Annual Program Statement for Fiscal Year 2022

 

Please note that our Annual Program Statement was updated on 4/4/2022 to reflect the changes in the sam.gov registration process for organizations and to add a new submission deadline. The updated sections are highlighted in the full announcement (Call for Proposals – PDF 338KB). 

Embassy’s detailed Annual Program Statement can be downloaded in a .pdf format from here: Call for Proposals (PDF 338KB)

Overview

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary is pleased to announce that funding is available through the Embassy’s Small Grants Program. This program supports projects proposed by Hungarian non-profit organizations, individuals, and cultural/educational organizations that aim to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Hungary.

The Embassy has particular interest in projects that have a strong link to the United States and reinforce U.S. – Hungary shared values; advance regional and global security; promote Transatlantic trade, investment and energy security; and/or promote rule of law, democracy, and respect for individual liberty.

Grants cannot be used to fund religious or partisan political activity; fundraising campaigns; commercial projects or for-profit ventures; individual academic research projects; construction projects; or projects whose primary objective is an organization’s institutional development or an individual’s personal enrichment or career development.

Proposals will be considered in three separate cycles of funding. The deadlines to submit proposals are: February 28, 2022 (expired), June 1, 2022 (new) and July 31, 2022.

Typically, grants range from $5,000 to $10,000.  The Public Diplomacy Section in Budapest reserves the right to award less or more than the funds requested as it deems to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

 

NOTE: Once a project proposal is approved, the administrative process to receive funds takes a minimum of two months. As such, proposals tied to a specific date or event, should take this timeline into account.

 

How to Apply

Proposals should be submitted by email to BudapestGrants@state.gov, in English (NOTE: only proposals in English will be accepted). In addition to the proposal, you must submit a budget and budget narrative. Sample proposal (.DOC 60KB) and budget template (.XLS 85KB) can be found here. You will receive an e-mail confirming that we have received your application. Proposals can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed with all the submissions received for that cycle of funding.  All applicants are typically contacted 4-6 weeks after the deadline for each funding cycle and informed whether or not their proposal was selected. Should you have any questions, please submit them to BudapestGrants@state.gov.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include Hungarian not-for-profit organizations registered in Hungary, including non-governmental organizations, individuals, educational/cultural institutions, and governmental organizations.

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, as well as a valid registration in System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov). If an organization does not have an active registration in SAM.gov prior to submitting an application, the application will be deemed ineligible.

 

Required Registrations: 

1. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number: SAM.gov registration will generate a UEI
2. A CAGE/NCAGE code designation

US-based organizations: A CAGE code will be automatically assigned when the U.S. organizations registers in www.sam.gov.  CAGE must be renewed every 5 years.  Site for CAGE: https://cage.dla.mil/Home/UsageAgree. Grantees may be asked for more information to finalized and must comply.

Foreign-based organizations: Must apply for a NCAGE code before registering in SAM.gov. Go to: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/CageTool/home to apply for a NCAGE code.  NCAGE codes must be renewed every 5 years.

 Please see Section D.2 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) of the full announcement for information on how to obtain these registrations.

The registration process can take several weeks, so we encourage applying organizations to begin as early as possible. Individuals are not required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants cannot receive a grant until all registrations are complete.

 

Selection Process

Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the following evaluation criteria:  completeness, coherence, clarity, relevance to the priority themes listed above, the project’s link to the United States, and soundness of the project’s budget. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

 

Reporting Requirements

Recipients of the Embassy’s grants are required to submit Federal Financial Report(s) (SF-425) and Narrative Report(s) (SF-PPR) as delineated in the specific award. Grantees will be informed of their reporting responsibilities when the grant is awarded. Failure to comply with the reporting responsibilities may jeopardize eligibility for future awards or will result in suspension of any future payments under the award until this obligation has been met.

Thank you for your interest in the Embassy’s Small Grants Program.

 

Important information regarding Federal Assistance Applications (SF-424)

Type of Application:  New
Name of Federal Agency:  U.S. Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Public Diplomacy Office

Assistance Listing Number: 19.040
Title:  Public Diplomacy Programs
Funding Opportunity Number:   PDS-BUD-FY22-APS001

Title:  U.S. Embassy Budapest, PDS – FY22 Annual Program Statement (APS)

 

The Embassy of the United States in Budapest (PDS Budapest) announces an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2023 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2023).

The full announcement can be downloaded in a .pdf format from here: PDS-BUD-FY23-NOFO-AEIF23 (PDF 284 KB)

 

About AEIF:

AEIF provides alumni of U.S. sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded over 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. More information here: https://alumni.state.gov/aeif

Program types:

PDS Budapest will accept public service projects proposed and managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support themes such as but not limited to:

• Support Shared Security
• Strengthen Economic Prosperity, Promote Innovation, Foster Entrepreneurship, and Improve the Digital Economy
• Reinforce Democratic Values
• Foster Hungarian and U.S. Ties

 

Program Area:

Alumni-led programs that expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community.

Priority Region:

In the territory of Hungary

Participants and Audiences:

All applicants for awards must stipulate who their target audience is (age/gender/geographic breakdown) and estimate the expected audience reach through direct contact and, if possible, through indirect contact (via social media or traditional media).

 

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded exchange program (https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (https://j1visa.state.gov/).

• Projects teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni.

• Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.

• Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries.

• Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the organization but can serve as partners for implementing project activities.

 

How to apply:

Proposal (69KB DOC) and budget templates (40KB XLS) are available at U.S. Embassy website. Applicants have to submit all application materials directly to the following email: BudapestGrants@state.gov

Applicants must include the Funding Opportunity Number and the applicants’ names (PDS-BUD-FY23-NOFO-AEIF23; ……….applicants’ name….) in the subject of their email. After submission applicants will receive an email, confirming their application has been received.

Applications must contain the following attachments:

1. Summary page in PDF format, clearly indicating the partner organization UEI number and expiry date of SAM.gov registration, if applicable and available

2. Completed FY23 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal Form in PDF format (sample form – 69KB DOC – is available on grats.gov or at U.S. Embassy Budapest website.) Please read the instructions and fill out all fields.

3. Completed Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Budget Form in EXCEL format (sample form – 40KB XLS –  is available on grants.gov or at U.S. Embassy Budapest website.)

 

Application deadline:

Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2023 should submit proposals to BudapestGrants@state.gov email address by 11:59 p.m. (CET) on March 3, 2023.

 

Review and Selection Process:

After an initial review, PDS Budapest will submit the top proposal(s) from the country to the global AEIF 2023 competition. The Selection Committee made up of regional and exchange program experts located at the Department of State in Washington, DC may or may not select Hungary’s proposal.

Please read the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for all details.

Virtual Q&A

PDS Budapest organizes a virtual Q&A in Hungarian language where questions can be addressed. Please send an email to exchangealumni@usembassy.hu to register in advance to this meeting. The meeting will be held online, event link will be provided upon registration. Expected date and time of the Q&A: January 26, 2023, 1:00-2:00 PM (CET)