Democracy Commission Small Grants Program

Deadline: 10-May-24

The U.S. Embassy Belgrade of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program.

Program Objectives

Proposals should align with the U.S. Embassy’s objectives to strengthen democracy and protect human rights and empower local organizations to advance these changes and reforms throughout Serbia.
Grant activities may take any number of forms, including trainings, conferences, workshops, courses, academic competitions, summer camps (focused on language study, sports, etc.), cross-border exchanges, curriculum development, exhibits, hackathons, or app development, online projects, mock trials or moot court competitions, simulations, and role-playing activities (e.g., Model Congress, Model United Nations), film or theater festivals, performances, or other activities.
Democracy Commission small grants proposals should be crafted with a S.M.A.R.T. logic model. The objective of your activity should be: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant to the problem or challenge, and Time-based, meaning that you will meet them by a certain date. In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.
The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants.
Grantees are expected to: publicize your activities, including through social media and/or traditional press outlets; and highlight U.S. Embassy support, with the logo included on project-related materials.

Program Themes

The Embassy seeks applications focusing on the themes below. They have included ideas about what your project could do, but they welcome creative approaches and activities.
- Participatory Democracy: Promoting increased civic participation by informed citizens in the democratic process. Supporting effective advocacy on behalf of communities or groups, promoting government responsiveness to constituents, strengthening transparency, and combating corruption. Education of voters and young people, even if they cannot yet vote, about policy choices and the decision-making processes. Public debate over matters of public interest or concern.
- Human Rights: Promoting tolerance of, understanding of, and equality for vulnerable populations, particularly, but not limited to, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), ethnic and religious minorities, the LGBTQ community, migrants and refugees, victims of gender-based violence or human trafficking, etc. Furthering gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Funding Information

Total available funding: $265,000
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000
Length of performance period: Any length of time up to a maximum of 18 months (including the 3-month evaluation period).
Number of awards anticipated: Approximately 10 awards (dependent on amounts)

Participants and Audiences

Primary audiences for proposals should be youth, students, teachers and administrators, young professionals, and/or others related to your program theme.
Depending on focus, projects may have secondary audiences or beneficiaries including media, civil society organizations or wider professional audiences, which you may note in the proposal.
Participants or audiences for the proposal should be citizens or legal residents of Serbia.

Priority Region

Serbia

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be a local, non-profit civil society or non-governmental organizations (CSOs or NGOs) or an independent media outlet legally registered in Serbia.
To be eligible for consideration, every Serbia-based applicant organization must be registered in the territory of the Republic of Serbia with the Agencija za privredne registre (APR), or a relevant court.

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