Deadline: 31 December 2017
The U.S. Embassy in Poland has announced the opening of its Small Grants Program competition for 2018.
Grants will be awarded to local representatives of Poland’s civil society – to include non-governmental organizations, cultural or educational institutions, universities, media, schools, and individuals – whose grant proposals support the following goals and initiatives:
- Civic Engagement and Shared Values: Projects that increase involvement of civil society and youth in decision-making processes; support civic education of youth and youth public advocacy; develop critical thinking and problem solving among youth; support leadership education, empowerment and the rights of women; support inclusion of minorities, people with disabilities and other groups in public policy-making; and strengthen understanding of U.S. democratic values and institutions.
- People-to-People Ties and History of Polish-U.S. Relations: In recognition of the 100th anniversary of U.S.-Polish diplomatic relations in 2019, projects that increase public awareness, especially among youth, of the history of Polish-U.S. relations over the last century; highlight the critical role that people-to-people connections have played between two countries the last hundred years; and create opportunities to discuss and shape the future of Polish-U.S. relations and people-to-people ties heading into the second century of relations.
- Entrepreneurship, Innovation and STEAM: Projects that promote a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly among youth and emerging entrepreneurs; give tools to innovative youth and emerging entrepreneurs to incubate and commercialize their ideas; promote education of youth, particularly girls and young women, in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM); develop networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs and STEAM students with Poland’s private sector; develop networking and business opportunities for innovative youth and emerging entrepreneurs in Poland with innovators, business incubators, and businesses in the United States.
- Media Literacy: Projects that: 1) promote media literacy among youth/students, civil society, media, academia, and digital communicators; 2) train consumers how to identify and evaluate disinformation; and 3) teach fact-checking and critical thinking skills to verify accuracy and sources of information in traditional (e.g., TV, radio, print) and social/online media.
- International Security: Projects that increase public awareness of and support, particularly among youth, for transatlantic and international security cooperation between the United States, Poland, and NATO to meet global security challenges.
- U.S. Culture: Projects that promote increased awareness of the role of U.S. culture in modern American society, including that of sports, music and dance, art and design, cuisine and travel, and education; and youth-focused projects that help promote American Studies and study opportunities in the United States.
Activities
- youth engagement, leadership, and education programs
- conferences, workshops, forums, panel discussions, and master classes on American themes or issues of mutual interest mentioned in the above goals of the Program
- bringing an American expert speaker or performer to Poland
- cultural programs, and particularly those that target youth and underserved communities
- exhibitions of works by Americans or on American themes
- radio, television, and social media programming in support of the above objectives of the Program
Funding Information
Although the maximum amount of an individual grant award is $25,000, selected grant proposals typically range from $5,000-$10,000, and projects with local cost-sharing will be given preference.
Eligibility Criteria
- The U.S. Embassy encourages applications from all sectors, including civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, media, and individuals. All grantees must have a non-profit status.
- The U.S. Embassy seeks proposals for geographically and demographically diverse audiences within Poland, as well as proposals that involve cross-border cooperation between Poland and Eastern Partnership countries. S. NGOs and individuals may apply, but preference is given to Polish NGOs or to partnerships that develop capacity with Polish NGOs or employees and include plans to transfer programs to sustainable local management in Poland.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete the application form in English and submit it in electronic format at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit Small Grants Program 2018.