Opportunity Information: Apply for WAW NOFO FY24 03
The PD Poland American Spaces Grant Funding 2024 (NOFO WAWNOFO-FY24-03) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Poland, run through the Public Diplomacy Sections at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow. Its core purpose is to support interactive, high-engagement programming that helps Polish participants better understand the United States, with activities delivered primarily through the network of American Spaces in Poland. Projects supported under this call must start no earlier than May 15, 2024, and applications were due April 4, 2024. Funding is structured as grants or cooperative agreements, with up to 4 awards expected and an award ceiling of USD 50,000 per award (CFDA 19.040).
Programming is meant to take place at up to seven American Spaces: six American Corners located in Gdansk, Lublin, Katowice, Lodz, Radom, and Wroclaw, plus the American Center in Krakow. American Spaces are described as U.S. State Department-supported cultural and information hubs that provide free access to resources and programs, designed to encourage critical thinking, innovation, and discussion of issues relevant to both the United States and Poland. The opportunity is therefore not a general community grant; it is specifically tied to delivering structured programming inside these American Spaces, using them as the main platform for participant engagement.
The program objective is to forge durable U.S.-Poland connections by investing in Poland's emerging leaders through skills-based, participatory initiatives. The target audience is clearly defined: high school and university students and young professionals, roughly ages 15 to 35. Applicants are expected to be precise about who they intend to reach and how; vague descriptions like "the general public" are considered inadequate, and tourists or short-term visitors are explicitly not a priority audience. The call also stresses gender parity and socio-economic inclusion and expects applicants to build diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) principles into recruitment and participation. It also notes a practical constraint: some American Spaces are not fully accessible for people with physical disabilities, and organizers are expected to consider that reality in recruitment and participant selection.
Competitive proposals must directly address at least one of five priority programming areas and present a substantial, sustained plan of work. The five areas are: (1) Building Future Leaders Network, focused on leadership development and soft skills with an emphasis on community engagement; (2) Promoting Democratic Values, focused on civic participation, democratic resilience, tolerance, and integration of minorities and marginalized groups while cultivating DEIA; (3) Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation, centered on STEM, innovation, entrepreneurship, hands-on problem solving (including tech camps), and possible use of existing MakerSpaces in some locations; (4) Media Literacy and Digital Inclusion, aimed at strengthening media literacy and countering disinformation and misinformation while addressing cyberbullying, cyber violence, and hate speech; and (5) Climate Solutions and Sustainability, featuring hands-on learning about environmental challenges, climate change, and clean energy solutions.
There are several design expectations that shape what a strong application looks like. Proposals should include a robust calendar spanning at least three months, and programming should typically be delivered to groups of about 15 to 30 participants at a time. The overall program should provide at least 20 total contact hours with participants, signaling that the Embassy and Consulate are looking for depth and continuity rather than one-off events. While virtual components can be used to supplement in-person work (or serve as a primary method if necessary), the principal model is in-person engagement at the American Spaces. Preference is given to proposals that operate in two or more American Spaces, especially those that sustain engagement over time and keep overhead, equipment purchases, and similar indirect costs low relative to direct participant benefit.
Applications are expected to include a clear implementation plan across the relevant American Corners and/or the American Center, with a particular preference for multi-site programming at multiple American Corners. Applicants must also take on a meaningful role in execution: the grantee is expected to lead participant recruitment in coordination with the American Spaces, and include a marketing and outreach strategy to reach the specified target audience. The U.S. Mission to Poland may help amplify opportunities via its social media platforms, but the primary recruitment responsibility remains with the grantee. Programs may be delivered in English, Polish, or a mix, depending on what best fits the audience and objectives.
The opportunity is also explicit about staffing and accountability. Proposals must provide detailed information about project team members and trainers or facilitators, including CVs or resumes and relevant professional experience, with an expectation that trainers are experienced practitioners in their fields. Each proposal must include a draft activity schedule and a monitoring and evaluation plan that explains how impact will be measured. In other words, applicants are expected to demonstrate not only what they will do, but how they will track outcomes such as skill gains, shifts in understanding, continued engagement, or other measurable indicators aligned with the selected priority area(s).
