U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Annual Program Statement | PAS APS FY22 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS APS FY22 01

The U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) Annual Program Statement is a discretionary small-grants opportunity aimed at building stronger people-to-people connections between the United States and Bulgaria. The central goal is to support cultural and exchange-focused programs that emphasize shared democratic values, deepen mutual understanding, and encourage practical bilateral cooperation. A core requirement is that every proposed project must have a clear American component, meaning it should include an American cultural element or a direct connection to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions in a relevant field. Projects are also expected to help audiences better understand U.S. policy and perspectives, not just through messaging but through substantive collaboration and engagement. Funding is contingent on the availability of embassy resources.

The program is designed to be flexible in the kinds of activities it supports, but it is clearly oriented toward public-facing engagement that can demonstrate impact. Examples of eligible program formats include academic or professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives; professional and academic exchanges; and capacity-building efforts for civil society and media organizations. In practice, this means proposals can range from an expert-led workshop series with a U.S. partner institution, to collaborative cultural productions involving American and Bulgarian artists, to training programs that strengthen journalistic standards or civic participation, as long as they align with the embassy's public diplomacy goals and include the required U.S. connection.

Priority is given to projects that advance specific strategic themes. These include strengthening governance, transparency, and the rule of law in ways that reinforce democratic norms and contribute to economic development and security stability. Another major priority is helping the Bulgarian public become more resilient to disinformation, which can involve media literacy, civic education, or professional development for information-sector actors. The embassy also encourages initiatives that spotlight social and cultural ties between the United States and Bulgaria, as well as programs that increase cultural understanding and connectivity between the people of Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Additional priority areas include protecting and preserving Bulgarian cultural heritage; expanding the socioeconomic inclusion of historically underserved or marginalized communities (explicitly including women, Roma and other minority groups, LGBTI individuals, migrant populations, and disadvantaged youth); and promoting education and skills development in STEM fields and in environmental or clean energy sectors. Proposals that clearly map activities and outcomes to one or more of these priorities are better positioned within the competition.

Eligibility is broad but not unlimited. The embassy encourages applications from both U.S. and Bulgarian entities, including registered nonprofit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations with relevant programming experience), individuals, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and governmental institutions. The underlying eligibility categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status (as applicable), individuals, and other qualifying entities. For-profit or commercial organizations are not eligible to apply, which signals that the program is intended to fund public-benefit initiatives rather than commercial ventures.

Administratively, this opportunity is issued by the U.S. Mission to Bulgaria under the grant funding instrument, with the funding activity category listed as "Other" and the CFDA number 19.040. The opportunity number is PAS APS FY22 01. The original closing date listed for the notice was September 1, 2022, and the award ceiling is $25,000 per award. The notice is framed as part of a small-grants program, so proposals should generally be realistic and scoped to fit the budget cap, with a clear plan for implementation, partnerships, and measurable results that demonstrate durable people-to-people engagement and a meaningful U.S.-Bulgarian connection.

• The U.S. Mission to Bulgaria in the other 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 2021-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-01. (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.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals, Others.

Apply for PAS APS FY22 01

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