Deadline: 30 September 2019

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, Branch Office Tel Aviv’s Public Diplomacy Section (“PD”) of the U.S. Department of State has announced that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small GrantsProgram.

PD invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Israel through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

PD small grants are focused on projects that clearly support mission priorities:

• foster conditions more conducive to a lasting peace,
• deepen U.S.-Israel economic ties and open doors of economic opportunity,
• foster Israeli understanding of U.S. policy.

Priority Program Areas

Priority will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following priority program areas, and which clearly connect the proposed program to at least one of the overarching goals stated above.

• Programs that help create conditions more conducive to a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
• Programs that strengthen the entrepreneurship and economic development ecosystem in Israel, and expand access to that ecosystem among minority communities, women, and disadvantaged communities. Please note, however, that pitching or similar events that involve fund-raising or are designed to encourage direct investment in for-profit or nonprofit enterprises are not eligible.
• Programs that promote greater understanding of U.S. policy, best practices, and culture among Israeli audiences.
• Programs that improve instruction and student academic achievement in English language proficiency and/or science, technology, environment, architecture/art, and math subjects (STEAM).
• Programs that improve connections between Israel’s various minority communities, and/or between peripheral communities and the center, and/or that strength social cohesion and reconciliation among all diverse communities of the Israeli society.
• Programs that engage alumni of U.S. Embassy-sponsored cultural exchange programs.
• Programs that promote women’s empowerment and gender inclusivity, especially linked to the three main goals stated above.
• Programs that increase public understanding of the U.S.-Israel security partnership.

Funding Information

• Award amounts: awards generally do not exceed $25,000.
• Anticipated project start date: Projects must start sometime during Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019), and the proposed start date should make sense for the purposes of the project.

Eligible Applicants

• The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from U.S. and Israeli:
  • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations, or individuals, with programming experience.
  • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions.
• Please note that coalitions of non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply as the impact of their projects may go further than that of projects conducted by one non-profit organization.
• Please also note that while applications from these kinds of organizations based in the United States are eligible, preference will be given to Israeli organizations and U.S.-based organizations that have a clear, long-standing, effective presence in Israel itself.
• Please also note that governmental institutions within Israel (for example, government ministries or local authorities) are eligible to apply under this APS, but awards to such organizations will be rare.
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

How to Apply

All application materials must be submitted by email at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit Annual Program Statement.