Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS USNATO PAA 2019 001
This grant opportunity, titled "NATO's 70th Anniversary: New challenges and changing landscapes," is a discretionary funding competition run by the Office of the Public Affairs Advisor (PAA) at the U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO), within the U.S. Department of State. It invites proposals from eligible US-based nonprofit organizations (specifically 501(c)(3) entities that are not institutions of higher education) and relevant think tanks that work on international affairs, defense and security, and transatlantic relations. The overall purpose is to support public-facing, on-the-record programming that helps European and Canadian audiences better understand, discuss, and debate NATO's evolving agenda as the Alliance marks its 70th anniversary and looks ahead to the next decades.
At the center of the call is the theme of how NATO can respond to "new challenges and changing landscapes for the next 70" years. USNATO is looking for projects that connect directly to NATO's strategic priorities, especially deterrence and defense and the idea of projecting stability beyond NATO borders. The opportunity is framed around the practical communication challenge NATO faces: it is not enough for the Alliance to set policies internally; it also needs credible public discussion and clear messaging to policy makers, media, and broader publics to sustain support and translate high-level intent into concrete actions member states can implement.
The priority subject areas reflect issues expected to be prominent around the Leaders Meeting in London (December 2019), but the scope is not limited to that event. The solicitation specifically highlights burden sharing and defense investment, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and disinformation, along with related topics that influence Alliance cohesion and readiness. Applicants are encouraged to propose work that does more than describe the problem; the strongest proposals are expected to outline tangible steps, programmatic ideas, and implementable approaches that NATO and Allies could realistically adopt.
USNATO also lists additional topics of interest to help applicants shape proposals. These include defense spending commitments and national plans to meet the "2 and 20" benchmarks (2 percent of GDP for defense spending and 20 percent of defense budgets directed to major equipment and related investment), efforts to build public support for NATO among the next generation, the NATO-Russia relationship and Russian malign activities, and methods to identify, counter, and measure the effectiveness of responses to disinformation. Other relevant areas include NATO's posture toward challenges from the south and east, partnerships and cooperative security, coordination with the European Union and other international institutions, countering hybrid warfare, and strengthening cybersecurity.
In terms of what the funding supports, the grant is intended for public diplomacy style engagements rather than internal organizational support. USNATO indicates that funded activities may include conferences, symposiums, public debates and moderated discussions, digital engagements, and roundtable discussions. Proposals are expected to emphasize the ability to deliver clear messages to well-defined audiences using both traditional formats and newer technologies, including social media and other innovative digital tools. A notable expectation is that programming should speak to broad non-US audiences in Europe, including the general public as well as women, youth and future leaders, members of the security and defense community, policy makers, and opinion shapers.
Geography and audience targeting are central requirements. Activities should be aimed at European and/or Canadian audiences and should take place in Europe or Canada, unless an applicant can provide a specific justification for another location. USNATO also strongly encourages projects that reflect diversity of thought and background and that demonstrate gender balance, suggesting that inclusive design and speaker selection are not optional extras but part of what competitiveness looks like for this call.
A key proposal requirement is evaluation. Applicants need to explain how they will measure and evaluate effectiveness, and USNATO signals a preference for evaluation approaches that go beyond simple output counts (for example, not just number of events or attendees). Competitive proposals should include ways to assess whether the content influenced understanding, informed debate, reached intended audiences, or changed levels of engagement, using credible metrics suited to the chosen activities and platforms.
The funding details show an award ceiling of $100,000, with an anticipated total of four awards. The opportunity number is DOS USNATO PAA 2019 001, listed under CFDA 19.040. The posting date is March 11, 2019, and the original closing date is May 13, 2019. Finally, the funding restrictions emphasize that grant funds cannot be used for general organizational support costs like salaries or rent unless those expenses are directly tied to delivering the proposed project, reinforcing that the money is meant to underwrite specific program activities rather than ongoing overhead.Apply for DOS USNATO PAA 2019 001
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to NATO in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NATO’s 70th Anniversary: New challenges and changing landscapes" 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 Mar 11, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 13, 2019. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "NATO's 70th Anniversary: New challenges and changing landscapes."
Which U.S. government office is running this competition?
This is a discretionary funding competition run by the Office of the Public Affairs Advisor (PAA) at the U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO), within the U.S. Department of State.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The purpose is to support public-facing, on-the-record programming that helps European and Canadian audiences better understand, discuss, and debate NATO's evolving agenda as the Alliance marks its 70th anniversary and looks ahead to future decades.
