Transatlantic Partnership Program

The Transatlantic Partnership Program is administered by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin under the U.S. Department of State. This funding opportunity, identified as DOS-BER-APS-FY26-001, is part of the Department’s broader Public Diplomacy Grants Program and is designed to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Germany. The program aligns with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and aims to promote forward-looking initiatives that reinforce democratic values, institutional cooperation, and mutual understanding between the two nations. The purpose of this program is to support innovative projects that deepen transatlantic engagement across multiple sectors, including science, technology, sports, civic education, and cultural exchange. Applicants are encouraged to propose initiatives that highlight U.S.-German collaboration, particularly in areas such as STEM innovation, space exploration, sports diplomacy, and the promotion of democratic principles like freedom of speech and resilience against anti-Semitism. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes that improve awareness, attitudes, and long-term partnerships between German audiences and U.S. institutions. Funding is provided through grants or cooperative agreements, with award amounts ranging from 5000 to 50000 dollars per project. The total funding available has not been specified. Projects may last up to 24 months, with the possibility of non-competitive continuation contingent on performance and funding availability. Allowable costs include programmatic expenses such as personnel, travel, supplies, and evaluation activities, while restrictions prohibit construction, direct social services, partisan political activities, and purely academic research without a public diplomacy component. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes registered nonprofit organizations, think tanks, NGOs with a presence in Germany, educational institutions (both public and private), governmental entities, and individuals. However, for-profit entities are explicitly excluded. Organizations must meet federal requirements such as obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining registration in SAM.gov, although individuals are exempt from these requirements. Cost sharing is not required but may strengthen an application during the review process. Applications must be submitted either via email or through Grants.gov and must include a comprehensive proposal, budget documentation, mandatory federal forms, and supporting materials such as resumes and letters of support. Proposals are limited to eight pages and must clearly outline the project’s objectives, activities, timeline, evaluation plan, and organizational capacity. A robust monitoring and evaluation framework is required to demonstrate how project outcomes will be measured and achieved. The application deadline for projects beginning between late July and September 2026 is June 1, 2026, although submissions may be considered on a rolling basis if funding remains after initial review. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including program quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Applicants can expect notification within approximately 120 days after the deadline. Successful applicants will enter into a formal agreement with the Department of State and must comply with reporting, branding, and federal regulatory requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

Ensure strong alignment with embassy priority goals; include measurable outcomes and a robust monitoring and evaluation plan; demonstrate organizational capacity and clear implementation timeline; emphasize transatlantic impact and sustainability