guarantee availability of funding by receiving applications under this announcement. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants
The following individuals are eligible to apply:

• Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program (https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (https://j1visa.state.gov/).
• Projects teams must include at least two (2) alumni.
• Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.
• Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries.
• Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of USG exchange alumni. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the organization but can serve as partners for implementing project activities.

Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing is not required.

Other eligibility requirements
Applicants should only submit one application in a given funding cycle.
In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov.  Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

For more information and full instructions on how to apply please visit: AEIF 2024 NOFO (PDF 257 KB)