Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS 800 FY23 03
The Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program 2023 is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia (PAS Skopje), designed to support projects that deepen cultural ties and strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and North Macedonia. The core idea is public-facing cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values, encourages cooperation, and helps local audiences better understand U.S. policy, perspectives, institutions, and culture. A key requirement is that every project includes a clear American component, such as U.S. cultural content or a substantive connection to an American expert, organization, or institution within the relevant field.
The program is flexible in the types of activities it will fund, as long as they align with public diplomacy goals. Competitive proposals often look like lectures, seminars, speaker series, and professional events that bring American voices and expertise into dialogue with North Macedonian communities. The opportunity also supports arts and culture initiatives such as workshops, joint performances, exhibitions, and programs that build mutual appreciation of artistic work from both countries, as well as cultural heritage conservation and preservation activities. Beyond culture in a narrow sense, PAS Skopje is also open to projects centered on entrepreneurship and innovation, professional and academic exchanges, youth empowerment and inclusion of underserved groups, democratic processes and civic values, gender and equality topics, human and equal rights, media literacy, resilience against disinformation and malign influence, environmental protection, and efforts that support North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
Within that broad scope, the announcement identifies several priority program areas that signal what PAS Skopje most wants to fund. One major priority is helping youth build practical skills and improve future prospects through innovative STEAM programming (with particular attention to environmental and health awareness), entrepreneurship initiatives, and vocational training. A second priority is environmental education and action, including developing creative solutions for environmental challenges, promoting green energy and energy conservation, supporting climate change adaptation, and planning for water scarcity that is being intensified by climate change and urbanization. Another emphasis is strengthening civic participation among youth through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement, with the intent of connecting emerging leaders to democratic practices and community problem-solving. The program also prioritizes projects that expand understanding of U.S. values and institutions and showcase U.S. culture through areas like American Studies, English language teaching and learning, and education about studying in the United States, while also advancing diversity and inclusion, including acceptance and participation of minority groups and individuals with disabilities.
The opportunity places noticeable importance on diversity, both in who applies and who benefits. The U.S. Mission encourages applicants to design projects that intentionally include diverse geographic regions and communities, and to involve diverse target audiences and trainers. Diversity is described broadly and includes ethnicity, religion, gender, and a range of physical disabilities (such as visual, hearing, and speech disabilities), among other characteristics. In practice, this means proposals are stronger when they show a concrete plan to reach beyond a single urban center or a narrow demographic, and when they build accessibility into programming rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Funding is offered through grants or cooperative agreements, with an award ceiling of $20,000 and an anticipated total of about 12 awards. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040, and it is categorized as discretionary funding. The posting indicates it was created on November 22, 2022, with an original closing date of August 15, 2023, which is important for historical reference and for understanding the cycle and timing of PAS Skopje small grants.
The announcement also clearly lists what it will not fund, which helps define the program's purpose as public diplomacy rather than general development or institutional support. Ineligible activities include printing or promoting books or manuscripts; travel to the United States for professional development; ongoing salary costs and office equipment; finishing activities that already started with other funds; and general promotion of local arts scenes without a clear U.S. connection and public diplomacy rationale. It also excludes projects that are inherently political or partisan, including support for electoral campaigns, political party activities, and fundraising campaigns. Commercial or trade activities are not eligible, nor is individual travel to conferences and meetings. In addition, the program does not fund social welfare projects, religious activities, scientific research, construction, or projects whose primary purpose is the applicant organization's own institutional development rather than a public-facing program with measurable audience impact.
Overall, this small grants program is best understood as a targeted tool for U.S.-North Macedonia engagement: relatively modest awards supporting visible, community-oriented programming that brings American cultural or professional elements into partnership with local institutions, elevates shared democratic and social values, strengthens media and civic resilience, and invests in youth skills and environmental awareness in ways that build long-term bilateral connections.Apply for PAS 800 FY23 03
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program 2023" 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 Nov 22, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 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 $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program 2023?
The Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program 2023 is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia (PAS Skopje). It supports public-facing projects that deepen cultural ties and strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and North Macedonia through cultural and exchange programming.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The program is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia, Public Affairs Section (PAS) Skopje.
What is the main goal of this program?
The main goal is to support public diplomacy initiatives that highlight shared values, encourage cooperation, and help local audiences better understand U.S. policy, perspectives, institutions, and culture, while strengthening U.S.-North Macedonia connections.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this program?
Projects are a good fit when they are public-facing and align with public diplomacy goals. Competitive examples mentioned include lectures, seminars, speaker series, and professional events that bring American expertise into dialogue with North Macedonian communities, as well as arts and culture initiatives like workshops, joint performances, exhibitions, and cultural heritage conservation and preservation activities.
Does every project need a U.S. or "American" component?
Yes. A key requirement is that every project includes a clear American component. This could include U.S. cultural content or a substantive connection to an American expert, organization, or institution in the relevant field.
What does "public diplomacy" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the description, it means programming that is visible and community-oriented, designed to build mutual understanding and cultural ties, and to engage local audiences with U.S. perspectives, institutions, expertise, and culture. The emphasis is on measurable audience impact rather than internal organizational capacity building.
