Annual Program Statement (APS)

The U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece, through its Public Diplomacy Section (PDS Athens), has released the FY2025 Annual Program Statement (APS) under the funding opportunity number PDS-Athens-FY25-01. This initiative is made possible through FY2025 Public Diplomacy Funding authorized by either the Smith-Mundt Act or the Fulbright-Hays Act. The APS outlines the priorities, thematic areas, and submission procedures for grant applications that aim to enhance bilateral relations between the United States and Greece. Funding instruments may include grants, cooperative agreements, or fixed amount awards (FAAs), with cooperative agreements and some FAAs involving substantial involvement from embassy staff during implementation. The submission deadline for applications is July 11, 2025, at 5:59 PM Athens time. Proposals should be designed to last twelve to sixteen months, with potential for non-competitive continuation funding depending on program success and funding availability. Projects must strengthen U.S.-Greece relations and include an element of American history, culture, or values. Two thematic priorities guide the FY2025 cycle. The first, "Promoting American Excellence in Emerging Technologies," encourages projects that foster U.S.-Greece technological collaboration with direct benefit to U.S. strategic and commercial interests. The second, “Celebrating 250 Years of American Excellence,” invites submissions that highlight U.S. achievements and legacy in the context of America250. Competitive proposals must feature clear American connections, including the involvement of U.S. experts, institutions, or cultural elements. Eligible applicants include individuals and registered public or private non-profit organizations, think tanks, educational institutions (public or private, U.S. or Greek), and government entities. For-profit organizations are not eligible. All organizations must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active registration on SAM.gov unless exempted. Individuals are not required to register with SAM.gov. Each organization may submit only one proposal; multiple submissions will result in disqualification. Applications must be emailed to USEmbAthensGrants@state.gov and must include: a cover sheet, a detailed proposal addressing specific content elements, a program schedule, key personnel bios (if budget exceeds $25,000), budget justification, required forms (SF-424, SF-424A, and, if applicable, SF-424B), and any relevant letters of support. Applications must be in English, formatted according to specified guidelines, and submitted in DOCX or PDF formats. Budget proposals must demonstrate efficient use of funds, limiting overhead and personnel expenses to 10% each of the total award. Award amounts range from $25,000 to $100,000. No matching funds are required, though cost sharing is encouraged and should be noted if included. Proposals will be evaluated based on organizational capacity, alignment with embassy priorities, feasibility, sustainability, budget rationale, monitoring and evaluation plans, and public engagement. Applications that expand participation to underrepresented groups or regions are strongly encouraged. Unallowable uses of funding include construction, religious activities, fundraising, lobbying, entertainment, and scientific research. The program does not support fixed operational costs or full-time salaries of permanent staff. All applicants will be notified of award status by September 30, 2025. Payments are issued in at least two installments, with the initial amount not exceeding 80% of the total grant. Remaining funds are disbursed upon completion and reporting. Reporting requirements include submission of financial and programmatic reports as specified in the award document. The program also requires recipients to comply with anti-discrimination certifications and federal regulations governing data reporting, financial tracking, and public diplomacy performance monitoring.

Include new partners and underrepresented communities; focus on embassy priorities and measurable outcomes.