Budget guidance is similarly practical and participant-focused. Proposed budgets should cover program materials for participants, salaries or honoraria for implementers/trainers/speakers, marketing and recruitment costs, direct programming costs, and field trips or transportation if relevant. At the same time, the NOFO lists several categories that are typically not funded, which effectively sets boundaries around what the program is not meant to support. The grant does not fund inherently political or partisan activities (including support to electoral campaigns), specific religious activities, exchange programs, social welfare projects, trade promotion, fundraising campaigns, commercial projects, scientific research, construction, or projects primarily aimed at building the applicant organization's institutional capacity. It also discourages conference-style approaches such as lectures and studies as standalone activities, and it does not support book publishing or translation intended for publication. In addition, it will not cover ongoing salary costs for an organization's regular staff, equipment purchases (including items like cameras and office equipment), or food and drink beyond modest coffee breaks and working lunches; alcohol is expressly prohibited.
Eligibility is limited to non-commercial actors. Eligible applicants include properly registered non-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs with relevant programming experience), individuals (including alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs), and non-profit or governmental educational institutions such as public libraries, schools, and universities. For-profit entities are not eligible. Organizations must be registered to operate in Poland; if they are not, the call strongly encourages partnering with a Polish organization that is registered locally, which signals that local operational capacity and compliance are important to successful implementation.Apply for WAW NOFO FY24 03
- The U.S. Mission to Poland in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PD Poland American Spaces Grant Funding 2024" 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 2024-02-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-04. (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 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): PD Poland American Spaces Grant Funding 2024
1) What is the PD Poland American Spaces Grant Funding 2024?
The PD Poland American Spaces Grant Funding 2024 (NOFO WAWNOFO-FY24-03) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Poland, implemented through the Public Diplomacy Sections at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow. It supports interactive, high-engagement programs delivered primarily through the network of American Spaces in Poland.
2) Who is offering and managing this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Mission to Poland and run through the Public Diplomacy Sections at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow.
3) What is the main purpose of the grant?
The core purpose is to support programming that helps Polish participants better understand the United States, while building durable U.S.-Poland connections by investing in Poland's emerging leaders through skills-based, participatory initiatives.
4) Is this a general community grant that can be implemented anywhere in Poland?
No. This opportunity is specifically tied to delivering structured programming inside American Spaces in Poland. American Spaces are the main platform for participant engagement under this call.
5) Where must programming take place?
Programming is meant to take place at up to seven American Spaces in Poland: six American Corners (Gdansk, Lublin, Katowice, Lodz, Radom, and Wroclaw) and the American Center in Krakow.
6) What are American Spaces (American Corners and the American Center)?
American Spaces are U.S. State Department-supported cultural and information hubs that provide free access to resources and programs. They are designed to encourage critical thinking, innovation, and discussion of issues relevant to both the United States and Poland.
7) What types of awards are available under this NOFO?
Funding is structured as grants or cooperative agreements.
8) How many awards are expected and what is the maximum award amount?
Up to 4 awards are expected. The award ceiling is USD 50,000 per award (CFDA 19.040).
9) When can projects start?
Projects supported under this call must start no earlier than May 15, 2024.
10) What was the application deadline?
Applications were due April 4, 2024.
11) Who is the target audience for supported programming?
The target audience is high school and university students and young professionals, roughly ages 15 to 35.
12) Can applicants define the audience as "the general public"?
No. Applicants are expected to be precise about who they intend to reach and how. Vague descriptions such as "the general public" are considered inadequate.
13) Are tourists or short-term visitors a priority audience?
No. Tourists and short-term visitors are explicitly not a priority audience.
14) What are the priority programming areas?
Competitive proposals must directly address at least one of five priority areas:
- Building Future Leaders Network: leadership development and soft skills with an emphasis on community engagement.
- Promoting Democratic Values: civic participation, democratic resilience, tolerance, and integration of minorities and marginalized groups while cultivating DEIA.
- Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation: STEM, innovation, entrepreneurship, hands-on problem solving (including tech camps), and possible use of existing MakerSpaces in some locations.
- Media Literacy and Digital Inclusion: strengthening media literacy and countering disinformation/misinformation; addressing cyberbullying, cyber violence, and hate speech.
- Climate Solutions and Sustainability: hands-on learning about environmental challenges, climate change, and clean energy solutions.
15) How long should the program run?
