U.S. Embassy Montevideo Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program

The U.S. Embassy Montevideo Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State through its Public Diplomacy Section in Uruguay. The program is designed to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Uruguay by supporting initiatives that promote mutual understanding, highlight American expertise, and advance shared strategic priorities. This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. Embassy will maintain substantial involvement in program implementation, oversight, and evaluation. The selected recipient will act as the primary manager of a subgrant program that distributes funding to smaller projects aligned with U.S. public diplomacy goals. The core purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish and manage a transparent, merit-based small grants competition in Uruguay. The selected organization will be responsible for promoting the opportunity, soliciting proposals, reviewing applications, managing financial disbursements, and ensuring compliance with all federal requirements. The funded program must include a clear U.S. component, such as collaboration with American experts, institutions, or organizations. Programmatic focus areas include democratic governance, economic prosperity, education and exchange, technology and innovation, security and rule of law, and sports diplomacy, all aimed at fostering long-term cooperation and measurable outcomes. Funding for this opportunity totals approximately $220,000, with a single award anticipated. Individual project budgets must fall within a range of approximately $150,000 to $220,000. The period of performance is expected to last between 12 and 15 months, with a projected start date between September and October 2026. While cost sharing is not required, it is encouraged. Funds may not be used for construction, direct social services, partisan political activities, or other restricted categories outlined in federal regulations. Eligibility is limited to Uruguayan entities that are registered under local government requirements. These include nonprofit organizations, civil society organizations, think tanks, and educational or cultural institutions. For-profit organizations are explicitly excluded from eligibility. Applicants must also obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active registration in SAM.gov. Only one application per organization is permitted, and all subrecipients must meet compliance requirements and receive approval from the U.S. Embassy prior to engagement. Applications must be submitted via email to the designated Embassy grants inbox and include required federal forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, and a detailed proposal narrative. The proposal must include organizational background, a problem statement, program design, timeline, staffing plan, monitoring and evaluation framework, and a detailed budget with justification. Supporting documents such as resumes, letters of support, and proof of nonprofit status are also required. All submissions must be written in English and budgets must be presented in U.S. dollars. The application deadline is June 30, 2026, with questions accepted until June 15, 2026. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria including program quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation rigor, and sustainability. Successful applicants will be notified within approximately 120 days of the deadline. The program is not explicitly recurring, but continuation funding may be considered based on performance and availability of funds.

Ensure strong alignment with U.S. Embassy strategic priorities; include measurable outcomes and robust monitoring and evaluation plan; demonstrate organizational capacity and financial management experience