Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS BGI FY23 01
The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Public Affairs Section (PAS), part of the U.S. Department of State, is offering funding through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program under an Annual Program Statement titled "U.S. Embassy Bridgetown PAS Annual Program Statement" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAS BGI FY23 01). As an annual statement, this notice is meant to lay out what PAS is trying to achieve over the funding period, the types of projects it prefers to support, and the general procedures applicants must follow when requesting support. The opportunity is discretionary and uses either a grant or a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, meaning projects are competitively selected and may involve varying levels of involvement or coordination with the Embassy depending on the award structure.
The core purpose of the program is relationship-building: PAS Bridgetown is looking for proposals that strengthen ties between the United States and Barbados as well as the wider Eastern Caribbean. The Embassy is specifically interested in programs that use cultural, educational, business, or scientific activities to highlight shared values and encourage practical bilateral cooperation. In real terms, that means the strongest proposals will not just run a good event or training, but will clearly show how the activity improves mutual understanding, creates durable connections between people or institutions, and supports broader public diplomacy goals in the region.
A central requirement is that every project must include a clear American element. This can take the form of U.S. cultural content, or a tangible connection to American experts, organizations, or institutions in a relevant field. The idea is that the U.S. component should be meaningful, not superficial: it should help participants better understand U.S. policy and priorities and create opportunities for sustained engagement with U.S. partners. In practice, this could involve bringing in a U.S.-based specialist as a speaker or trainer, partnering with a U.S. museum, university, professional association, or nonprofit, or building programming around American cultural or scientific approaches in a way that is relevant to local audiences.
PAS lists several example program types to illustrate what fits the grant program. These examples include academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives; and professional and academic exchanges or exchange-style programming. These categories suggest the Embassy is open to a range of formats, from short public-facing events to more structured training or exchange activities, as long as the proposal clearly advances the U.S.-Barbados and U.S.-Eastern Caribbean relationship and includes a solid American connection.
From the published opportunity details, the activity category is aligned with arts and cultural affairs (CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.040). The award ceiling is listed as $24,000, which signals the program is designed for small, targeted projects rather than large multi-year initiatives. The notice also indicates an expectation of approximately 24 awards, implying multiple small grants may be issued rather than a single large award. The opportunity was created on October 12, 2022, and the original closing date is September 30, 2023, consistent with an annual funding cycle in which proposals may be accepted and reviewed across a set period.
Eligibility is broadly described in the listing as "Others," with clarification to be provided in the full announcement under an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section. In other words, eligibility is not limited only to one standard applicant type in the summary data, and applicants would need to check the full text to confirm which organizations or entities can apply and whether any restrictions apply based on location, registration status, or institutional type.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a small-grants public diplomacy program intended to support practical, visible projects that connect local audiences in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean with U.S. people, ideas, institutions, and culture. Competitive proposals will likely be those that present a clear public diplomacy rationale, demonstrate real partnerships or credible U.S. participation, and show how the project will produce lasting impact beyond a one-off event, even within a modest budget cap.Apply for PAS BGI FY23 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Barbados in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Bridgetown PAS 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 Oct 12, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2023. (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 $24,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Public Affairs Section (PAS) Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, released under the annual notice titled "U.S. Embassy Bridgetown PAS Annual Program Statement" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAS BGI FY23 01).
Who is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Public Affairs Section (PAS), which is part of the U.S. Department of State.
What is the purpose of the PAS Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program?
The core purpose is relationship-building. PAS Bridgetown is looking for proposals that strengthen ties between the United States and Barbados, as well as the wider Eastern Caribbean, through cultural, educational, business, or scientific activities that highlight shared values and encourage practical bilateral cooperation.
What kinds of projects are they trying to support?
PAS is interested in projects that go beyond running a single event and clearly explain how the activity improves mutual understanding, creates durable connections between people or institutions, and supports broader public diplomacy goals in the region.
