Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship | BER NOFO FY21 002B

Opportunity Information: Apply for BER NOFO FY21 002B

The U.S. Embassy Berlin, through its Public Affairs Section, is offering cooperative agreement funding for projects that help young people in Germany take a fresh look at the transatlantic relationship with the United States and rethink what it should look like in the future. The opportunity is framed around a simple problem: while the U.S.-German partnership has been central to European stability and prosperity for decades and is rooted in shared democratic values (like rule of law, freedom, and self-determination), many teenagers and young adults today do not have direct lived experience with the historical conditions that shaped that relationship. At the same time, younger generations often judge international partnerships by whether they feel relevant to the issues that affect their daily lives and future prospects, including climate change, environmental justice, diversity and inclusion, jobs, and overall quality of life. The Embassy is looking for projects that make the relationship feel real and relevant to youth, while also encouraging them to question it, test its assumptions, and propose how it should evolve.

The core program idea is to fund inclusive, interactive, youth-centered activities that move beyond lectures and instead get participants actively involved in discussion, problem-solving, and reflection. The Embassy is open to many formats, such as workshops, virtual or in-person speaker events and panel discussions, conferences, and people-to-people exchanges. What matters most is that the design is engaging and participatory, draws participants from diverse backgrounds, and ideally includes young people (including teenagers) who have not previously been involved with the United States, transatlantic networks, or political youth organizations. The expected learning arc for participants is threefold: first, they should learn about and reflect on shared values and ties between Germany and the U.S.; second, they should critically assess the current state of the relationship in today s political and geopolitical context; and third, they should be able to articulate their own vision and expectations for where the partnership should go, grounded in the issues they personally care about. When possible and requested, the Embassy may also support hands-on exposure, such as briefings with diplomats or participation in Public Affairs programs, to give participants a more direct window into how the relationship is managed in practice.

Applicants are expected to function as the project implementer, meaning they will design the program and curriculum, recruit and select participants, organize and lead sessions, and build in evaluation from the start. A strong proposal is expected to show a clear theory of change (how the activities lead to the outcomes the program wants), thoughtful choices about which youth sub-audiences and locations to target, and a plan for sustainability so the impact lasts beyond the grant period. Beyond running activities, the Embassy also emphasizes measurement and learning: projects should generate actionable insights about who participated (demographics and attitudinal profiles) and produce evidence about what worked, how well it worked, and what could be improved. In other words, success is not just delivering events, but being able to show results and lessons learned.

In practical grant terms, this is a discretionary Department of State opportunity (U.S. Mission to Germany) under CFDA 19.040, categorized under Humanities/Cultural Affairs. The target participant age range is 13 to 26, and applicants can define their specific audience within that band as long as the choice is grounded in a sensible program rationale. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations and entities, including state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and individuals. The Embassy anticipated making around three awards. The stated award ceiling in the opportunity summary is USD 15,000 for projects lasting one year or less, though the FAQ notes that applicants should request what they need up to the total funding available (USD 30,000 across the opportunity). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies closer collaboration and oversight by the funding agency than a standard grant.

Budget and administrative notes are also spelled out. If an applicant does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), they may use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate applied to modified total direct costs (excluding items like equipment, capital expenditures, certain rental costs, scholarships/fellowships, and the portion of subawards above USD 25,000). Budget flexibility is possible if circumstances change, but reallocations must be reasonable, justified, and communicated in advance to the grants officer. The Embassy indicates it may identify and remove non-permissible costs during review rather than automatically penalizing applications, as long as questionable items do not make up most of the request. Applicants may use a reasonable, near-market currency conversion rate when converting local costs to USD. The U.S. government fiscal year end does not impose extra spending or reporting constraints beyond the grant s normal period of performance. Applications cannot be submitted late. SAM.gov registration may be completed after the application deadline, but an active registration is required before funds can be legally obligated and the award issued.

Key dates and identifiers included in the notice are the opportunity number BER NOFO FY21 002B, with an original closing date of April 13, 2021 (created February 12, 2021). Anyone preparing an application would need to follow the full NOFO instructions and required attachments, but at a high level, the Embassy is seeking creative, youth-driven programming that helps German youth explore what the transatlantic relationship has been, honestly debate what it is now, and define what it should become, while producing measurable evidence of impact and insights that can inform future engagement.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 12, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 2021. (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 $15,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.

Apply for BER NOFO FY21 002B

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: