DOS - PDS - U.S. Embassy Moscow, Public Affairs Section FY 2025 Annual Program Statement

Overview

The U.S. government unequivocally condemns the Russian government’s aggressive foreign policy. The Kremlin’s efforts to silence independent voices, restrict access to unbiased information, and punish dissent represent a pattern of systematic repression of the Russian people’s fundamental freedoms. The United States recognizes this and distinguishes between Russia’s government and its people. The United States respects the Russian people’s contributions to science, culture, and education. Maintaining and strengthening the people-to-people connections between our countries serves the long-term interests of the United States and remains the bedrock upon which a future, more constructive bilateral relationship could emerge. In that spirit, the United States supports people-to-people engagements, exchange programs, and other initiatives that allow Russian students, scholars, and civil society members to experience the United States, its culture, and its values firsthand, and that promote interaction between the Russian and American people with the aim of keeping the door open to a better future.

Program Description

The U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces funding is available through our Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This APS outlines our funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedure for submitting requests for funding. 

Purpose of Public Diplomacy Grants:
PDS Moscow invites proposals for projects that support future constructive relations and reinforce ties between the American and Russian people. Grant proposals must convey an element of U.S. history, culture, or values and support the administration’s stated priorities of making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Competitive proposals should support a priority program area (see below) and should also include a connection with U.S. expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s that will promote increased cooperation between the people of the United States and Russia even after the program has finished.

Priority Programming Areas:

• Media & Information: Projects that promote an understanding of freedom of the press, good journalistic practices, increased access to information, and improved media and digital literacy for the Russian people;
• Sharing America: Projects that promote an understanding of the American values of democracy, freedom of expression, and an open society, as well as proposals that increase the understanding of America’s cultures and groups;
• Collaborative and Educational Projects: Projects that promote knowledge sharing, innovation, advancement, and cooperation in areas that advance administration priorities;
• English Language Learning & Teaching: Projects that support innovative, interactive teaching and learning of the English language.

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be planned for a period of no more than 24 months. 
Award amounts: Awards may range from $25,000 – $250,000 for organizations, and $25,000 – $50,000 for individuals 

Total available funding: To be determined 

Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Public Diplomacy Funding, other funding resources 

Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing (providing funding or goods/services in-kind) is allowable but not required. Please see Section H.2 for more information.

Anticipated project start date: starting from September 1, 2025

The funds awarded under this NOFO may not be used for any initiatives or programs, or any activities that do not comply with Executive Order 14173 Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.

By signing the SF-424 or SF-424I Application for Federal Assistance, the Applicant certifies the following:

1) Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;

2) It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.

The following types of projects are NOT eligible for funding:

·        Projects relating to partisan political activity;

·        Charitable or development activities;

·        Construction projects;

·        Commercial projects;

·        Projects that support specific religious activities;

·        Fundraising campaigns;

·        Lobbying for specific legislation or projects;

·        Competitions where the prize is the only outcome of the program;

·        Scientific research and/or surveys; or

·        Projects that duplicate existing projects.

Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding:

Funding authority rests primarily in Fulbright-Hayes or Smith-Mundt FY2025/2026 Public Diplomacy funding, as well as other funding sources. All programming is subject to the statutory limitations of the funding determined and availability of funds.