Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS APS FY23 01
The U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) Annual Program Statement is a discretionary small grants opportunity from the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Bulgaria) designed to support programs that deepen people-to-people connections between the United States and Bulgaria. The overall aim is to use cultural and exchange-focused activities to highlight shared democratic values, encourage mutual understanding, and strengthen bilateral cooperation. A central requirement is that every proposal includes a clear American cultural element or a tangible link to the United States, such as collaboration with U.S. experts, U.S.-based organizations, or American institutions in a relevant field. That American component should be meaningful, not symbolic, and should help participants better understand U.S. policy approaches and perspectives related to the program topic.
Funded activities are intended to be practical, public-facing, and relationship-building. The opportunity explicitly welcomes projects like academic or professional seminars, conferences, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions that include U.S. participants; cultural heritage conservation and preservation efforts; and professional or academic exchanges and training programs. In general, projects should be structured so they do more than deliver one-time events, ideally creating ongoing networks, skills, partnerships, or lasting resources that continue after the grant ends.
The program outlines several priority areas that applicants are encouraged to address. These include initiatives that strengthen governance, transparency, and the rule of law, with an emphasis on reinforcing democratic norms while also supporting economic development, energy diversification, and broader security stability. Another key priority is building media literacy and public resilience to disinformation in Bulgaria, alongside efforts that support a strong independent media environment and an active civil society. Related to that, the Embassy is interested in programs that promote civic activism and volunteerism as concrete ways to increase public participation and community problem-solving.
Cultural connection is also a major focus. Proposals are encouraged that highlight social and cultural ties between the United States and Bulgaria, as well as projects that protect and preserve Bulgarian cultural heritage. The opportunity also prioritizes inclusion-oriented work that advances the socioeconomic participation of historically underserved or marginalized groups. This includes, but is not limited to, women, Roma and other minority communities, LGBTQI individuals, migrant populations, and disadvantaged youth. In addition, the program supports education and skills-building, particularly in STEM fields and in environmental or clean energy sectors, reflecting interest in future-oriented workforce development and sustainability. Finally, there is a regional dimension: PDS Sofia seeks projects that increase cultural understanding and connectivity between the people of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, supporting cross-border dialogue and cooperation through cultural and exchange programming.
From a funding and eligibility standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a grant with an award ceiling of $25,000 per project, and the Embassy anticipated making around 30 awards under this announcement. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040, and eligible applicants include individuals as well as other applicant types as specified in the full eligibility guidance. The original posting indicates it was created on October 24, 2022, with an original closing date of August 1, 2023. Overall, the opportunity is best suited for proposals that pair Bulgarian audiences and partners with credible U.S. participation, use cultural or educational exchange as the method, and produce clear public diplomacy value through measurable learning, engagement, and sustained connections.Apply for PDS APS FY23 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Bulgaria in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Annual Program Statement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 24, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: U.S. Embassy Sofia (PDS) Annual Program Statement - Small Grants
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary small grants opportunity from the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Bulgaria), administered by the U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS). It supports programs that deepen people-to-people connections between the United States and Bulgaria through cultural and exchange-focused activities.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to highlight shared democratic values, encourage mutual understanding, and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the United States and Bulgaria. Projects are expected to generate public diplomacy value through learning, engagement, and sustained relationships.
Is a U.S. component required in every proposal?
Yes. Every proposal must include a clear American cultural element or a tangible link to the United States. Examples include collaboration with U.S. experts, U.S.-based organizations, or American institutions in a relevant field.
What does the program mean by a "meaningful" American component?
The American element should be substantive rather than symbolic. It should help participants better understand U.S. policy approaches and perspectives related to the program topic and should be integrated into the project design in a real, practical way.
What kinds of activities are encouraged?
The opportunity explicitly welcomes practical, public-facing, relationship-building activities such as:
- Academic or professional seminars, conferences, and speaker series
- Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions that include U.S. participants
- Cultural heritage conservation and preservation efforts
- Professional or academic exchanges and training programs
Are one-time events eligible?
The program indicates a preference for projects that go beyond one-time events. Proposals are ideally structured to create ongoing networks, skills, partnerships, or lasting resources that continue after the grant ends.
What are the priority program areas?
Applicants are encouraged to address one or more of the following priority areas described in the announcement:
- Strengthening governance, transparency, and the rule of law, including reinforcing democratic norms
- Supporting economic development, energy diversification, and broader security stability
- Building media literacy and resilience to disinformation
- Supporting independent media and an active civil society
- Promoting civic activism and volunteerism to increase participation and community problem-solving
- Highlighting U.S.-Bulgaria social and cultural ties
- Protecting and preserving Bulgarian cultural heritage
- Advancing inclusion and socioeconomic participation of underserved or marginalized groups
- Education and skills-building, especially STEM and environmental/clean energy sectors
- Increasing cultural understanding and connectivity between Bulgaria and North Macedonia through exchange and cultural programming
Which communities does the program prioritize for inclusion-focused work?
The opportunity prioritizes inclusion-oriented work that advances the socioeconomic participation of historically underserved or marginalized groups, including (but not limited to) women, Roma and other minority communities, LGBTQI individuals, migrant populations, and disadvantaged youth.
Does the opportunity support cultural heritage projects?
Yes. Cultural heritage conservation, preservation efforts, and projects that protect and preserve Bulgarian cultural heritage are explicitly welcomed and prioritized.
Does the opportunity support media literacy and anti-disinformation work?
Yes. Building media literacy and public resilience to disinformation in Bulgaria is a named priority area, along with efforts that support independent media and civil society.
Does the opportunity support education and workforce development?
Yes. The program supports education and skills-building, particularly in STEM fields and in environmental or clean energy sectors, reflecting an interest in future-oriented workforce development and sustainability.
Is there a regional or cross-border focus?
Yes. PDS Sofia seeks projects that increase cultural understanding and connectivity between the people of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, supporting cross-border dialogue and cooperation through cultural and exchange programming.
What is the funding type and maximum award amount?
The opportunity is offered as a grant, with an award ceiling of $25,000 per project.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipated making around 30 awards under this announcement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include individuals as well as other applicant types as specified in the full eligibility guidance referenced by the announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the original closing date?
The original posting indicates it was created on October 24, 2022, with an original closing date of August 1, 2023.
What characteristics make a proposal a good fit for this program?
The opportunity is best suited for proposals that pair Bulgarian audiences and partners with credible U.S. participation, use cultural or educational exchange as the method, and produce clear public diplomacy value through measurable learning, engagement, and sustained connections beyond the grant period.
What outcomes is the Embassy looking for?
Based on the description, the Embassy is looking for projects that build relationships, strengthen mutual understanding, and create lasting networks, skills, partnerships, or resources. The program also emphasizes measurable learning and engagement as markers of public diplomacy value.
Do projects need to be public-facing?
Yes. Funded activities are intended to be practical, public-facing, and relationship-building.
Can projects focus on governance, transparency, and democratic norms?
Yes. Strengthening governance, transparency, and the rule of law, with an emphasis on reinforcing democratic norms, is one of the central priority areas.
Can projects connect democracy-focused work with economic or security themes?
Yes. The priority description links democratic governance efforts with support for economic development, energy diversification, and broader security stability.
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