U.S. Mission to Australia 2026 Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Mission to Australia, part of the U.S. Department of State, is offering its Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy under opportunity number PDS-AUSTRALIA-2026-01 and Assistance Listing 19.040, Public Diplomacy Programs. The Public Diplomacy Section seeks projects that advance U.S. economic, commercial, and security interests in Australia while strengthening partnerships, countering adversarial influence and narratives, and highlighting American excellence and leadership. Awards may be made as grants, fixed amount awards, or cooperative agreements. Proposed projects should generally run for 12 to 24 months and must be completed within 24 months. Applicants must address at least one of three program goals. The first goal promotes flag football in Australia through activities such as clinics, coaching outreach, community engagement, sports collaboration, network building, and connections between sports and STEM education. The second goal combats antisemitism through Holocaust education, remembrance, public understanding, curricula, programming that counters antisemitism and Holocaust denial or distortion, and educational engagement with younger Australians. The third goal strengthens Pacific Islands partnerships by highlighting shared cultural values among the United States, Australia, and the Pacific Islands through arts, cultural heritage preservation, education, training, exchanges, joint projects, and collaborative events. Primary beneficiaries must be based in Australia. Every program must have a clear connection to or inclusion of American experts, organizations, institutions, or cultural elements and should produce measurable results. Awards are expected to range from approximately $25,000 to $100,000, although the number of awards and total funding available are pending funding availability. Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but is not required. The opportunity will not support partisan political activity, charitable or development activities including direct social services, construction, specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying, scientific research or surveys, commercial projects, projects primarily intended for organizational growth or institutional development, duplicative projects, or illegal activities. Award funds also cannot be used for alcoholic beverages and entertainment-related expenses. Pre-award costs are generally unallowable unless approved in advance by the Grants Officer and justified in the proposal. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations from Australia and the United States; public and private educational institutions in Australia and the United States; individuals from Australia and the United States; and Public International Organizations and Governmental Institutions from Australia. For-profit entities are not eligible. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization, and submission of more than one proposal makes all proposals from that institution ineligible. Organizations must generally have a Unique Entity Identifier and an active SAM.gov registration, while individuals are not required to have either. Organizations using subcontractors must clearly define responsibilities, and only one non-profit, non-governmental entity may serve as the prime recipient. Applications must include the applicable SF-424 or SF-424-I, SF-424A, and SF-424B when required. Applicants must submit a narrative proposal of no more than 10 pages containing a proposal summary, organizational introduction and relevant experience, problem statement, program methods and activities, measurable objectives and deliverables, project schedule and timeline, key personnel, project partners, sustainability information, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan. The monitoring plan should include If-Then statements and a datasheet identifying activities and indicators. Applicants must also provide a detailed line-item budget and budget justification narrative. Required attachments include one-page resumes or position descriptions for key personnel, letters of support from applicable partners, the latest NICRA when indirect costs are charged under an existing agreement, proof of non-profit status, and proof of organizational registration. Applications are submitted directly by email to PASGrantsAustralia@state.gov. The email subject line must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number. The final application deadline is September 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm AEST. The notice states that proposals received prior to September 20, 2026 will be reviewed by August 28, 2026 with responses by September 3, 2026, while proposals received on September 20 will be reviewed by September 23 with responses by September 24. The notice also states more generally that applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the APS deadline. Projects may begin in September 2026 or later, with the executive summary stating that projects may begin as early as October 1, 2026. Questions about the application process should be sent to PASGrantsAustralia@state.gov. Eligible applications are first screened for technical completeness and then reviewed by a technical review panel. Quality and feasibility of the program idea accounts for 30 points, organizational capacity and record on previous grants for 25 points, project planning and ability to achieve objectives for 20 points, budget for 10 points, monitoring and evaluation for 10 points, and sustainability for 5 points. Applications should demonstrate alignment with current U.S. foreign policy priorities, measurable objectives, realistic implementation plans, appropriate target audiences, sound financial management, reasonable and allowable costs, strong monitoring methods, and sustainability. Before award, the Department may also review financial stability, management systems, performance history, audit findings, and ability to implement project requirements. Continuation funding beyond the initial budget period may be considered non-competitively subject to funding availability, satisfactory progress, and a determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Department of State.

Choose one of the three stated program goals and show a clear connection to American experts, organizations, institutions, or cultural elements. Tie activities to measurable outcomes and current U.S. foreign policy priorities. Provide a detailed, realistic implementation timeline and a fully justified budget with reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs. Include a strong M&E plan with output and outcome indicators, milestones, and If-Then logic. Demonstrate organizational capacity, fiscal controls, relevant experience, partner roles, and sustainability. Submit every required form and attachment because incomplete applications are screened out before merit review.