Deadline: 26 February 2020
The Alumni Small Grants program supports alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs in and promoting ideas, implementing best practices, and sharing the experiences gained during their U.S. exchange program.
Grants support a wide range of programs, including professional and community development, with the ultimate goal of increasing mutual understanding between U.S. and Moldovan citizens.
Objective
Projects submitted for funding should address a tangible need in a community and have measurable outcomes. Extra consideration will be given to projects where alumni from the diaspora will implement a project in Moldova and address the current needs of their home communities.
Priorities
They are seeking proposals that advance one or more of the following priorities:
- Fostering Innovation and Supporting Entrepreneurship
- Combatting corruption
- Enhancing Moldova’s Cyber Security posture
- Promoting Moldova’s energy diversification efforts
- Supporting free and fair elections
- Encouraging Good Governance
Themes
The U.S. Embassy is also soliciting applications for the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2020, a global competition for USG alumni. The themes for this opportunity are:
- Strengthening the role of women in peace, security, and governance
- Engaging women as partners in preventing terrorism and countering radicalization and recruitment
- Promoting protection of women and girls from violence, abuse, and exploitation
- Supporting women’s political, economic, and civic participation
Funding Information
Alumni small grants generally range from $5,000-$25,000.
Elements
Strong proposals will also define how their programs are innovative, which could include one or more of the following elements:
- Demonstrates strong potential for sustainability and positive impact regardless of future funding or lack thereof.
- Presents a new model or a creative way of scaling and building upon successful approaches;
- Responds to a current challenge;
- Organizes alumni in a novel way that allows them to make a measurable change;
- Involves people from undeserved communities or groups in activities that relate to American values.
Eligibility Criteria
- For both funding opportunities, applicants are encouraged to develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including the public and/or private sector as well as local organizations, where applicable. All proposals must include an evidence-based description of:
- the problem the applicant seeks to address;
- the implementation context, including any relevant details and the target beneficiaries of the project; and
- the project’s theory of change, i.e., how the proposed project will achieve the program objectives.
- Eligibility is limited to Moldovan non-profit organizations where at least two alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, who are citizens or residents of the Republic of Moldova play a leading role in project implementation. This applies also to Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2020 grants competition. Please mention the organization in the project application.
- Organizations without Moldovan registration can apply only as partners through an eligible organization.
General Criteria
- Organizations should have, or demonstrate the capacity to develop, active partnerships with in-country entities and relevant stakeholders, including the public sector, private sector, and civil society, as relevant to the proposed program objectives.
- Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.
- Organizations should not submit multiple grant proposals unless the scope, goal, and substance of the proposals vary significantly.
- The U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
For more information, visit https://md.usembassy.gov/the-alumni-small-grants-program-2020/