Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2021 002
The FY 2021 Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Slovenia (U.S. Embassy in Slovenia), designed to support cultural and artistic projects that strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and exchange between the United States and Slovenia. The core purpose is to bring American values, culture, and/or history to Slovenian audiences through accessible cultural formats such as art, music, literature, dance, and other creative or heritage-based mediums. Projects are expected to do more than simply showcase American culture; they should also reflect and reinforce the broader transatlantic relationship between the two countries by highlighting meaningful U.S.-Slovenian cultural cooperation, whether rooted in past successes or aimed at future collaboration.
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and may be awarded as either a grant or a cooperative agreement. The activity category is Arts (cultural affairs). While the program is open competition, the Embassy signals clear thematic preferences: proposals that directly promote American values and culture, and those that present American history, society, art, or related cultural themes in ways that resonate with Slovenian communities. The strongest applications are likely to be those that demonstrate genuine bilateral engagement, such as partnerships between U.S. and Slovenian artists or institutions, joint programming, exchanges, co-created performances or exhibitions, translations and literary collaborations, or public-facing cultural events that encourage dialogue and sustained connections.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility includes nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and individuals. That mix suggests the Embassy is open to both established organizations with track records and smaller cultural actors or independent practitioners, provided the project is well planned and responsibly managed. The program sets an award ceiling of $10,000 per award and anticipates making up to 10 awards, indicating a portfolio approach that spreads support across multiple smaller, high-impact initiatives rather than a single large project.
Applications are assessed using a defined set of evaluation criteria that emphasize both program substance and practical execution. Reviewers look first at how well the project goals and objectives align with U.S. Embassy priorities, meaning applicants need to clearly connect their cultural activities to the Embassy’s interest in promoting American values, culture, and history and in strengthening U.S.-Slovenian ties. They also evaluate the overall quality of the proposal, including how coherent, feasible, and compelling the plan is. A dedicated plan for measuring program effectiveness is required, so proposals should include realistic ways to track outputs and outcomes (for example: audience reach, participant engagement, educational components, media coverage, partnership development, or follow-on collaborations). Organizational capability and record of performance matter as well, so applicants should demonstrate that they have the experience, staffing, partners, and systems to deliver the project on time and within scope.
Budget considerations play a significant role. The Embassy assesses the summary budget and cost effectiveness, meaning budgets should be detailed, reasonable, and clearly tied to activities, with costs justified by expected public impact. Key personnel are also reviewed, so applications benefit from identifying qualified project leads and collaborators and explaining their roles. The final decision-making process is handled by the Embassy Cultural Grants Committee, a panel that reviews applications using a cost-benefit lens and considers each project’s potential to advance U.S. policy priorities. In practice, this means proposals that combine strong cultural programming with clear public diplomacy value, credible management, and measurable results are positioned to compete most effectively.
Administratively, the opportunity was created on January 20, 2021, with an original closing date of March 15, 2021. The funding opportunity number is DOS PAS SLO 2021 002, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 19.040. Overall, the grant program is best understood as small-scale cultural diplomacy funding intended to produce visible, well-executed cultural engagement in Slovenia that highlights American cultural themes while building lasting bridges between U.S. and Slovenian cultural communities.Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2021 002
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Slovenia in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition" 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 Jan 20, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2021. (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 $10,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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.
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FY 2021 Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition (U.S. Embassy in Slovenia) FAQs
What is the FY 2021 Cultural Grants Program - Open Competition?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Slovenia (U.S. Embassy in Slovenia) that supports cultural and artistic projects designed to strengthen cooperation, collaboration, and exchange between the United States and Slovenia.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is to bring American values, culture, and/or history to Slovenian audiences through accessible cultural formats (such as art, music, literature, dance, and other creative or heritage-based mediums) while reinforcing the broader transatlantic relationship through meaningful U.S.-Slovenian cultural cooperation.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for this program?