Proposals should include a robust calendar spanning at least three months, reflecting sustained engagement rather than one-off activities.
16) How intensive should programming be in terms of participant contact time?
The overall program should provide at least 20 total contact hours with participants, indicating the expectation for depth and continuity.
17) What is the typical group size for activities?
Programming should typically be delivered to groups of about 15 to 30 participants at a time.
18) Are virtual activities allowed?
Yes. Virtual components can supplement in-person work, and may serve as a primary method if necessary. However, the principal model is in-person engagement at American Spaces.
19) Is there a preference for programming in multiple locations?
Yes. Preference is given to proposals that operate in two or more American Spaces, especially those that sustain engagement over time.
20) What does the NOFO say about overhead and indirect costs?
The opportunity favors proposals that keep overhead, equipment purchases, and similar indirect costs low relative to direct participant benefit.
21) Who is responsible for participant recruitment?
The grantee is expected to lead participant recruitment in coordination with the American Spaces and to include a marketing and outreach strategy that reaches the defined target audience.
22) Will the U.S. Mission to Poland promote the program?
The U.S. Mission to Poland may help amplify opportunities via its social media platforms, but primary recruitment responsibility remains with the grantee.
23) What language(s) can programs be delivered in?
Programs may be delivered in English, Polish, or a mix, depending on what best fits the audience and objectives.
24) What staffing information is expected in an application?
Proposals must provide detailed information about project team members and trainers/facilitators, including CVs or resumes and relevant professional experience. Trainers are expected to be experienced practitioners in their fields.
25) Do proposals need an activity schedule?
Yes. Each proposal must include a draft activity schedule.
26) Do proposals need a monitoring and evaluation plan?
Yes. Each proposal must include a monitoring and evaluation plan explaining how impact will be measured (for example, skill gains, shifts in understanding, continued engagement, or other measurable indicators aligned with the selected priority area).
27) What kinds of costs are appropriate to include in the budget?
Budgets are expected to focus on direct program delivery and participant benefit, including program materials for participants, salaries or honoraria for implementers/trainers/speakers, marketing and recruitment costs, direct programming costs, and field trips or transportation if relevant.
28) What kinds of activities are typically not funded?
The NOFO lists several categories that are typically not funded, including:
- Inherently political or partisan activities (including support to electoral campaigns)
- Specific religious activities
- Exchange programs
- Social welfare projects
- Trade promotion
- Fundraising campaigns
- Commercial projects
- Scientific research
- Construction
- Projects primarily aimed at building the applicant organization's institutional capacity
29) Are lecture-only or conference-style formats competitive?
The call discourages conference-style approaches such as lectures and studies as standalone activities. The emphasis is on interactive, participatory, skills-based programming.
30) Does the grant support book publishing or translation intended for publication?
No. The opportunity does not support book publishing or translation intended for publication.
31) Can grant funds be used for equipment purchases?
No. The grant will not cover equipment purchases, including items such as cameras and office equipment.
32) Can grant funds pay ongoing salaries for an organization's regular staff?
No. The grant will not cover ongoing salary costs for an organization's regular staff.
33) Can the budget include food and beverages for participants?
Food and drink are limited to modest coffee breaks and working lunches. Alcohol is expressly prohibited.
34) What does the NOFO expect regarding gender parity and inclusion?
The call stresses gender parity and socio-economic inclusion. Applicants are expected to build diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) principles into recruitment and participation.
35) Are the American Spaces fully accessible for people with physical disabilities?
Some American Spaces are not fully accessible for people with physical disabilities. Organizers are expected to consider that reality in recruitment and participant selection.
36) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to non-commercial actors. Eligible applicants include properly registered non-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs with relevant programming experience), individuals (including alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs), and non-profit or governmental educational institutions such as public libraries, schools, and universities.
37) Are for-profit entities eligible?
No. For-profit entities are not eligible.
38) Do organizations need to be registered in Poland?
Organizations must be registered to operate in Poland. If they are not, the call strongly encourages partnering with a Polish organization that is registered locally.
39) What is the key theme of competitive proposals?
Competitive proposals combine a clear focus on at least one priority area with sustained, structured engagement (at least three months and at least 20 contact hours), defined target participants (ages 15-35), and a practical plan for recruitment, implementation, and measurement of outcomes within American Spaces.
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