Opportunity Information: Apply for LBN PAS 20 001
The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), is offering funding under its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Annual Program Statement (Funding Opportunity Number LBN-PAS-20-001; CFDA 19.040). The overall goal is to support public diplomacy projects that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Lebanon. Proposals are expected to use cultural and exchange programming to engage young people and empower women, while also building understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. A core requirement is that every project includes a clear American element, such as collaboration with U.S. experts, U.S. organizations, or U.S. institutions, or programming that meaningfully connects participants to American culture, practice, or expertise in the relevant field.
Program ideas can take many forms as long as they fit the public diplomacy purpose. The opportunity explicitly welcomes activities like academic or professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation efforts; and professional or academic exchanges. Within that broad scope, PAS Beirut highlights three priority areas. The first is expanding the role of women in society through civic participation, economic empowerment, and improved access to education, including activities such as social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement. The second is youth empowerment, including (but not limited to) STEAM-related programming, entrepreneurship, and inclusive citizenship. The third is media literacy and promotion of freedom of speech.
The Embassy places special emphasis on reaching communities outside Beirut and gives preference to projects that serve a large number of beneficiaries. For youth-centered proposals, the typical target age range is 14 to 30. Programming focused on women does not have a fixed age range and may include youth or broader community members. At the same time, the announcement is clear about what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include partisan political work, charitable or development assistance activities, construction, programs supporting specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying for legislation or government programs, scientific research, organizational capacity building that primarily benefits the applicant institution itself, and projects that duplicate existing programs.
Awards are supported by FY20 Smith-Mundt public diplomacy funds. The performance period can range from 3 to 24 months, and projects are expected to be completed within 24 months or less. The Embassy anticipates making roughly 5 to 10 awards depending on award sizes. Individual awards generally range from $10,000 to $50,000 (with a $50,000 maximum per award). Total funding listed in the notice is approximately $200,000 to $250,000, with the final amount subject to availability of funds. Funding may be issued as a grant, a fixed amount award, or a cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements involve more substantial Embassy involvement than standard grants, such as collaboration during implementation, formal approvals between stages, joint presentation of results, or additional oversight of sub-awards or contracts beyond typical federal monitoring.
Eligibility is open to applicants in both the United States and Lebanon, including registered nonprofit organizations (such as NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks with relevant programming experience), individuals, and nonprofit or governmental educational institutions. For-profit and commercial entities are not eligible. Cost sharing is not required, but it is encouraged, and proposals that include meaningful cost share may receive additional consideration. There is also a submission limitation: each organization may submit only one proposal per quarter; if an organization submits more than one during the same quarter, all of that organization’s proposals for that period are deemed ineligible.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year, subject to funding availability, with quarterly review cycles. Proposals submitted between October 1 and December 31 are reviewed by February 28 with responses by March 7; submissions from January 1 to March 31 are reviewed by May 31 with responses by June 7; submissions from April 1 to June 30 are reviewed by August 31 with responses by September 7; and submissions from July 1 to August 30 are reviewed by September 30 with responses by October 7. For official guidance on application requirements, submission procedures, and award administration details, applicants are directed to the Embassy website or to contact PDBeirutGrants@state.gov.Apply for LBN PAS 20 001
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Lebanon in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), community development, education, environment, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funding Opportunity - PAS Beirut" 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 08, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by The Public Affairs Section will accept proposals throughout the year and will review proposals according to the following schedule 1) proposals received between October 1 and December 31 will be reviewed by February 28, 2020, with responses going out by March 7, 2020 2) proposals received between January 1 and March 31 will be reviewed by May 31, 2020, with responses going out by June 7, 2020 3) proposals received between April 1 and June 30 will be reviewed by August 31, 2020, with responses going out by September 7, 2020 and 4) proposals received between July 1 and August 30 will be reviewed by September 30, 2020 with responses going out by October 7, 2020. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Embassy in Lebanon Public Diplomacy Small Grants (LBN-PAS-20-001)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon Public Affairs Section (PAS) Public Diplomacy Small Grants Annual Program Statement. It is identified as Funding Opportunity Number LBN-PAS-20-001 and CFDA 19.040, and it supports public diplomacy projects that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Lebanon.
2) What is the main goal of the program?
The overall goal is to support public diplomacy projects that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Lebanon, using cultural and exchange programming to engage young people and empower women, while also building understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.
3) What does "public diplomacy" mean in the context of this grant?
Based on the notice, public diplomacy projects are those that use cultural and exchange programming to connect people, strengthen cultural ties, and build understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives between Lebanese audiences and the United States.
4) Is an "American element" required in every project?
Yes. A core requirement is that every project includes a clear American element. Examples include collaboration with U.S. experts, U.S. organizations, or U.S. institutions, or programming that meaningfully connects participants to American culture, practice, or expertise in the relevant field.
5) What are examples of acceptable project activities?
