Deadline: 31-Jul-20
The U.S. Embassy Copenhagen of the U.S. Department of State has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program (or project) to increase understanding of American democratic principles, technological innovation in business, and cultural values to promote economic recovery and a more resilient society in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thematic Areas
- The 2020 United States Presidential Election
- Programs such as seminars, election night events, or speaking engagements focusing on informing Kingdom of Denmark audiences about the American election, the procedures involved, and the democratic values that infuse the election process. Programs should approach the election from a non-partisan angle. Applicants are encouraged to be flexible and account for the possibility of a fully virtual program or a program with a virtual element.
- An example of a program could be an election night event targeted primarily toward youth or the media with American in-person or virtual speakers, and a debate. In-person events should be structured to include virtual participation and remote viewing by additional audiences when feasible. Grant funds could be used for rental of conference space, rental of streaming equipment, speakers’ travel expenses and honoraria, as well as staff hours.
- Length of performance period: Programs must commence before November 3, 2020 and be completed by November 30, 2020
- Participants and Audiences: Think tanks, larger organizations, and universities. Inclusion of media representatives as an audience is encouraged but not required.
- Hack the Crisis!
- Programs similar in structure to a hackathon with elements of a design sprint-like event. The theme should address the issues created by the COVID-19 crisis creatively through technology. Ideas should be developed to solve real problems with technological solutions and incorporate an American component, such as a participating American speaker or subject matter expert. The hackathon’s list of issue areas should be inspired by the areas most likely to see the biggest challenges during the pandemic, such as crisis response, economic and small business recovery (including tourist, cultural institutions, restaurants, and the food service and delivery sector), education, health, and transportation solutions. Applicants are encouraged to be flexible and account for the possibility of a fully virtual program or a program with a virtual element.
- An example of a program could be a Hackathon focused on finding creative solutions to problems created by the crisis, such as the public health concerns and shared physical items in a community. Participants could include students of engineering, IT development, manufacturing, event design etc. Both participants and experts should be able to attend both in-person and virtually pending official guidelines and personal preference. Grant funds could be used for rental of conference space, rental of streaming equipment, purchase of construction materials such as plexiglass, international participants’ travel expenses, as well as staff hours.
- Length of performance period: Programs must be completed by December 31, 2021.
- Participants and Audiences: Smaller organizations, such as startup incubators and business schools, IT students.
- Virtual Adaptation for Cultural and Tourism Entities
- Projects that leverage American expertise and institutional knowledge to adapt cultural and tourism programs and activities to a new virtual environment that is more accessible in light of social distancing requirements and large gathering restrictions. Project locations can be either existing exhibitions or experiences that with the help of technology can be moved to a virtual space, or tourism experiences that can be introduced to an online audience.
- An example of a program could be an established museum looking to digitize their collection through the help of U.S. experts to make it available to a virtual audience. Grant funds could be used for rental of digitizing equipment, development of a web platform, travel expenses and honoraria for U.S. experts, as well as staff hours.
- Length of performance period: Programs must be completed by December 31, 2021. Award amount: Funding requests should not exceed $50,000.
- Participants and Audiences: A wide spectrum of cultural and tourism entities with not-forprofit projects with an American component, as well as independent artists whose work has an American component and are seeking to move their engagement to a virtual environment.
Funding Information
Total Amount Available: Up to $50,000
Priority Regions
The Kingdom of Denmark. Inclusion of audiences in Greenland and Faroe Islands is encouraged but not required.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- Individuals
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
- Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
- Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
- Budget – 15 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
- Monitoring and evaluation plan – 10 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
- Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.
For more information, visit https://dk.usembassy.gov/notice-of-funding-opportunity-promoting-democracy-and-recovery-post-pandemic/
