U.S. Embassy Slovenia NGO Small Grants
The Embassy continues to offer grants for well-conceived and managed projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Slovenia. Eligible topics for projects are broadly defined to include democracy and human rights, security and defense issues, and economic and business development. Successful proposals will strengthen understanding of the United States, including its society, politics, and values and support a priority theme listed below. New grantees with relevant, impactful proposals may be given preference over previous grantees.
PLEASE NOTE: We recognize that the requirement for all program proposals to include a significant American component may be challenging in some cases. We encourage prospective grant partners to be creative about leveraging of virtual resources and capitalizing on local expertise during this grants cycle. Proposals, which outline an alternative virtual component. might be more competitive for the limited funding available.
EXAMPLE: A program proposal includes a lecture series on entrepreneurship for a variety of audiences. The proposal envisions an American professor visiting Slovenia to conduct in-person lectures. Ideally, due to current circumstances, the proposal should also include a backup plan to use video conferencing in lieu of international travel to conduct the lecture tour.
For this grant period, consideration will be given to project proposals focusing on the following themes:
· Regional and Transatlantic Cooperation – promoting strong transatlantic relations, with an emphasis on the U.S.–Slovenian bilateral relationship
· Economic Issues – especially entrepreneurship, innovation, economic reform, promotion of trade, women in STEAM
· Environmental Issues – combating Climate Change, enhancing environmental preservation and sustainability
· Energy Security and Diversification
· International Security, Collective Security, and Defense Issues
· Digitalization, Cyber Security, and Artificial Intelligence
· Countering Corruption, Good Governance, Strengthening Rule of Law, and Transparency
· Independent Media and Investigative Journalism – including media literacy and combating disinformation
· Human Rights – including tolerance, respect for diversity and inclusion, and support for historically marginalized communities and equal rights for all people
· Education – to establish and deepen partnerships between scholars and educational institutions
What are we looking for in a proposal?
· Programs that build and enhance relationships between Slovenia and the United States through bilateral cooperation, highlight shared values, and promote mutual understanding.
· Applications should have an American component. Projects which incorporate an American speaker, expert, author, etc., are often considered stronger.
· Sustainable projects with strong merit and clearly defined goals and outcomes.
· Projects that include acknowledgement of U.S. Embassy support and a plan to amplify our cooperation via traditional or digital media.
Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. The criteria listed are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.
Organizational capacity and record on previous grants: The organization has expertise in its stated field and the ability to undertake the program.
Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
Goals and objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and the program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
Mission priorities: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Mission’s priority areas and have a clearly defined target
audience. This includes a description of how the program will incorporate and promote diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Budget: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured.
Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program, with the potential multiplier effect and possible follow-on activities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Slovenian not-for-profits/NGOs/social enterprises, Slovenian educational and research institutions and public entities. Projects must have a defined start and completion date. If a project is done in collaboration with another organization, please provide a letter of support/commitment from the partner institution.
ALUMNI APPLICATIONS
The Public Affairs Section welcomes proposals from alumni of U.S.-sponsored exchange programs. Priority consideration will be given to alumni who:
· Cooperate with other alumni to implement the grant
· Share with a wider community the knowledge or skills gained in the exchange program or training
· Explain how the project will enhance alumni professional development.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please follow the instructions below carefully, fill out all forms required, and submit your application only when it is complete. Proposals will not be considered unless all information is received in hard copy and electronic form as stated below. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that an application is complete. Proposals must be completed in English or accompanied by an English translation. Budgets must be calculated in U.S. dollars. Supporting documents may be in Slovene. Cost-sharing and in-kind contributions must be documented in the grant proposal’s budget.
You may directly access the Application Guidelines and Forms below.
· Application for Federal Assistance Form – SF-424 (PDF 243 KB)
· SF-424 Instructions (PDF 189 KB)
· SF-424A Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (PDF 132 KB)
· SF424A Instructions for Budget Information (PDF 221 KB)
· SF424B Assurances for Non-Construction programs (PDF 64 KB) is only required for organizations without UEI at the time of applying.
· NGO Small Grants Program – Application Form (PDF 106 KB) – NEW
· NGO Small Grants Program – Application Guidelines
· SAM.GOV Registration: In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov
DUNS and NCAGE/CAGE code:
DUNS number and CAGE/NCAGE number are no longer needed to register in SAM.gov!
Sam.gov and UEI: Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.”
The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. SAM.gov is the Federal government’s primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements. OMB designated SAM.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance. Under the law, it is mandatory to register in SAM.gov.
As of April 2022, the UEI is assigned when an organization registers or renews it’s registration in SAM.gov at www.SAM.gov . To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. Organization can create an account at https://login.gov/ . As a reminder, organizations need to renew their sam.gov registration annually.
Important Note: There are no fees associated with registration, or other steps in the application or grant management process. Organizations offering to facilitate applications for a fee are not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the U.S. Government.
Frequently Asked Questions for UEI and SAM.gov
Please mail 1 hard copy of the completed application, with an original signature on the last page, to:
Public Affairs Section U.S. Embassy Ljubljana
Attn: Tanja Šuštaršič, Program Specialist for NGO Small Grants
Program Prešernova 31 1000 Ljubljana
Tel: (1) 200-55-00
Fax: (1) 426-42-84
In addition, please send one copy in electronic form to the following address: LjubljanaNGOGrants@state.gov
The deadline for submitting proposals is March 31, 2023.
REVIEW PROCEDURE
Complete applications which meet the criteria outlined above will be considered for full or partial funding by the Embassy NGO Small Grants Program Committee. Typically, grant awards range from $3,000 to $10,000.
Please understand that we receive many more good proposals than current resources allow us to fund. Therefore, conformity with general guidelines, criteria, and basic conditions does not guarantee funding. As this is a competitive application process, in the interest of fairness and impartiality, the Embassy is unable to give personalized assistance or advice to individual applicants and/or applying organizations. Decisions will generally be communicated within two months after the application deadline. Any award is subject to the availability of funds. Organizations whose applications are not selected for funding will be notified via email.
Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit program reports and/or financial and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.
· Program report form (47 KB)
· Financial report form (3 MB)