The opportunity welcomes a wide range of activities that fit the public diplomacy purpose, including:
- Academic or professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series
- Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions
- Cultural heritage conservation and preservation efforts
- Professional or academic exchanges
6) What priority areas does PAS Beirut highlight?
PAS Beirut highlights three priority areas:
- Women and their role in society: civic participation, economic empowerment, and improved access to education (including social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement).
- Youth empowerment: including (but not limited to) STEAM-related programming, entrepreneurship, and inclusive citizenship.
- Media literacy and freedom of speech: media literacy and promotion of freedom of speech.
7) Does the program favor certain geographic areas in Lebanon?
Yes. The Embassy places special emphasis on reaching communities outside Beirut.
8) Does the program prefer projects with a large number of participants?
Yes. The notice states a preference for projects that serve a large number of beneficiaries.
9) What ages are considered "youth" for youth-centered proposals?
For youth-centered proposals, the typical target age range is 14 to 30.
10) Is there an age range requirement for programming focused on women?
No fixed age range is specified for programming focused on women. The notice indicates it may include youth or broader community members.
11) What types of activities are not eligible for funding?
The announcement lists several ineligible activities, including:
- Partisan political work
- Charitable or development assistance activities
- Construction
- Programs supporting specific religious activities
- Fundraising campaigns
- Lobbying for legislation or government programs
- Scientific research
- Organizational capacity building that primarily benefits the applicant institution itself
- Projects that duplicate existing programs
12) What is the funding source for awards?
Awards are supported by FY20 Smith-Mundt public diplomacy funds.
13) How long can a project last?
The performance period can range from 3 to 24 months. Projects are expected to be completed within 24 months or less.
14) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipates making roughly 5 to 10 awards, depending on award sizes.
15) What is the typical award size?
Individual awards generally range from $10,000 to $50,000, with a maximum of $50,000 per award.
16) How much total funding is available under this notice?
Total funding listed in the notice is approximately $200,000 to $250,000, with the final amount subject to availability of funds.
17) What types of award instruments might be used?
Funding may be issued as a grant, a fixed amount award, or a cooperative agreement.
18) What is a cooperative agreement in this program?
The notice explains that cooperative agreements involve more substantial Embassy involvement than standard grants. This may include collaboration during implementation, formal approvals between stages, joint presentation of results, or additional oversight of sub-awards or contracts beyond typical federal monitoring.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to applicants in both the United States and Lebanon, including:
- Registered nonprofit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks with relevant programming experience)
- Individuals
- Nonprofit or governmental educational institutions
20) Are for-profit or commercial entities eligible?
No. For-profit and commercial entities are not eligible.
21) Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required, but it is encouraged. Proposals that include meaningful cost share may receive additional consideration.
22) Is there a limit on how many proposals an organization can submit?
Yes. Each organization may submit only one proposal per quarter. If an organization submits more than one during the same quarter, all of that organization s proposals for that period are deemed ineligible.
23) Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year, subject to funding availability, and are reviewed in quarterly cycles.
24) What are the quarterly submission windows and review timelines?
The notice lists four submission windows and corresponding review and response dates:
- October 1 to December 31: reviewed by February 28; responses by March 7
- January 1 to March 31: reviewed by May 31; responses by June 7
- April 1 to June 30: reviewed by August 31; responses by September 7
- July 1 to August 30: reviewed by September 30; responses by October 7
25) Where can applicants find official instructions and requirements?
For official guidance on application requirements, submission procedures, and award administration details, applicants are directed to the Embassy website or to contact PDBeirutGrants@state.gov.
26) What email address is provided for questions?
The notice provides the following contact email: PDBeirutGrants@state.gov.
27) What kinds of themes should proposals emphasize based on the program description?
Proposals are expected to use cultural and exchange programming to engage young people and empower women, strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Lebanon, and build understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives, while clearly incorporating an American element.
28) Can projects focus on cultural heritage?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly welcomes cultural heritage conservation and preservation efforts, as long as the project aligns with the public diplomacy purpose and includes a clear American element.
29) Can projects include speaker events and educational programming?
Yes. Academic or professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series are explicitly listed as welcomed activity types.
30) Can projects include exchanges?
Yes. Professional or academic exchanges are explicitly listed as a welcomed activity type.
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| Funding Opportunity |
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| U.S. Embassy Lebanon PAS Grants Annual Program Statement Apply for LBN PAS 20 002 Funding Number: LBN PAS 20 002 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Lebanon Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Community Development, Education, Environment, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Lebanon PAS Small Grants NOFO Apply for LBN PAS FY21 01 Funding Number: LBN PAS FY21 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Lebanon Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Community Development, Education, Environment, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Lebanon PAS Large Grants NOFO Apply for LBN PAS FY21 02 Funding Number: LBN PAS FY21 02 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Lebanon Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Community Development, Education, Environment, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $400,000 |
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