Deadline: 28 February 2020
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Poland has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its grants program.
Project Themes
- Security: Projects that promote increased security cooperation between Poland and the United States and/or projects that increase public awareness and support for transatlantic and international security cooperation.
- Trade and Energy: Projects that increase bilateral trade and investment between Poland and the United States and/or projects that promote more secure, diverse, and cleaner energy sources for Poland.
- Entrepreneurship, Innovation and STEAM: Projects that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly among youth, by giving tools to emerging entrepreneurs to commercialize their ideas, enhancing education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), and/or developing networking opportunities for students and young entrepreneurs with innovators, business incubators, and businesses.
- Civic Engagement and Democratic Values: Projects that strengthen understanding of democratic values and institutions, equip young people with advocacy skills, promote civic engagement, develop critical thinking skills, enhance leadership education, and/or promote human rights, including those of minorities or otherwise marginalized communities.
- U.S. Culture: Projects that share the richness and diversity of American culture with the Polish public and promote cultural dialogue and people-to-people ties between the United States and Poland.
- Media Literacy: Projects that promote media literacy by equipping young people with critical thinking and fact checking skills that empower them to evaluate the accuracy of information they receive through traditional and social media.
Award Information
The maximum amount of an individual grant is $25,000, and projects with local cost-sharing will be given preference. All grants are subject to the availability of funds from the U.S. Department of State, and any costs and expenses incurred prior to receipt of grant money will not be reimbursed by the U.S. Embassy.
Generally, grant funds may not be used to cover:
- projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns
- exchange programs
- social welfare projects
- projects that support specific religious activities
- trade activities; fundraising campaigns; commercial projects; scientific research; construction projects; projects whose primary aim is the institutional development of the organization itself
- fees and travel cost to attend conferences in the United States
- ongoing salary costs of organization staff
- office equipment
- completing activities begun with other funds
- representational expenses beyond the cost of coffee breaks and working lunches (alcohol cannot be funded at all)
Eligibility Criteria
Grants will be awarded to local representatives of Polish non-governmental organizations, cultural or educational institutions, media, and individuals whose proposals support the topics listed above. All grantees must have a non-profit status. NGOs and individuals from the United States may apply, but preference is given to Polish NGOs or to U.S.-Polish partnerships that develop the organizational capacity of Polish NGOs.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of the U.S. Embassy and will be evaluated on the below criteria. Priority will be given to innovative projects that:
- address one or more of the project themes listed above
- forge people-to-people connections between Americans and Poles
- create ties between U.S. and Polish institutions, organizations, and networking groups
- strengthen understanding of American culture, history, values and institutions
- promote diversity and inclusion of minority groups, including persons with disabilities, immigrants, ethnic minorities and the LGBTQI+ community
- possess a U.S. component (i.e., an American speaker, a current or proposed partnership with U.S. counterparts, a theme or topic originating in, or inspired by U.S. history or society, etc.)
- benefit geographically and demographically diverse groups of participants, including people in rural areas, minority groups, and historically under-served populations
For more information, visit https://pl.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grants/