What kind of programming is this grant meant to support?
The grant is intended for public diplomacy-style engagements rather than internal organizational support. Supported formats may include conferences, symposiums, public debates and moderated discussions, digital engagements, and roundtable discussions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that are 501(c)(3) entities and are not institutions of higher education, as well as relevant think tanks working on international affairs, defense and security, and transatlantic relations.
Are universities or institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The eligibility description specifies 501(c)(3) organizations that are not institutions of higher education.
What theme should proposals address?
Proposals should focus on how NATO can respond to "new challenges and changing landscapes for the next 70" years, aligned with NATO's evolving agenda as it marks its 70th anniversary.
What strategic priorities does USNATO want projects to connect to?
USNATO is looking for projects that connect directly to NATO strategic priorities, especially deterrence and defense and the concept of projecting stability beyond NATO borders.
What problem is the solicitation trying to address beyond policy-making?
The solicitation emphasizes that it is not enough for NATO to set policies internally; the Alliance also needs credible public discussion and clear messaging to policymakers, media, and broader publics to sustain support and translate high-level intent into concrete, implementable actions.
What are the priority subject areas highlighted in the solicitation?
The solicitation highlights burden sharing and defense investment, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and disinformation, as well as related topics that influence Alliance cohesion and readiness.
Is the scope limited to the December 2019 Leaders Meeting in London?
No. While the highlighted issues are expected to be prominent around the Leaders Meeting in London (December 2019), the scope is not limited to that event.
What does USNATO expect from the strongest proposals?
The strongest proposals are expected to go beyond describing problems and instead outline tangible steps, programmatic ideas, and implementable approaches that NATO and Allies could realistically adopt.
What additional topics of interest are mentioned?
Additional topics of interest include defense spending commitments and national plans to meet the "2 and 20" benchmarks; building public support for NATO among the next generation; the NATO-Russia relationship and Russian malign activities; and methods to identify, counter, and measure the effectiveness of responses to disinformation. Other relevant areas include NATO's posture toward challenges from the south and east, partnerships and cooperative security, coordination with the European Union and other international institutions, countering hybrid warfare, and strengthening cybersecurity.
What are the "2 and 20" benchmarks?
The "2 and 20" benchmarks refer to 2 percent of GDP for defense spending and 20 percent of defense budgets directed to major equipment and related investment.
Who should the intended audiences be?
Programming should speak to broad non-U.S. audiences in Europe, including the general public, women, youth and future leaders, members of the security and defense community, policymakers, and opinion shapers.
Where should activities take place?
Activities should take place in Europe or Canada, unless an applicant provides a specific justification for another location.
Does the solicitation require a focus on Europe and/or Canada?
Yes. Activities should be aimed at European and/or Canadian audiences, and geography and audience targeting are described as central requirements.
Does USNATO encourage the use of digital tools and social media?
Yes. Proposals are expected to emphasize delivering clear messages to well-defined audiences using both traditional formats and newer technologies, including social media and other innovative digital tools.
How important are diversity and gender balance in proposed programming?
USNATO strongly encourages projects that reflect diversity of thought and background and demonstrate gender balance, signaling that inclusive design and speaker selection are part of what competitiveness looks like for this call.
Is evaluation required in the proposal?
Yes. Applicants need to explain how they will measure and evaluate effectiveness.
What kind of evaluation does USNATO prefer?
USNATO signals a preference for evaluation approaches that go beyond simple output counts (such as only counting events or attendees). Competitive proposals should assess whether content influenced understanding, informed debate, reached intended audiences, or changed levels of engagement, using credible metrics suited to the activities and platforms.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $100,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates a total of four awards.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?
The opportunity number is DOS USNATO PAA 2019 001, and it is listed under CFDA 19.040.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The posting date is March 11, 2019, and the original closing date is May 13, 2019.
Can grant funds be used for general organizational support like rent and salaries?
Funds cannot be used for general organizational support costs like salaries or rent unless those expenses are directly tied to delivering the proposed project. The funding is meant to underwrite specific program activities rather than ongoing overhead.
Is this funding intended to support internal organizational operations?
No. The solicitation frames the funding as supporting specific public-facing program activities, not internal organizational support.
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