Projects are a good fit when they go beyond simply showcasing American culture and instead highlight genuine bilateral engagement between the U.S. and Slovenia. Examples mentioned or implied include partnerships between U.S. and Slovenian artists or institutions, joint programming, exchanges, co-created performances or exhibitions, translations and literary collaborations, and public-facing cultural events that encourage dialogue and sustained connections.
What cultural formats or mediums can be supported?
The opportunity emphasizes accessible cultural formats such as art, music, literature, dance, and other creative or heritage-based mediums that can effectively reach Slovenian audiences with American values, culture, and/or history.
Is this opportunity a grant, a cooperative agreement, or both?
The opportunity may be awarded as either a grant or a cooperative agreement.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is Arts (cultural affairs).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and individuals.
Are institutions of higher education eligible if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
No. The eligibility description allows nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status only if they are not institutions of higher education.
Is this an open competition?
Yes. It is presented as an open competition, with stated thematic preferences that indicate what the Embassy is looking to fund most strongly.
What themes or priorities does the U.S. Embassy signal as most competitive?
The Embassy signals preferences for proposals that directly promote American values and culture, and those that present American history, society, art, or related cultural themes in ways that resonate with Slovenian communities. Strong proposals also demonstrate meaningful U.S.-Slovenian cultural cooperation.
What does the Embassy mean by "meaningful U.S.-Slovenian cultural cooperation"?
Based on the opportunity description, this means bilateral engagement such as U.S.-Slovenian partnerships, joint programming, exchanges, co-created works, collaborations in literature/translation, and cultural events that create dialogue and sustained connections, either rooted in past successes or built to support future cooperation.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $10,000 per award.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making up to 10 awards.
What does it mean that the program takes a "portfolio approach"?
It indicates the Embassy expects to spread support across multiple smaller, high-impact initiatives rather than making a single large award.
How are applications evaluated?
Applications are assessed using evaluation criteria focused on alignment with Embassy priorities, proposal quality, a plan for measuring effectiveness, organizational capability and record of performance, budget and cost effectiveness, and the qualifications and roles of key personnel.
What does "alignment with U.S. Embassy priorities" mean in practice?
It means applicants should clearly connect their cultural activities to the Embassy's interest in promoting American values, culture, and history and in strengthening U.S.-Slovenian ties.
What does the Embassy look for in the overall quality of the proposal?
Reviewers consider whether the plan is coherent, feasible, and compelling.
Is a monitoring or evaluation plan required?
Yes. A dedicated plan for measuring program effectiveness is required.
What kinds of results or metrics can be used to measure effectiveness?
The opportunity description provides examples such as audience reach, participant engagement, educational components, media coverage, partnership development, and follow-on collaborations.
How important is organizational capacity and past performance?
It is a specific evaluation factor. Applicants are expected to demonstrate experience, staffing, partners, and systems to deliver the project on time and within scope.
How is the budget evaluated?
The Embassy assesses the summary budget and cost effectiveness. Budgets should be detailed, reasonable, clearly tied to activities, and justified by expected public impact.
Are key personnel considered during review?
Yes. Key personnel are reviewed, and applications benefit from identifying qualified project leads and collaborators and explaining their roles.
Who makes the final funding decisions?
The Embassy Cultural Grants Committee makes final decisions, reviewing applications using a cost-benefit lens and considering each project's potential to advance U.S. policy priorities.
What does "cost-benefit lens" imply for applicants?
It suggests applicants should propose activities with clear public diplomacy value and measurable results that are strong relative to the requested budget, and show credible management and execution.
When was this funding opportunity created?
It was created on January 20, 2021.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date was March 15, 2021.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DOS PAS SLO 2021 002.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 19.040.
How should this grant program be understood at a high level?
It is small-scale cultural diplomacy funding intended to produce visible, well-executed cultural engagement in Slovenia that highlights American cultural themes while building lasting bridges between U.S. and Slovenian cultural communities.
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