Grants / Department of State / U.S. Mission to Cuba

PAS-HAV-FY24-SG: U.S. Embassy Havana PAS Small Grant Program in Support of the Cuban Private Sector

Closed Closed April 26, 2024 Opportunity PAS-HAV-FY24-SG ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Austrian-American Partnership Fund (AAPF) (OFOP0002825). Status: Closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. Mission to Cuba notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$150,000
• Award floor$50,000
• Total funding$400,000
• Expected awards3
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits and colleges and universities.

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with programming experience - • Non-profit educational and cultural institutions -

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Public Diplomacy Programs awards averaged $26,570; this notice allows up to $150,000 per award.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Havana is pleased to announce funding availability through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program for projects designed to provide support for Cuba’s emerging private sector. In the midst of one of the most significant economic downturns in Cuban history, the Cuban government now allows the creation of privately held small and medium-sized enterprises. Since the announcement in March of 2021, the Cuban government has licensed over 10,000 privately owned businesses in every possible sector. However, since most Cuban citizens grew up in a communist system that did not allow private business, Cubans often lack the experience required to turn an idea into a thriving business that will provide income to the business owners, employment for other Cuban citizens, and goods and services needed to meet shortfalls in what the government provides. The Cuban private sector also faces criticism both from internal and external audiences. In addition, the economic downturn has led hundreds of thousands of Cubans to leave their country through any means available in search of better lives for themselves and their families. Helping Cuba businesses grow and thrive can provide economically viable opportunities to many who would prefer to stay but see no way to provide for their families. Purpose of Small Grants PAS Havana invites proposals for programs that will strengthen the emerging Cuban private sector by facilitating the transfer of American know-how and values to emerging entrepreneurs, expanding entrepreneurship opportunities to a broader, more diverse audience, and strengthening ties between American and Cuban businesses to benefit both. Proposed programs should carefully consider how to provide an effective mix of materials generally applicable to starting and running a business and how those materials must be adapted to the unique and complex Cuban business environment. To be successful, all programs must include a U.S. business and/or educational element or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s, demonstrate a clear understanding of the Cuban context, and demonstrate the capacity to deliver proposed programming in Cuba (ideally in cooperation with a Cuban partner/mentors/instructors, etc.) in a way that will strengthen private enterprise and build partnerships between citizens of the United States and Cuban citizens living in Cuba.

Category: Education.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, OFOP0002825, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.