U.S. Mission New Zealand Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to New Zealand’s Public Diplomacy Section, has issued an Annual Program Statement to support initiatives that strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and New Zealand. This opportunity is part of the Public Diplomacy Grants Program and is funded through Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds. The program reflects broader U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly emphasizing collaboration in science, innovation, economic development, and shared democratic values. The Mission seeks to partner with a range of eligible entities to deliver impactful programming that enhances mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to advance economic, scientific, and cultural ties between the United States and New Zealand. Applicants are encouraged to design programs that build institutional and community capacity while promoting collaboration in key areas such as scientific research, including Antarctic and space-related work, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, and disaster management. Additionally, projects may support economic growth through innovation in biotechnology and space technology sectors or strengthen democratic values through cultural, educational, and sports-related initiatives. All proposals must demonstrate a clear connection to U.S. perspectives or involvement, such as inclusion of American experts or institutions. Funding is available for approximately seven awards, with individual grant amounts ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 dollars and a total program budget of approximately 350,000 dollars, subject to availability of funds. Projects must be completed within a performance period of up to 24 months. The funding instrument may take the form of a grant, cooperative agreement, or fixed amount award, with cooperative agreements involving more direct participation from U.S. Embassy staff. Allowable expenses include programmatic costs such as personnel, travel, and materials, while unallowable costs include construction, direct social services, partisan political activities, and fundraising efforts. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, individuals, and certain governmental and international organizations from both the United States and New Zealand. However, for-profit entities are not eligible to apply. Organizations must be properly registered, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining an active registration in SAM.gov where applicable. Applicants may partner with other entities, but only one eligible organization may serve as the primary recipient of the award. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must complete standard federal forms such as SF-424 and provide a detailed proposal not exceeding ten pages. The proposal must include a project summary, organizational background, problem statement, detailed program design, timeline, staffing plan, and monitoring and evaluation strategy. A comprehensive budget and budget justification narrative are also required, along with supporting documents such as resumes, letters of support, and proof of nonprofit status where applicable. Applications are due by July 15, 2026, and proposals submitted by that date will be reviewed by mid-August, with notifications expected by the end of August 2026. The anticipated project start date is September 2026 or later. The review process evaluates proposals based on criteria including program quality, organizational capacity, planning, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Preference is given to well-developed, innovative proposals that align closely with U.S. foreign policy priorities and demonstrate measurable outcomes. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the Public Affairs team at the U.S. Mission to New Zealand via email at publicaffairsusnz@state.gov or reach out to the listed resource management specialist by phone. Full program details, including application instructions and evaluation criteria, are outlined in the official program statement document.