Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK800 25 PAS003
The 2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia (Public Diplomacy Section) to support projects that deepen people-to-people connections between the United States and North Macedonia. The central idea is to fund cultural and exchange-style programming that highlights shared values and strengthens bilateral cooperation. A core requirement is that every proposed project must include a clear American element, such as U.S. cultural content or an active connection to American experts, organizations, or institutions in a relevant field, with the aim of increasing understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.
Projects can take many forms, as long as they fit the public diplomacy purpose. Examples listed include academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives; professional and academic exchanges (not travel to the U.S. for professional development, but exchange-style programming more broadly); and activities focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. The program also welcomes proposals that empower youth and underserved communities, advance democratic processes and values, address gender issues, support human and equal rights, strengthen critical thinking and media literacy, build resilience against false information and malign influence, protect natural resources and ecosystems, and contribute to North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration process.
Within that broad scope, the Embassy highlights several priority program areas. A major priority is youth development, especially projects that build practical skills and future potential through innovative STEM programming (including areas like health awareness), as well as entrepreneurship and vocational training. Another priority is encouraging youth civic participation through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement. A third priority area is strengthening understanding of U.S. values and institutions and spotlighting U.S. culture, including American Studies, English language teaching and learning, and pathways related to study in the United States. The program also emphasizes diversity and inclusion, supporting efforts that encourage acceptance of minority groups, including individuals with disabilities and other underserved populations.
The Embassy places strong emphasis on diversity both in who applies and who participates. Applicants are encouraged to design programs that include a wide range of participants, trainers, speakers, and communities across different geographic regions, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, genders, and disability statuses (including visual, hearing, speech, and other physical disabilities). In practice, competitive proposals will typically show thoughtful outreach beyond the usual audiences and explain how participation will be broadened in a realistic way.
The solicitation also clearly lists activities that will not be funded. Ineligible proposals include printing or promoting books or manuscripts; travel to the United States for professional development; promotion of local arts scenes as a primary purpose; partisan or inherently political projects (including anything that appears to support candidates or political parties in elections); charitable or development assistance activities; construction; programs supporting specific religious activities; fundraising campaigns; lobbying for specific legislation or government programs; scientific research; commercial or trade activities; individual travel to conferences and meetings; social welfare projects; projects mainly intended to grow the applicant organization itself rather than deliver public programming; ongoing salary costs and office equipment; paying to finish activities that started with other funding; and projects that duplicate existing programs.
Eligibility is broad, as long as the entity is registered in either the United States or North Macedonia. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs/civil society groups), public and private educational institutions, individuals, and governmental institutions. The funding opportunity is titled "2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program" with opportunity number SMK800 25 PAS003, under CFDA 19.040. The application deadline is listed as June 15, 2025. Awards can be up to $20,000, and the Embassy anticipates making about 12 awards under this call.Apply for SMK800 25 PAS003
- The U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program" 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 2024-12-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-15. (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.
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FAQs: 2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program (U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia)
What is the 2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program?
The 2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia (Public Diplomacy Section). It supports projects designed to deepen people-to-people connections between the United States and North Macedonia through public diplomacy programming.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program funds cultural and exchange-style programming that highlights shared values, strengthens bilateral cooperation, and increases understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.
What is the required "American element" in a project?
Every proposed project must include a clear American element. This can include U.S. cultural content or an active connection to American experts, organizations, or institutions in a relevant field, with the aim of increasing understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.
Who is running this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is run by the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia, specifically the Public Diplomacy Section.
What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?
Projects can take many forms as long as they fit the public diplomacy purpose and include a clear American element. Examples mentioned include:
- Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series
- Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions
- Cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives
- Professional and academic exchanges (exchange-style programming; not travel to the U.S. for professional development)
- Entrepreneurship and innovation-focused activities
What topics or outcomes does the Embassy welcome within the program scope?
