FY22 Annual Program Statement | BER APS FY22 001

FAQs: FY22 Annual Program Statement (APS) - U.S. Mission to Germany (Public Diplomacy / Cultural & Arts Grants)

1) What is the FY22 Annual Program Statement (APS)?

The FY22 Annual Program Statement (APS) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany. It describes the types of public diplomacy and cultural/arts-related projects the U.S. Embassy and its Consulates in Germany want to support, the strategic themes they prioritize, and the required proposal submission process.

2) Is this APS a single one-time competition with one deadline?

No. The APS functions as a yearlong menu of funding priorities rather than a one-time competition. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis during the APS time window, meaning applications can be considered as they come in rather than only after one fixed deadline.

3) How are applications reviewed under this APS?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis within the APS period. This means proposals may be considered as they are received (so long as they are submitted within the APS time window and meet the APS requirements).

4) Where do applicants find the full application instructions and requirements?

The posting points applicants to the full APS document (located under the related documents in the opportunity posting). The APS document contains the complete instructions, including required format, mandatory forms, and the attachment checklist.

5) How important is it to follow the APS submission rules exactly?

It is critical. The announcement is explicit that applicants must follow the submission rules exactly as written in the APS. Submissions that do not follow the required format and required attachments may be disqualified before they are reviewed for program content.

6) Can applicants submit through Grants.gov?

No. The announcement states that submissions sent through Grants.gov will not be considered.

7) What happens if an application is missing required attachments or does not match the required format?

The posting warns that submissions missing the required format and attachments will not be considered, meaning they can be screened out for noncompliance before substantive review.

8) Where are the eligibility requirements listed?

The posting flags the eligibility requirements in Section C of the APS as essential reading. Applicants are expected to review Section C in the APS document for the full eligibility rules.

9) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad and includes: various levels of government (state, county, city/township), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status), and individuals.

10) Do nonprofits need to have U.S. 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?

No. The opportunity data notes that nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, and it acknowledges that many German nonprofits will not have a U.S. IRS designation.

11) Are organizations outside Germany allowed to apply?

Yes, but the APS places special emphasis on non-German applicants. If the applying organization is not based in Germany, it must credibly demonstrate that it can successfully implement programming for German audiences.

12) What does a non-German applicant need to show to be considered credible for implementation in Germany?

Based on the posting, non-German applicants are expected to demonstrate practical readiness to deliver programming for German audiences. In practice, that typically includes strong on-the-ground partnerships, a clear plan to reach local participants, German-language capacity where appropriate, and a realistic operational setup for delivering events or programming in Germany.

13) What kinds of projects does this APS support?

The APS is focused on public diplomacy and cultural/arts-related projects that align with the Mission's strategic themes and priority areas. The complete list of themes and priorities is provided in the full APS document.

14) Are there different priorities depending on where the project takes place?

Yes. The APS covers nationwide priorities (Germany-wide projects), priorities specific to Berlin and Brandenburg, and distinct regional priority areas tied to each U.S. Consulate General. Applicants are expected to align proposals with the relevant geographic region and consular priorities.

15) How do applicants indicate which region their project will serve?

Applicants are required to label their application title with a region code corresponding to where the project will take place. This helps route the proposal to the Embassy section or Consulate office responsible for that region.

16) What region codes are listed for labeling the application title?

The posting lists the following region codes:

• BER: Berlin, Brandenburg, and Germany-wide projects
• DUS: Duesseldorf and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
• FRA: Frankfurt covering Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Baden-Wuerttemberg
• HAM: Hamburg covering Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Hamburg, and Bremen
• LEI: Leipzig covering Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia
• MUN: Munich covering Bavaria

17) What is the purpose of the region codes?

The region codes are intended to ensure proposals are reviewed and managed by the Embassy section or Consulate office responsible for the geographic area where the project will be implemented.

18) Is this funding a grant or a contract?

This opportunity is categorized as a grant (not a contract).

19) What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is arts/cultural affairs, and the CFDA number listed is 19.040.

20) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is listed as $15,000 per award.

21) How many awards does the Mission expect to make?

The Mission anticipated making around 16 awards.

22) When was the opportunity posted, and what closing date is shown?

The posting date is December 3, 2021. The original closing date is listed as March 20, 2022. The APS also emphasizes rolling review within the defined period, along with strict compliance with APS instructions.

23) If the APS is rolling, does the closing date still matter?

The opportunity description emphasizes rolling review within the APS time window while also showing an original closing date. The safest approach, based on the posting's emphasis, is to treat the APS period as the window in which submissions may be considered and to rely on the APS document for the authoritative timeline rules.

24) What is the main takeaway for someone preparing an application?

This APS invites proposals for relatively small, targeted public diplomacy projects aligned with the Mission's themes and regional priorities, but it also sets strict procedural requirements. Applicants are expected to use the attached APS PDF to confirm the complete priority lists by region/consulate and to follow the precise formatting, mandatory forms, and attachment checklist, because deviations can lead to disqualification before merit review.