What does "public diplomacy" mean in the context of this grant?
Based on the opportunity description, "public diplomacy" refers to programs that build mutual understanding and lasting connections between local audiences in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and the United States, using activities that feature meaningful U.S. participation or U.S. content.
Is an "American element" required?
Yes. Every project must include a clear American element, such as U.S. cultural content or a tangible connection to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions.
What counts as a "clear American element"?
The American element can include U.S. cultural content, participation by a U.S.-based specialist (speaker/trainer), partnerships with U.S. institutions (such as a museum, university, professional association, or nonprofit), or programming that meaningfully incorporates American cultural or scientific approaches in ways that are relevant to local audiences.
Does the American element need to be more than symbolic?
Yes. The notice emphasizes that the U.S. component should be meaningful rather than superficial, helping participants better understand U.S. policy and priorities and creating opportunities for sustained engagement with U.S. partners.
What are examples of program formats that fit this grant?
The opportunity lists examples such as academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker series; artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives; and professional and academic exchanges or exchange-style programming.
Are arts and culture projects a good fit?
Yes. The activity category is aligned with arts and cultural affairs (CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.040), and the listed examples include multiple arts, cultural, and heritage-focused project types.
Can educational, business, or scientific programs be supported?
Yes. The Embassy states interest in cultural, educational, business, or scientific activities, as long as they advance relationship-building goals and include a strong American element.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $24,000.
Is this designed for small projects or large initiatives?
It is designed for small, targeted projects. The $24,000 ceiling suggests the program is not intended for large-scale or major multi-year initiatives.
How many awards does PAS expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of approximately 24 awards.
Is this a competitive opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is discretionary, and projects are competitively selected.
What funding instruments are used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The program may use either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the structure of the award.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?
Both are funding instruments, but the description indicates that a cooperative agreement may involve varying levels of involvement or coordination with the Embassy compared to a standard grant.
What geography does the program focus on?
The focus is on strengthening ties between the United States and Barbados, as well as the wider Eastern Caribbean.
Do projects need to show lasting impact beyond a single event?
Yes. The opportunity highlights that the strongest proposals will demonstrate durable connections and lasting impact beyond a one-off activity, even within a modest budget cap.
What makes a proposal stronger based on the description?
Proposals are likely stronger when they present a clear public diplomacy rationale, demonstrate real partnerships or credible U.S. participation, and show how the project will produce lasting impact and sustained engagement with U.S. partners.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is aligned with CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.040 (arts and cultural affairs).
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on October 12, 2022.
What is the closing date listed in the opportunity summary?
The original closing date is September 30, 2023, consistent with an annual funding cycle.
Is eligibility clearly defined in the summary?
No. Eligibility is broadly described as "Others" in the summary, with clarification expected in the full announcement under an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section.
Where can applicants find the specific eligibility requirements?
The description indicates applicants should check the full announcement text, particularly the section labeled "Additional Information on Eligibility," to confirm which organizations or entities can apply and whether any restrictions apply.
What should applicants pay attention to regarding eligibility?
Based on the description, applicants should verify details that may include whether certain organization types are eligible and whether any restrictions apply based on location, registration status, or institutional type (as clarified in the full announcement).
What is this Annual Program Statement meant to do?
As an annual statement, it lays out what PAS is trying to achieve over the funding period, the types of projects it prefers to support, and the general procedures applicants must follow when requesting support.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS BGI FY23 01.
Does PAS require U.S. partnerships?
The program description does not state partnerships are mandatory in all cases, but it strongly emphasizes meaningful connections to U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions and notes that credible U.S. participation and real partnerships are likely to strengthen a proposal.
Is cultural heritage preservation an eligible topic area?
Yes. The examples explicitly include cultural heritage conservation and preservation initiatives.
Are exchange-style projects eligible even if they are not formal exchanges?
Yes. The examples include professional and academic exchanges or exchange-style programming.
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