The program welcomes proposals that, within a public diplomacy framework, aim to:
- Empower youth and underserved communities
- Advance democratic processes and values
- Address gender issues
- Support human and equal rights
- Strengthen critical thinking and media literacy
- Build resilience against false information and malign influence
- Protect natural resources and ecosystems
- Contribute to North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration process
What are the Embassy's priority program areas?
Within the broader scope, the Embassy highlights several priority areas:
- Youth development, especially projects building practical skills and future potential through innovative STEM programming (including health awareness), entrepreneurship, and vocational training
- Youth civic participation through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement
- Strengthening understanding of U.S. values and institutions and spotlighting U.S. culture, including American Studies, English language teaching and learning, and pathways related to study in the United States
- Diversity and inclusion efforts that encourage acceptance of minority groups, including individuals with disabilities and other underserved populations
How important are diversity and inclusion in this program?
Diversity and inclusion are emphasized strongly. Applicants are encouraged to design programs that include a wide range of participants, trainers, speakers, and communities across different geographic regions, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, genders, and disability statuses (including visual, hearing, speech, and other physical disabilities).
What does the Embassy consider a competitive approach to diversity and inclusion?
Competitive proposals will typically demonstrate thoughtful outreach beyond the usual audiences and explain, in a realistic way, how participation will be broadened.
Are there activities that will not be funded?
Yes. The solicitation lists several ineligible activities, including:
- Printing or promoting books or manuscripts
- Travel to the United States for professional development
- Promotion of local arts scenes as a primary purpose
- Partisan or inherently political projects (including anything that appears to support candidates or political parties in elections)
- Charitable or development assistance activities
- Construction
- Programs supporting specific religious activities
- Fundraising campaigns
- Lobbying for specific legislation or government programs
- Scientific research
- Commercial or trade activities
- Individual travel to conferences and meetings
- Social welfare projects
- Projects mainly intended to grow the applicant organization itself rather than deliver public programming
- Ongoing salary costs and office equipment
- Paying to finish activities that started with other funding
- Projects that duplicate existing programs
Is travel to the United States supported under this opportunity?
No. Travel to the United States for professional development is specifically listed as ineligible.
Can an organization propose an exchange program under this grant?
Yes. Professional and academic exchanges are listed as an example of eligible project types, as long as the programming fits the public diplomacy purpose and meets the program requirements. However, travel to the United States for professional development is not funded.
Is scientific research eligible for funding?
No. Scientific research is listed among the ineligible activities.
Are construction costs allowed?
No. Construction is listed as ineligible.
Are fundraising campaigns or lobbying efforts eligible?
No. Fundraising campaigns and lobbying for specific legislation or government programs are listed as ineligible.
Are projects tied to elections or political parties eligible?
No. Partisan or inherently political projects are ineligible, including projects that appear to support candidates or political parties in elections.
Can the grant be used for ongoing salaries or office equipment?
No. Ongoing salary costs and office equipment are listed as ineligible.
Can the grant be used to finish an activity already started with other funding?
No. Paying to finish activities that started with other funding is listed as ineligible.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad as long as the entity is registered in either the United States or North Macedonia. Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs/civil society groups)
- Public and private educational institutions
- Individuals
- Governmental institutions
Do applicants have to be registered in a specific country?
Yes. The entity must be registered in either the United States or North Macedonia.
What is the maximum award amount?
Awards can be up to $20,000.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipates making about 12 awards under this call.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is June 15, 2025.
What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The official title is "2025 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program."
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is SMK800 25 PAS003.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 19.040.
What kinds of participants should projects aim to include?
The Embassy encourages inclusion of participants, trainers, speakers, and communities reflecting diverse geographic regions, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, genders, and disability statuses, including individuals with visual, hearing, speech, and other physical disabilities.
Can projects focus on youth?
Yes. Youth development is a major priority, including projects focused on STEM programming (including health awareness), entrepreneurship, and vocational training, as well as civic participation through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement.
Can projects focus on English language learning or American Studies?
Yes. Strengthening understanding of U.S. values and institutions and spotlighting U.S. culture is a priority area, including American Studies, English language teaching and learning, and pathways related to study in the United States.
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