Economic Growth through the Promotion of Cultural Heritage | PDS DOS GEO FY24 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS DOS GEO FY24 005

Economic Growth through the Promotion of Cultural Heritage is a U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) funding opportunity offered through the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. The central idea is to support practical, community-oriented projects in Georgia that use cultural heritage as a driver for local economic growth, while also strengthening cultural ties between the United States and Georgia. A strong emphasis is placed on helping communities turn cultural assets into sustainable tourism strategies, boosting local livelihoods and visibility in a way that benefits residents and visitors alike.

The Embassy is looking for proposals that align with several priority areas tied to tourism development and heritage access. Competitive projects may focus on tourism and economic development in ethnic and religious minority communities, border areas, and other regions considered vulnerable or underserved. Other strong matches include efforts that increase awareness of cultural heritage sites, improve public access to places of cultural importance, and deliver educational initiatives for local audiences. The program also welcomes community-led cultural heritage revitalization efforts, particularly when they build local ownership and participation rather than relying on outside actors. On the more practical infrastructure side (short of major construction), funding can support setting up or renovating tourist information centers, improving access for people with disabilities (such as ramps and related accessibility improvements), and making sites easier to navigate and safer through activities like cleaning and maintaining pathways, installing signage, and improving overall visitor accessibility.

Audience and geographic diversity are clear priorities in this competition. The Embassy specifically prefers projects that reach a broad mix of communities and locations, and it places added value on proposals that do substantial work outside the capital. In particular, projects based in or serving ethnic minority regions or border areas are explicitly prioritized. In other words, applicants that can demonstrate meaningful impact in places that typically receive less attention or fewer resources are likely to be more competitive than projects concentrated in Tbilisi alone.

At the same time, the solicitation draws firm boundaries around what it will not fund. Activities that involve restoration or preservation of monuments are not eligible, which signals that the program is aimed more at community use, interpretation, access, and tourism-readiness than at formal conservation work. The opportunity also excludes partisan political activity, charitable or general development assistance, construction programs, and projects that support specific religious activities. Fundraising campaigns, lobbying efforts, and scientific research are also not allowed. Finally, the Embassy will not fund projects that primarily serve the applicant organization’s own growth or institutional development, or projects that duplicate existing programs, suggesting reviewers will look for distinct, clearly defined activities with public-facing benefits and a clear gap being filled.

In terms of funding and timing, this is a FY2024 program authorized under CFDA 19.900 (AEECA/ESF Public Diplomacy Programs). The total funding available is approximately $158,000, with an anticipated four awards depending on the amounts requested. The award ceiling is $50,000 per project. The performance period can be up to 12 months, and proposed projects are expected to be completed within a year or less. Programs are expected to start roughly four to six months after the submission deadline, allowing time for review, award processing, and startup planning. Awards may be issued as a grant, a fixed amount award, or a cooperative agreement; cooperative agreements differ in that PDS staff are more actively involved during implementation, which can affect reporting, coordination, and day-to-day engagement.

Eligibility is limited to organizations rather than individuals. Eligible applicants include registered not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks with relevant programming experience), non-profit or governmental educational institutions, governmental institutions and municipalities, and Legal Entities of Public Law. For-profit or commercial entities, including commercial educational institutions, are not eligible to apply, and individuals cannot apply. The opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Number PDS DOS GEO FY24 005 by the U.S. Mission to Georgia, with an original closing date of 2024-05-31, so applicants would need to confirm whether the competition is still open, has been extended, or has moved into a new cycle.

• The U.S. Mission to Georgia in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Economic Growth through the Promotion of Cultural Heritage" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PDS DOS GEO FY24 005

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