Deadline: 15 May 2020
The U.S. Embassy is currently seeking applications for the Austrian-American Partnership Fund to support collaboration and cultural exchange between Austrian and U.S. non-governmental organizations, universities, professional associations, arts and cultural organizations.
The goals of the program are to expand the range of educational, cultural and professional cooperation between Austrians and Americans.
Areas
The Austrian-American Partnership Fund will fund projects in the following program areas:
- Entrepreneurship: Fostering connections and sustainable relationships between U.S. and Austrian entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship educators and organizations that promote entrepreneurship, especially among youth.
- Global Issues: Promote dialogue and debate around issues of mutual importance and interest, such as energy, trade and economic policy, countering violent extremism, human rights and transatlantic cooperation.
- Arts America: Showcasing young American artists, including performing and visual artists, poets, playwrights, theatrical and film directors and curators, whose work has never been presented or who have not performed in Austria before.
- American Studies: Building capacity in the area of U.S. studies and enhancing overall understanding of the United States.
Funding Information
- Projects budgets range from $1,000 to $10,000, and grant support cannot exceed $25,000; the most competitive proposals will include significant funding from other sources as cost-share in the project budget.
- The average project award in 2016 was $4,800.
The following types of projects are not eligible for funding:
- Requests by organizations and individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements above; those relating to partisan political activity;
- Humanitarian or charitable activities;
- Conferences outside of Austria and individual trips abroad;
- Trade activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Commercial projects;
- Conducting research or the publication of research; or
- Projects aimed only at primary institutional development of the organization.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna invites proposals from Austrian non-governmental organizations, universities, professional associations, arts and cultural institutions, academics or other qualified individuals.
- They must demonstrate an interest in working with American counterparts with the goal to develop or expand existing educational, professional and cultural exchange activities in Austria and promote dialogue and partnership between the peoples of the United States and Austria.
- The Embassy encourages organizations that have not previously received funding from the U.S. Embassy to apply under this announcement.
- Applicants with a demonstrated record of expertise and accomplishment will be considered favorably.
- Projects must include a component of cost sharing or matching funds, amounting to at least 10% of the total cost.
Evaluation Criteria
The proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- The activity falls under one of the programmatic areas listed above: Entrepreneurship; Global Issues; Arts America; or, American Studies.
- The project budget is well-organized, detailed and reasonable. There are no budget lines labeled “miscellaneous expenses.” The budget demonstrates that the individual or organization has devoted time to plan for and assess actual expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. No U.S. funds are proposed for the purchase of food, drink, or entertainment. Proposals that do not have a clear budget for the activity proposed will not be considered.
- The proposal demonstrates that the Austrian and U.S. individuals and/or organizations have sufficient expertise, skills and capacity to implement the project.
- The project will make a substantive contribution to the expanding types of partnerships between Austrian and U.S. individuals, organizations and institutions.
- The project idea and approach is innovative yet proposed project activities are concrete and detailed and supported by a work plan.
- The proposal clearly articulates how the partners will assess and measure performance throughout the project implementation phase using quantitative and qualitative assessment tools.
For more information, visit https://at.usembassy.gov/education-culture/austrian-american-partnership-fund/