U.S. Embassy Jerusalem Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement is a federal funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of State through the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section. This program is designed to advance U.S. economic, commercial, and security interests in Israel by supporting projects that strengthen bilateral ties and promote American leadership. The funding is provided under the Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds framework and is administered through cooperative agreements, with active involvement from the Embassy in oversight, approvals, and program implementation. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support initiatives that align with one or more of five strategic goals: advancing U.S. economic and technological leadership, countering malign influence and promoting free speech, supporting regional peace efforts, promoting American arts and culture, and engaging alumni of U.S. government exchange programs. Projects must clearly demonstrate measurable outcomes and alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities. Applicants are expected to design programs that foster innovation, strengthen partnerships, and enhance understanding of American values and systems among Israeli audiences. Funding is available in awards ranging approximately from 25,000 to 250,000 dollars, with a total program funding pool of approximately 1,000,000 dollars, subject to availability. Projects must be completed within a period of up to 12 months. Allowable expenses include personnel, travel, supplies, and programmatic costs, while restrictions prohibit funding for construction, direct social services, partisan political activities, fundraising campaigns, and religious programming. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required, allowing applicants flexibility in structuring their budgets. Eligibility is open to not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply as prime recipients, though partnerships and subcontracts are permitted if clearly defined. Applicants must submit only one proposal per organization and must meet federal requirements such as obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintaining registration in SAM.gov, unless exempted. Projects must align with clearly defined program goals and target audiences such as business leaders, educators, media professionals, or alumni networks. The application process requires submission of standard federal forms (SF-424 series), a detailed proposal narrative, a comprehensive budget and justification, and supporting documentation such as resumes and letters of support. Proposals must include a monitoring and evaluation plan that demonstrates how project success will be measured. Applications must be submitted via email to the designated Embassy address and include all required documentation in English and in U.S. dollars. According to the instructions on page 9 of the document, proposals should clearly articulate objectives, implementation plans, timelines, and expected outcomes. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the final deadline of July 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM Israel Daylight Time. Awards are expected to begin on a rolling basis with start dates no later than late September 2026. Applicants are typically notified of funding decisions within approximately 120 days after the deadline. The Embassy provides oversight throughout the award period, including approvals of key personnel, review of project materials, and monitoring of implementation. This funding opportunity is part of an annual program cycle, indicating that similar opportunities may recur in future years. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Embassy grants team via email for clarification or questions and to ensure compliance with all submission requirements. The program emphasizes strategic alignment, measurable impact, and strong organizational capacity, making it a competitive opportunity for organizations seeking to advance U.S.-Israel collaboration.

Ensure strong alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities; provide measurable outcomes and clear evaluation metrics; demonstrate organizational capacity and detailed budget justification