Applications open for Austrian-American Partnership Fund (Austria)

Deadline: 31-Aug-2026

The Austrian-American Partnership Fund is a public diplomacy grant programme from the U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Embassy Vienna. It supports projects that strengthen Austria-U.S. relations through education, culture, policy dialogue, and cooperation on strategic issues.

The fund is designed to increase understanding of American policies, promote shared values, and build lasting connections between Austrian and American audiences and institutions.

Key facts

• Funder: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Vienna.

• Programme: Austrian-American Partnership Fund.

• Total available funding: $40,000.

• Individual grant size: $5,000 to $24,500.

• Performance period: 1 to 12 months.

• Deadline: Rolling basis until August 31, 2026.

• Cost sharing: Encouraged, but not required.

• Eligibility: Non-profits, civil society organisations, think tanks, educational institutions, and individuals.

What the fund supports

The programme supports public diplomacy initiatives that connect Austrian audiences with U.S. ideas, institutions, and expertise. Eligible projects may include:

• Academic lectures.

• Seminars.

• Speaker programmes.

• Artistic workshops.

• Cultural performances.

• Exhibitions.

• Exchanges.

• Professional development activities.

Projects must include a U.S. component and aim to increase understanding of American perspectives and policies among Austrian audiences.

Funding goals

Goal 1: U.S. policy understanding

This goal supports projects that help Austrian policymakers, media professionals, academics, and rising leaders understand U.S. economic, foreign, defense, and security policies.

Goal 2: Cooperation on shared threats

This goal supports collaboration between Austria and the United States on transnational threats such as:

• Terrorism.

• Illegal migration.

• Antisemitism.

• Drug trafficking.

• Freedom of expression and religion.

Goal 3: Arts, culture, film, and sports

This goal promotes American arts, culture, film, sports, and shared U.S.-Austrian history, especially for young Austrians aged 15 to 30.

Goal 4: Science and frontier technologies

This goal supports collaboration in:

• Science.

• Technology.

• Entrepreneurship.

• Energy.

• Cybersecurity.

• Artificial intelligence.

• Quantum computing.

• Agriculture.

• Space.

• Other frontier sectors.

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Non-profit organizations.

• Civil society organizations.

• Think tanks.

• Public educational institutions.

• Private educational institutions.

• Individuals.

Applicants should be able to design projects with a clear U.S. component and a strong public diplomacy purpose.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should show:

• Clear alignment with one or more Embassy goals.

• A defined Austrian audience.

• A meaningful U.S. component.

• Practical and realistic implementation plans.

• Strong audience engagement.

• Clear and measurable outcomes.

• A detailed budget and evaluation plan.

How the programme works

1. Choose a goal area.

   • Select the policy, culture, security, or technology theme that best fits the project.

2. Define the audience.

   • Identify the Austrian group the project will reach.

3. Build the U.S. connection.

   • Include U.S. expertise, partners, content, or speakers.

4. Plan the activities.

   • Design events, workshops, exchanges, screenings, or dialogues.

5. Set outcomes and evaluation.

   • Explain what the project will achieve and how it will be measured.

6. Submit before the rolling deadline.

   • Applications are reviewed until August 31, 2026, subject to fund availability.

What is not supported

The fund does not support:

• Partisan political activities.

• Construction projects.

• Charitable or humanitarian services.

• Commercial projects.

• Fundraising campaigns.

• Scientific research.

• Lobbying.

• Projects mainly for organisational development.

Why it matters

This fund matters because public diplomacy can shape mutual understanding and trust between countries. In a time of global uncertainty, projects that connect Austrian and American audiences can strengthen cooperation on policy, security, innovation, and culture.

It also matters because it gives smaller organisations and individuals a chance to contribute to transatlantic engagement through practical, audience-focused initiatives.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Submitting a project without a U.S. component.

  • Tip: Make American involvement or perspective central to the design.

• Mistake: Proposing a project that is too broad.

  • Tip: Focus on one clear audience and one main objective.

• Mistake: Ignoring the public diplomacy purpose.

  • Tip: Show how the project increases understanding between Austria and the United States.

• Mistake: Weak budgeting or evaluation.

  • Tip: Include a detailed budget and a clear method for measuring impact.

• Mistake: Choosing an ineligible activity.

  • Tip: Avoid partisan, commercial, lobbying, or research-focused proposals.

FAQ

What is the Austrian-American Partnership Fund?

• It is a U.S. Embassy Vienna public diplomacy grant programme.

• It supports projects that strengthen collaboration and mutual understanding between Austria and the United States.

How much funding is available?

• Grants range from $5,000 to $24,500.

• The total available funding is $40,000, subject to availability.

Who can apply?

• Non-profit organizations.

• Civil society organizations.

• Think tanks.

• Educational institutions.

• Individuals.

What kinds of projects are eligible?

• Academic lectures.

• Speaker programs.

• Cultural performances.

• Exhibitions.

• Exchanges.

• Workshops.

• Professional development activities.

When is the deadline?

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2026.

How long can projects run?

• The performance period can be between one month and twelve months.

What activities are not allowed?

• Partisan politics, construction, humanitarian services, commercial work, fundraising, lobbying, scientific research, and organizational development projects.

Conclusion

The Austrian-American Partnership Fund is a practical opportunity for organisations and individuals in Austria to build stronger ties with the United States through public diplomacy. The most competitive proposals will be audience-focused, clearly linked to U.S. priorities, and designed to create meaningful, measurable engagement.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Austria.