FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity: NGO Small Grants Program | DOS PAS SLO 2020 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2020 001

The FY 2020 NGO Small Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS PAS SLO 2020 001) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Slovenia. The program is designed to fund relatively small, well-planned projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Slovenia. At its core, the opportunity is about supporting initiatives that deepen mutual understanding and highlight shared values, while also increasing Slovenian audiences exposure to the United States, including American society, culture, politics, and values. The Embassy signals that it is looking for projects that are not only compelling on paper, but also realistic, well managed, and able to demonstrate clear outcomes. It also notes that new grantees with strong and relevant proposals may receive preference over prior recipients, which suggests an interest in bringing fresh organizations and ideas into the Embassy's network of partners.

Projects may cover a broad range of issue areas, with eligible topics generally spanning democracy and human rights, security and defense, and economic and business development. For this particular grant cycle, however, the Embassy highlights a set of priority themes that will receive special consideration. These themes include regional and trans-Atlantic cooperation; entrepreneurship and innovation (including economic reform, trade promotion, and efforts that support women in STEAM fields); international security, counterterrorism, and defense issues; energy security and diversification; digitalization, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence; countering corruption through good governance, rule of law, and transparency; independent media and investigative journalism; human rights (including tolerance, respect for diversity, and support for historically marginalized communities); youth engagement, volunteerism, and active citizenship; and environmental preservation and sustainability. In practical terms, applicants would be expected to connect their project concept to at least one of these priority areas and show how the activity will advance bilateral cooperation or shared democratic and societal goals.

The Embassy is explicit about what it wants to see in a competitive proposal. Strong applications should clearly build and enhance relationships between Slovenia and the United States, ideally through direct bilateral cooperation or exchange that promotes mutual understanding. Proposals should present sustainable, high-merit projects with well-defined goals, measurable outcomes, and a credible plan for implementation. The notice also emphasizes visibility and public communication: projects are expected to acknowledge U.S. Embassy support and include a plan to amplify the cooperation through traditional or digital media, meaning applicants should think ahead about communications, outreach, and how the project will reach broader audiences beyond the immediate participants.

Funding is structured as small grants, with an award ceiling of $10,000 per grant and an anticipated total of about 20 awards. The opportunity is categorized as a grant under CFDA number 19.040, and the funding activity categories are broad, covering areas such as business and commerce, community development, education, employment and workforce training, energy, environment, legal and justice-related programming, regional development, and science and technology or other research and development. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) IRS designation (other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity was created on January 23, 2020, with an original closing date of March 15, 2020, indicating it was a time-bound competition for that fiscal year.

Overall, this NOFO is best understood as a targeted, relationship-driven small grants program: it supports practical projects that advance priority policy and societal themes while also strengthening U.S.-Slovenia connections, increasing understanding of the United States, and producing visible, communicable results. Applicants would likely be most competitive if they can show a clear bilateral component, a strong implementation plan and outcomes framework, and a thoughtful strategy for public engagement and media amplification that appropriately credits Embassy support.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Slovenia in the business and commerce, community development, education, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, law, justice and legal services, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity: NGO Small Grants Program" 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 23, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 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 $10,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DOS PAS SLO 2020 001

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