The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Public Diplomacy Section is offering the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program to promote economic growth through cultural heritage.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications through its Democracy Commission Small Grants Program – Economic Growth through the Promotion of Cultural Heritage. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

The purpose of the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program — Economic Growth through the Promotion of Cultural Heritage is to award grants for specific projects that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Georgia, foster economic growth through the promotion of cultural heritage, and develop strategies for building tourism in the community.

Priority Program Areas:

·      Support tourism and economic development in ethnic and religious minority areas, border areas, and other vulnerable regions in Georgia

·      Increase awareness of and/or access to cultural heritage sites or locations of cultural importance

·      Promote education initiatives for local audiences

·      Community-led cultural heritage revitalization projects

·      Renovating and/or setting up tourist information centers

·      Improving access to cultural heritage sites, including ramps for people with special needs

·      Cleaning, fixing, and maintaining pathways, installing signs, improving overall accessibility

Participants and Audiences:

The U.S. Embassy seeks geographically and demographically diverse audiences within the country and prioritizes proposals with a significant programming component outside of the capital. Priority will be given to projects in ethnic minority or border regions.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

·                        Restoration/preservation of monuments

·                        Programs relating to partisan political activity;

·                        Charitable or development activities;

·                        Construction programs;

·                        Programs that support specific religious activities;

·                        Fund-raising campaigns;

·                        Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

·                        Scientific research;

·                        Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or

·                        Programs that duplicate existing programs.

Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding:

19.900 AEECA/ESF PD Programs FY24

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: up to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: 4 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: $50,000

Total available funding: $158,000

Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 19.900 AEECA/ESF PD Programs

Anticipated program start date: four to six months after submission deadline

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award, or Cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that PDS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

PDS will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1.    Eligible Applicants

The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from organizations that are:

·      Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience.

·      Non-profit or governmental educational institutions.

• Governmental Institutions/Municipalities

·      Legal Entities of Public Law.

For-profit or commercial entities/educational institutions are not eligible to apply.  

Individuals are not eligible to apply.