Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary (APS 2025)

The Annual Program Statement (APS) titled “Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary and its Friendship with France: 250 Years of Diplomacy and Shared Prosperity” is a funding opportunity launched by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Mission to France, under the U.S. Department of State. This initiative commemorates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, highlighting the enduring diplomatic, cultural, and historical ties between the United States and France. The APS invites eligible entities to submit proposals that contribute to a year-long campaign in France to engage audiences around this milestone. The funding seeks to support programs that resonate with the core themes of innovation, American history, and the Franco-American partnership. All proposed projects must explicitly involve a U.S. element, such as collaborations with American experts or institutions, and target French audiences to strengthen bilateral relations. Projects should underscore shared values derived from the Enlightenment and foundational democratic principles that bind the two nations. Applications must aim to enhance understanding of the U.S. among the French public, particularly those historically neutral or skeptical, and inspire engagement in education, tourism, or business opportunities in the U.S. Funding amounts range between $5,000 and $24,999, with a total of approximately $100,000 available, subject to the availability of Fiscal Year 2025 or 2026 Public Diplomacy funds. Around 5 to 20 awards are expected, and projects must be completed within 18 months from the anticipated start date in October 2025. Eligible applicants include registered non-profit organizations, non-profit educational institutions, and governmental entities in the United States and France. For-profit entities are not eligible. Each organization is limited to one submission, and continuation grants may be considered based on performance and available funds. Applications are due by August 8, 2025, at 18:00 CET. Required submission materials include forms SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B; a project narrative no longer than three pages; a budget with justification; and any optional attachments like résumés, letters of support, or NICRA documentation if indirect costs are included. All documents must be submitted in English and in U.S. dollars. Proposals should include a clear problem statement, project design, implementation plan, audience engagement strategy, monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability strategy. The review process will consider how well proposals align with U.S. strategic goals, program quality, feasibility, organizational capacity, and ability to measure success. Successful applicants will be notified within 60 days of the submission deadline. Proposals must be emailed to GrantsFrance@state.gov with the subject line “APS FY250 - America 250: Name of applicant & Project Title.” No pre-consultation will be provided, and incomplete or non-compliant proposals will be deemed ineligible.

Ensure application is in English, uses the templates provided, does not exceed page limits, and clearly links to the APS themes.