U.S. Embassy Bridgetown PAS Annual Program Statement | PAS BGI FY23 01

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.

• 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).

Apply for PAS BGI FY23 01

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: