FY21 Annual Program Statement | BER APS FY21 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for BER APS FY21 001

The FY21 Annual Program Statement (APS) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany public diplomacy funding opportunity that explains what the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Germany want to support, which themes matter most, and how to apply. It is designed for proposals that strengthen U.S.-German cooperation and highlight shared democratic values, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis through August 15, 2021 (subject to funds being available). A key expectation is that every funded project clearly includes an American perspective or connection, such as engagement with U.S. experts, U.S. institutions, or U.S. policy viewpoints, and that the work has a meaningful public outreach element (for example, events open to the public, livestreaming, digital content, or media engagement).

Programmatically, the APS is oriented around public diplomacy activities that build understanding and relationships rather than service delivery or charity. Typical project formats can include cultural and artistic collaborations (workshops, exhibitions, performances), digital and virtual productions (like podcasts or interactive media), and educational programming such as lectures, workshops, seminars, and exchanges for professional or academic audiences. Across Germany, the Embassy emphasizes several broad priorities: advancing climate-smart innovation and energy transformation (technology, policy, and infrastructure that support green growth and transatlantic security); supporting entrepreneurship, transatlantic innovation, and the digital economy; countering racially and ethnically motivated terrorism and right-wing extremism, including anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim prejudice, homophobia, and related threats to democratic stability; strengthening resilience against disinformation and regional destabilization; and expanding educational, cultural, and civic exchanges that deepen knowledge of shared history and values while creating durable institutional or community linkages. Within these exchange goals, there is a strong focus on youth engagement around democracy, diversity, and environmental protection; expanding exchange access for vocational students, first-generation Germans, and underserved youth; building long-term ties between U.S. and German educational institutions in fields such as business, environment, economics, international relations, and STEM; and developing STE(A)M, soft skills, and media literacy programs for youth, minority communities, underserved groups, and first-generation Germans. The APS also encourages programming that supports alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, treating alumni as multipliers who can sustain networks and impact over time.

The opportunity is structured to cover both Germany-wide programming and region-specific priorities tied to each U.S. Consulate General. Applicants must indicate the intended region by prefacing the application title with a region code: BER for Berlin and Germany-wide projects (including Berlin and Brandenburg), DUS for North Rhine-Westphalia, FRA for Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland/Baden-Wuerttemberg, HAM for Hamburg/Bremen/Lower Saxony/Schleswig-Holstein/Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, LEI for Saxony-Anhalt/Saxony/Thuringia, and MUN for Bavaria. Most consular districts adopt the general priority areas, but a few districts highlight additional emphasis. Berlin-Brandenburg follows the general priorities and notes special consideration for proposals with a clear Brandenburg component. Leipzig places particular weight on proposals that create student exchanges to the United States, especially those involving schools in predominantly disadvantaged areas. Hamburg highlights three specific directions: projects supporting the 2020 Joint Declaration of Intent on apprenticeships and vocational education and training cooperation; projects accelerating the shift to greener technologies, particularly Northern German cooperation on producing hydrogen using renewable energy; and entrepreneurship/innovation projects built through sister-city partnerships such as Hamburg-Chicago, Rostock-Raleigh, and Kiel-San Francisco.

On funding and award mechanics, the APS uses FY2021 public diplomacy funds authorized under Smith-Mundt and Fulbright-Hays authorities. The total funding pool is listed at about $200,000, with individual awards commonly up to $12,000 (the source data also references an award ceiling of $16,000), and projects are expected to be completed within 24 months or less. Awards may be issued as grants or fixed-amount awards. While the program can consider non-competitive continuation funding beyond the initial budget period, that depends on fund availability, strong performance, and a determination that continued support is in the U.S. government interest.

Eligibility is broad but clearly bounded by public diplomacy rules. The Public Affairs Section considers proposals from the United States and the EU, including registered non-profit organizations (think tanks and NGOs), individuals, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and governmental institutions. Cost sharing is not required, but partnerships and co-sponsorship are viewed positively. Administrative eligibility also matters: organizations must have a unique entity identifier (DUNS, as referenced in the notice at the time) and an active SAM.gov registration to receive an award.

The APS also draws firm lines around what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include partisan political activity or electioneering, lobbying for specific legislation, fundraising campaigns, construction, charitable or development work and social welfare projects, most forms of scientific research (including medical research and clinical studies), and projects primarily meant to grow the applicant organization rather than deliver a public-facing program. It also discourages duplicative efforts and generally does not support one-off events like stand-alone conferences or single roundtables, unless they are part of a larger, sustained program concept (for example, a structured workshop series with broader objectives and follow-on engagement). For-profit entities are not eligible for grants under this announcement.

Overall, the FY21 APS is best understood as a relationship-building and narrative-shaping funding mechanism: it supports projects in Germany that bring U.S. and German partners together around climate and energy transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship, democratic resilience and anti-extremism efforts, media literacy and counter-disinformation, and youth-centered exchanges and skills development, with strong emphasis on public visibility and a clear American connection.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY21 Annual Program Statement" 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 May 07, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 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 $16,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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.

Apply for BER APS FY21 001

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