What topic areas may be supported beyond arts and culture?
The program is open to projects centered on entrepreneurship and innovation, professional and academic exchanges, youth empowerment and inclusion of underserved groups, democratic processes and civic values, gender and equality topics, human and equal rights, media literacy, resilience against disinformation and malign influence, environmental protection, and efforts supporting North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
What are the priority program areas PAS Skopje is especially interested in?
The announcement highlights several priorities: (1) youth skills and future prospects through innovative STEAM programming (including environmental and health awareness), entrepreneurship, and vocational training; (2) environmental education and action, including green energy, energy conservation, climate adaptation, and planning for water scarcity intensified by climate change and urbanization; (3) strengthening youth civic participation through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement; and (4) expanding understanding of U.S. values and institutions and showcasing U.S. culture via American Studies, English language teaching/learning, and education about studying in the United States, while advancing diversity and inclusion.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $20,000.
How many awards are expected?
The posting anticipates about 12 awards.
What funding mechanisms are used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Funding is offered through grants or cooperative agreements.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
Is this discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What does the program say about diversity and inclusion?
The opportunity places noticeable importance on diversity in who applies and who benefits. Applicants are encouraged to include diverse geographic regions and communities, involve diverse target audiences and trainers, and build accessibility into programming. Diversity is described broadly and includes ethnicity, religion, gender, and a range of physical disabilities (including visual, hearing, and speech disabilities), among other characteristics.
How can an applicant make a proposal stronger regarding diversity?
Proposals are described as stronger when they include a concrete plan to reach beyond a single urban center or narrow demographic, and when accessibility is integrated into program design rather than added later.
What are examples of arts and culture activities the program may support?
Examples mentioned include workshops, joint performances, exhibitions, and programs that build mutual appreciation of artistic work from both countries, as well as cultural heritage conservation and preservation activities, as long as they align with public diplomacy goals and include a clear American component.
Are projects related to environmental issues eligible?
Yes. Environmental education and action are a stated priority, including creative solutions to environmental challenges, promoting green energy and energy conservation, supporting climate change adaptation, and planning for water scarcity driven by climate change and urbanization.
Are youth-focused projects eligible?
Yes. Youth programming is a major priority, including practical skills-building through STEAM, entrepreneurship initiatives, vocational training, and projects that strengthen youth civic participation through volunteerism, social entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
Are projects about media literacy and resilience to disinformation eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly notes media literacy and resilience against disinformation and malign influence as areas of interest.
Are projects about democratic participation and civic values eligible?
Yes. The program is open to projects addressing democratic processes and civic values, and it prioritizes strengthening civic participation among youth through community engagement and problem-solving tied to democratic practices.
Are projects connected to English language and American Studies eligible?
Yes. The program prioritizes expanding understanding of U.S. values and institutions and showcasing U.S. culture through areas like American Studies, English language teaching and learning, and education about studying in the United States.
Are projects supporting Euro-Atlantic integration eligible?
Yes. The opportunity mentions support for North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration as one of the areas PAS Skopje is open to funding.
What types of activities are explicitly not funded?
Ineligible activities include printing or promoting books or manuscripts; travel to the United States for professional development; ongoing salary costs and office equipment; finishing activities that already started with other funds; and general promotion of local arts scenes without a clear U.S. connection and public diplomacy rationale.
Are political or partisan projects eligible?
No. The program excludes inherently political or partisan projects, including support for electoral campaigns, political party activities, and fundraising campaigns.
Are commercial, trade, or business promotion activities eligible?
No. Commercial or trade activities are not eligible under this program.
Does the program fund travel to conferences or meetings?
No. The announcement states that individual travel to conferences and meetings is not eligible.
Does the program fund social welfare projects, religious activities, scientific research, or construction?
No. The program does not fund social welfare projects, religious activities, scientific research, or construction.
Can the grant be used mainly for institutional development of the applicant organization?
No. Projects whose primary purpose is the applicant organization's own institutional development, rather than a public-facing program with measurable audience impact, are listed as not funded.
Can the grant fund office equipment or ongoing staff salaries?
No. Ongoing salary costs and office equipment are listed as ineligible.
Can the grant fund activities that have already started using other funds?
No. The program does not fund finishing activities that already started with other funds.
Can the program support promoting a local arts scene?
General promotion of local arts scenes is not eligible if it lacks a clear U.S. connection and a public diplomacy rationale. Projects need a clear American component and should support public diplomacy goals.
When was this opportunity posted and what was the closing date shown?
The posting indicates it was created on November 22, 2022, with an original closing date of August 15, 2023. This is useful for historical reference and understanding the timing of the PAS Skopje small grants cycle.
How should applicants think about the program overall?
The program is best understood as a tool for U.S.-North Macedonia engagement: relatively modest awards supporting visible, community-oriented programming that partners American cultural or professional elements with local institutions, promotes shared democratic and social values, strengthens resilience to disinformation, and invests in youth skills and environmental awareness to build long-term bilateral connections.
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