Administrative and Programming Support Funding for American Corners

The Administrative and Programming Support for American Corners funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan. This program is designed to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Kazakhstan by supporting a network of American Spaces, which are educational and cultural venues that promote American values, innovation, and collaboration. The opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement from the U.S. Embassy in overseeing program implementation and ensuring alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide administrative and programmatic support for eight American Corners located across northern Kazakhstan. These spaces serve as hubs for educational programming, cultural exchange, and outreach activities. The selected implementing partner will be responsible for managing stipends for coordinators, overseeing programmatic reporting, handling operational logistics such as transportation and mobile services, and ensuring consistent delivery of programming aligned with American cultural and educational priorities. The program aims to professionalize operations, expand audience engagement, and increase understanding of U.S. culture and innovation. Funding for this opportunity is approximately 150000 dollars in total, with individual awards ranging from 120000 to 150000 dollars for a 12 month performance period. The funding supports a wide range of allowable costs including personnel stipends, fringe benefits, outreach transportation, promotional materials, equipment maintenance, and programming activities. However, certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including construction, charitable or humanitarian assistance, partisan political activities, religious programming, fundraising campaigns, and commercial ventures. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required, allowing applicants flexibility in structuring their financial contributions. Eligibility is limited to not for profit organizations based in Kazakhstan, including civil society organizations, think tanks, and non governmental organizations. For profit entities are not eligible, although subcontracting is permitted under a single nonprofit prime recipient. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier. Only one proposal per organization is allowed. The program emphasizes organizational capacity, prior experience with grant management, and the ability to implement complex, multi site programming. The application process requires submission of standard federal forms including SF 424, SF 424A, and SF 424B, along with a detailed proposal of up to five pages. The proposal must include a summary, organizational background, problem statement, program design, timeline, staffing plan, partner roles, sustainability plan, and a monitoring and evaluation framework. Additional required components include a detailed budget, budget justification narrative, resumes of key personnel, proof of nonprofit status, and registration documentation. Applicants must also include a performance monitoring plan and a theory of change demonstrating how activities will lead to measurable outcomes. Applications are due by July 31 2026 at 1159 PM Almaty time, with questions accepted until July 17 2026. Submissions may be made via email or through Grants.gov. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including program quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, project planning, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation rigor, and sustainability. Review results are typically communicated within 120 days after the deadline. The anticipated project start date is October 1 2026, and selected applicants must comply with reporting requirements, including quarterly programmatic and financial reports. Throughout the grant period, the U.S. Embassy maintains active involvement in program oversight, including reviewing reports, conducting site visits, and providing strategic guidance. The program is not explicitly recurring, and future funding is not guaranteed. This opportunity represents a strategic investment in public diplomacy, aiming to foster long term engagement and mutual understanding between the United States and Kazakhstan through structured, high impact programming.

Ensure strong alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities, provide detailed and realistic budget justification, include measurable objectives and a robust monitoring and evaluation plan, and demonstrate organizational capacity and prior grant experience