Deadline: 31-May-23
The U.S. Embassy Lisbon Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.
Purpose of Small Grants
- PDS invites proposals from individuals, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions for public diplomacy projects that strengthen the bilateral ties between the U.S. and Portugal. PDS will only consider grants that have a public diplomacy component and identifiable “American content.”
- This means there is a U.S. component or aspect in their proposal, including but not limited to being proposed by a U.S. based person or entity or graduate of a U.S. State Department exchange program; the proposal includes U.S. based tools, persons, methods, products or technology; the proposal intends using, propagating or teaching U.S.-originated models or modus operandi.
Priorities
Proposals must address at least one of the priority programming areas below:
- Technology, Innovation, Security: activities which support cooperation in space exploration, as well as solutions to transnational, regional, and global challenges, including cybersecurity, terrorism, trafficking in persons, and health threats.
- Economic Recovery: activities that improve the connections between U.S. and Portuguese businesses, and/or expand economic opportunities for women and underserved populations in a post-pandemic world.
- Countering Disinformation: activities that promote media literacy and critical thinking, resist malign influence, and/or counter disinformation.
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion: promoting economic, educational, and/or cultural linkages between the United States and Portugal through activities focused on ensuring inclusion and equity for all regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.
- Climate Change: activities focused on educating, raising awareness or addressing issues related to climate change including alternative energy solutions, reforestation, sustainable development, and climate justice.
Funding Information
- Award amounts: minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $24,000
- Number of awards anticipated: 1-10 awards (dependent on amounts)
- Performance period: 1 to 12 months.
- Anticipated project start date: planned so as to be completed by September 1, 2023.
Eligible Projects
Examples of PDS Small Grants Program projects include, but are not limited to:
- Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;
- Artistic and cultural workshops, performances and exhibitions;
- Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects;
- Professional and academic exchanges and projects; and/or,
- Professional development workshops and training
Ineligible Projects
- Scientific research;
- Projects relating to partisan political activity;
- Financial support for fundraising including for charity or fund-raising campaigns;
- Trade activities or Commercial projects;
- Health related activities and research;
- Construction projects;
- Projects that support specific religious activities;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or partisan political projects;
- Projects that are inherently development in nature, or that primarily consist of procuring supplies or equipment for an organization or individual;
- Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Funding of for-profit business ventures or microloans/microfinance projects, or seed money for enterprises of any scale;
- The purchase or long-term lease of space or buildings in support of program activities;
- Individual or group travel to conferences or other events;
- Cash prizes for competitions;
- Alcoholic beverages;
- Programs focused solely on food distribution;
- Scholarships to support educational opportunities or study for individuals; and,
- Projects that duplicate existing projects or programs of the U.S. Department of State or Public Diplomacy Section or U.S. Embassy.
Participants and Audiences
- Applicant proposals must stipulate who their target audiences are, including professional or academic affiliation, estimates of age, gender, geographic break down and must estimate the expected audience reach through direct contact and as possible through indirect contact (via social media or traditional media).
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants – The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from U.S. and Portugal who are:
- Citizens of Portugal or the U.S.;
- Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience based in Portugal or the U.S. whose projects inure to the benefit of Portugal or Portuguese; or
- Non-profit or governmental educational institutions based in Portugal or the U.S. whose projects inure to the benefit of Portugal or Portuguese
Ineligible
- Organizations and individuals who are neither Portuguese nor American;
- For-profit or commercial entities; and,
- Government organizations whether Federal, State, Municipal or Local, whether Portuguese or American.
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Portugal.