Call for Proposals: Embassy Budapest
Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2020)
The U.S. Embassy 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 2020 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2020). We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2020 should submit proposals to budapestgrants@state.gov by February 24, 2020.
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 nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. This year, AEIF 2020 will support United States’ commitment to working with our partners around the world to advance the essential role of women in peace, security, and governance.
How to Apply
Applications and budgets must be submitted using the official AEIF 2020 proposal and budget forms.
Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.
Please ensure:
• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity;
• The proposal addresses all questions in the official AEIF 2020 proposal form;
• All documents are in English
• The budget is in U.S. dollars and is submitted using the designated AEIF budget form;
• All pages are numbered.
More detailed information and guidance for proposal and budget could be found on the link HERE.
Eligibility
The U.S. Embassy Budapest will accept public service projects proposed and managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support themes such as:
• Strengthen the role of women in peace, security, and governance;
• Engage women as partners in preventing terrorism and countering radicalization and recruitment;
• Promote protection of women and girls from violence, abuse, and exploitation; or
• Support women’s political and civic participation
Selection Process
Evaluation Criteria: U.S. Embassy Budapest will use the criteria outlined HERE to evaluate all applications. After this initial review, the Public Affairs Section will interview applicants. After the interview, Public Affairs Section will submit the top proposals from Hungary to the global AEIF 2020 competition. The proposals will be reviewed by a Selection Committee made up of regional and exchange program experts located at the Department of State in Washington, DC. Panelists will use the criteria below to review and evaluate applications.
Upon Selection of Your Proposal
If your proposal is selected for funding you will be requested to submit the mandatory application forms:
a. SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals)
b. SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)
c. SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs)
Reporting Requirements
Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.
Important information regarding this Federal Award
Announcement posted: January 7, 2020
Closing date for applications: February 24, 2020
Funding type: Small grant awards
Decision date: July 2020
Expected size of individual awards: Between $5,000 to $25,000
Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in the period of August 2020-August 2021
Funding Opportunity Title: U.S. Embassy Budapest, PAS – 2020 AEIF
Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-BUD-FY20-AEIF001
CFDA Number: 19.022 – Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. EMBASSY BUDAPEST, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION – Notice of Funding Opportunity: Please find detailed description HERE.
Small Grants Program
PLEASE NOTE: Some applicants have encountered technical issues while submitting the online application form. If you are trying to submit your grant application on January 15, 2020, please copy and paste your responses to a Word document and send it as an attachment directly to budapestgrants@state.gov, along with the proposed budget in an excel spreadsheet and a budget narrative per the instructions. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to resolve the issue.
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission in Budapest, Hungary is pleased to announce funding availability through the Mission’s Public Affairs Small grant program. This grants 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 promote 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 or for: 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 four separate cycles of funding. The deadlines to submit proposals are: January 15, March 31, May 31, and July 31.
Typically, grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. The Public Affairs 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 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 via the online proposal form in English (NOTE: only proposals in English will be accepted). In addition to the proposal, you must submit a budget (template can be found here), and budget narrative. 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.
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.
Upon Selection of Your Proposal
If your project is selected, your organization must have a DUNS number, NCAGE code and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to receive a grant award. This process can take several weeks, so we encourage you to begin as early as possible. Individual recipients do not need any registration.
1. A DUNS number. The DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier that identifies an organization. It can be requested prior to learning about the selection. Please note that the Embassy cannot apply for a DUNS number on behalf of an organization. Note: Information on how to apply for a DUNS number can be found on the Dun & Bradstreet website.
2. An NCAGE code designation on the NSPA website.
3. Once these two steps have been completed, the organization must also register in the System for Award Management.
Applicants cannot receive grants until these steps are complete.
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 this award until this obligation has been met.
The Embassy’s detailed Annual Program Statement can be downloaded in a .pdf format from here: Call for Proposals
Thank you for your interest in the Embassy’s Small Grants Program.
