Please be advised that U.S. Embassy Budapest has temporarily suspended acceptance of new grant proposals for its small grants program, as the U.S. Government just completed fiscal year 2018.  The Embassy plans to accept new applications as soon as a new Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted, and is looking forward to working with organizations on projects that strengthen the U.S.-Hungarian relationship.  Please check this page for updates in December 2018.  In the meantime, please see guidelines and registration requirements below for grant applicants that will remain the same in fiscal year 2019.

 

The U.S. Embassy Budapest Public Affairs Section (PAS Budapest) of the U.S. Department of State announces its 2018 open competition for organizations and individuals to submit applications to carry out a program or project with funding through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.  The Embassy welcomes proposals for projects that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Hungary through cultural programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation.  All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Submission Dates and Times: The Small Grants Program for 2018 is being administered on a rolling basis, with proposals reviewed on a monthly basis, subject to availability of funds.

Grants may be awarded to non-governmental organizations, cultural or educational institutions, universities, media, schools, and individuals whose grant proposals support exchange between the United States and Hungary related to the following topics:

• Civic Engagement and Shared Values;
• Media Literacy;
• Business Climate; and
• Building Bridges and Cultural Connections.

For more details on these topics and a full list of requirements and regulations governing the grant process, please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDF, 592KB)

 

Start Preparing Now To Submit a Grant Application:

Given the competitive nature of the grant application process, it is important that the applicants review all of the information on this site and thoroughly answer all questions listed on our Request A Small Grant Form.  Please note that processing grant applications will take several weeks.

You can ensure your organization is prepared by completing required registration in advance with each of the following websites by creating a username and password:

1. First, get a DUNS number: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform
2. Then, proceed with NCAGE registration: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx
3. Finally, register with SAM https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1

Please note: The Legal Business Name and Address must be precise and MATCH EXACTLY when entering into the D&B DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM websites. This includes spaces, parentheses, capitalization, small letters, punctuation, etc.  For more information about completing the foreign registration process for SAM and Grants.gov, click here (PDF 255KB) 

 

Application Guidelines for Funding Requests

We request applicants to review the following guidelines before submitting their proposals.

Funding Policy

• We WILL give first priority to projects which are sustainable in nature and which can be continued successfully without need for substantive outside funding.
• We will NOT look favorably upon projects which are one-time efforts that benefit a limited population, are not sustainable and that may require further funding at a later point in order to achieve the goal.
• Commercial/profit making proposals cannot be funded.
• Our grants usually do not exceed $5,000, although in the case of a particularly strong proposal, we might consider a higher amount.
• If the project requires funding from other sources, the requestor needs to indicate that there is a formal commitment from the other sources before the U.S. Embassy can approve a funding request.

General Budget Guidelines

Budget expense categories include personnel, travel, supplies, equipment, contractual and “Other Direct Costs”; the term “Overhead” is not used. The other direct costs must be broken out by category, such as Repairs, Furniture, Office Expenses, Postage, Phones, etc.

Equipment purchase is discouraged, but if absolutely necessary, it should be well justified. Taxes (VAT) should be refunded for commodities over $500 of individual value. Do not submit a funding request if you cannot undertake the project if an equipment purchase is denied.

Detailed Guidance to filling out our Request A Small Grant Form

A/ Project information

• Description:  
  What does the applicant propose to do? The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do and why.
  Project purpose: What goals will be achieved and how the results will be determined / measured.
• Project justification and objectives:
  What is the importance of the project? Why should the U.S. Embassy and American taxpayers fund it? Who will be affected by this project? What difference does it make for your country?
• Measurable outcomes:
  Please describe the results you expect from your project, and offer examples how those results can be measured.
• Project sustainability:
  Describe the expected long‐term effects of the project. If the project is intended to continue after the funding from the Embassy ends, the proposal must also contain a very thorough explanation how the organization will fund the activity in the future.

B/ Project budget

• Explanation of budget expenses:
  In order to be sure that we understand why there is a need for funding, the applicant should prepare a line by‐line list of expenses that will be generated by this project. The budget should be prepared in a logical manner and offer enough detail that a reviewer will be able to understand exactly what the figures mean and how that figure was determined.  All budget items must be realistic and calculated in USD. The budget explanation should follow the actual budget presentation itself and describe in some detail the costs presented in the budget. In other words, it explains, line by line, what the numbers mean and how they were determined.  For example, “Travel: $3,000.” Explanation: Two‐day conference in (location) for 30 participants with a 2X$50 travel allowance to each participant for room, board and transportation costs.If the proposal seeks funding to purchase a service or equipment, the application must include three pro-forma estimates from the service or equipment vendor. Simply listing “Computer and printer: $4,000″ is not sufficient. The Embassy will want to know why this equipment is needed for this specific project, what kind and how much three different vendors will charge for it.Please describe the in‐kind contribution of your organization ‐ it can be voluntary work, use of premises, vehicles, classroom supplies, equipment or payment of a program event from your own funds (e.g. rental of a hall, printing of announcements, meals, travel, etc.).
• Other funding sources:
  Please state which other organizations you have applied to for funding with the same project, and the status of those applications, including the possibilities for co‐funding of the project by other organizations.

You will receive a response from us after our Grants Board has reviewed your request at its monthly meeting.
Thank you for your interest in our Small Grants Program.