Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS USNATO PAA 2018 001
The U.S. Department of State, through the Office of the Public Affairs Advisor at the U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO), offered a discretionary grant competition to support public-facing projects that help European and Canadian audiences better understand and debate how NATO should put the outcomes of the 2018 Brussels NATO Summit into practice. The opportunity was aimed at strengthening informed discussion around NATO's evolving strategic priorities, especially deterrence and defense and the idea of projecting stability, while translating high-level summit commitments into practical steps that NATO and its member states can actually implement and communicate.
The program specifically sought proposals from nonprofit, non-government organizations and think tanks that work on international affairs, defense and security, and U.S.-European relations. Eligible applicants were U.S. nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). In practical terms, USNATO wanted experienced policy and public diplomacy organizations that could convene credible voices, produce accessible analysis, and reach beyond specialist circles into broader public conversations across Europe and/or Canada.
Substantively, USNATO prioritized projects that explained and explored how the Alliance can operationalize the Brussels Summit conclusions, with a strong emphasis on burden sharing (including defense investment commitments), counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and related summit outcomes. A major thread running through the call was the need for NATO and its stakeholders to communicate these policies more effectively in the months ahead, not only to policymakers and the defense community, but also to media and the general public. Proposals were encouraged to show how NATO's strategic intent could be converted into concrete actions, programs, and national-level approaches that move from commitments on paper to measurable implementation.
The notice highlighted several topic areas of interest that applicants could address individually or in combination. These included defense spending and investment pledges, particularly national plans to reach the "2 and 20" benchmarks (2 percent of GDP on defense spending and 20 percent of defense expenditures devoted to major equipment and related investment); the NATO-Russia relationship; identifying and countering disinformation and building ways to assess whether anti-disinformation approaches are working; counterterrorism; NATO's posture and activities on its southern and eastern flanks; strengthening partnerships and cooperative security, including collaboration with the European Union and other international institutions, as well as engagement looking south toward organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the African Union; countering hybrid warfare; strengthening cybersecurity and cyber defense commitments; and supporting the women, peace, and security agenda. The overall expectation was that projects would not simply restate NATO policy, but would contribute ideas, debate, and practical pathways for implementation.
In terms of activities, USNATO indicated that funded work could include conferences, symposiums, public debates and moderated discussions, roundtables, and studies, with room for creativity and the use of both traditional formats and newer technologies. A key requirement was geographic and audience targeting: activities needed to be directed at European and/or Canadian audiences and take place in Europe or Canada. The target audiences were intentionally broad and included the general public, youth and future leaders, the security and defense community, policymakers, and opinion shapers in European countries. The goal was to stimulate new ideas, widen public dialogue, and help shape how NATO priorities would be discussed in the coming years.
Finally, the competition placed clear weight on measurable impact. Applicants were expected to explain how they would evaluate their activities and determine whether the project content and outreach were effective. In other words, proposals needed to go beyond holding events or publishing reports; they needed to include a credible plan for measuring outcomes such as audience reach, engagement, learning, message clarity, and the quality and usefulness of the debate generated.
Administratively, the opportunity was listed as Funding Opportunity Number DOS USNATO PAA 2018 001 under CFDA 19.040. It was created July 3, 2018, with an original closing date of September 8, 2018. The award ceiling was $100,000, and USNATO anticipated making up to three awards.Apply for DOS USNATO PAA 2018 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 "Implementing Conclusions from the 2018 Brussels NATO Summit" 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 Jul 03, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 08, 2018. (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 3 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 this grant opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of State, offered through the Office of the Public Affairs Advisor at the U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO). It supported public-facing projects designed to help European and Canadian audiences better understand and debate how NATO should put the outcomes of the 2018 Brussels NATO Summit into practice.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aimed to strengthen informed public discussion about NATO's evolving strategic priorities, particularly deterrence and defense and the concept of projecting stability. A central goal was translating high-level summit commitments into practical steps that NATO and its member states can implement and communicate.
Who was the funder and which office administered the competition?
The funder was the U.S. Department of State. The competition was offered through the Office of the Public Affairs Advisor at the U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO).
What types of organizations were encouraged to apply?
USNATO specifically sought proposals from nonprofit, non-government organizations and think tanks working on international affairs, defense and security, and U.S.-European relations, with the capacity to convene credible voices, produce accessible analysis, and engage broad public audiences.
Which applicants were eligible?
Eligible applicants were U.S. nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Were colleges and universities eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description excluded institutions of higher education.
What kinds of projects did USNATO prioritize?
USNATO prioritized projects that explain and explore how the Alliance can operationalize (put into practice) the Brussels Summit conclusions. Emphasis areas included burden sharing (including defense investment commitments), counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and other related summit outcomes, with a strong focus on improving communication to policymakers, media, and the general public.
What does "operationalize the Brussels Summit conclusions" mean in this context?
In this competition, it meant moving from summit-level commitments and strategic intent to concrete actions, programs, and national-level approaches, including practical pathways for measurable implementation and effective public communication.
What is meant by "burden sharing" in the notice?
The notice referenced burden sharing in terms of defense spending and investment commitments, including national plans to meet NATO's "2 and 20" benchmarks.
What are the "2 and 20" benchmarks?
The "2 and 20" benchmarks refer to 2 percent of GDP spent on defense and 20 percent of defense expenditures devoted to major equipment and related investment.
What topic areas of interest were highlighted?
The notice highlighted multiple topic areas that proposals could address individually or in combination, including:
- Defense spending and investment pledges, including national plans to reach the "2 and 20" benchmarks
- The NATO-Russia relationship
- Identifying and countering disinformation and building ways to assess whether anti-disinformation approaches are working
- Counterterrorism
- NATO's posture and activities on its southern and eastern flanks
- Strengthening partnerships and cooperative security, including collaboration with the European Union and other international institutions
- Engagement with organizations looking south, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the African Union
- Countering hybrid warfare
- Strengthening cybersecurity and cyber defense commitments
- Supporting the women, peace, and security agenda
Did proposals need to cover all topic areas?
No. The notice indicated that applicants could address the listed topic areas individually or in combination.
What was the expected approach to NATO policy content?
The expectation was that projects would not simply restate NATO policy. They were expected to contribute ideas, debate, and practical pathways for implementation.
What types of activities could be funded?
The notice indicated funded work could include conferences, symposiums, public debates and moderated discussions, roundtables, and studies. It also allowed room for creativity, including the use of both traditional formats and newer technologies.
Where did activities need to take place?
Activities needed to take place in Europe or Canada.
Who needed to be the primary audience for funded activities?
Activities needed to be directed at European and/or Canadian audiences.
Which audiences were considered important targets?
The target audiences were broad and included the general public, youth and future leaders, the security and defense community, policymakers, and opinion shapers in European countries.
Was the program focused only on experts and policymakers?
No. A stated goal was to reach beyond specialist circles and into broader public conversations, including media and the general public.
What was the program trying to achieve through these public-facing activities?
The program aimed to stimulate new ideas, widen public dialogue, and help shape how NATO priorities would be discussed in the coming years, while improving understanding of how summit outcomes could be implemented in practice.
How important was measurement and evaluation?
Measurement and evaluation were a major emphasis. Applicants were expected to explain how they would evaluate activities and determine whether content and outreach were effective.
What kinds of outcomes were applicants expected to measure?
The notice pointed to outcomes such as audience reach, engagement, learning, message clarity, and the quality and usefulness of the debate generated.
Was it enough to just hold events or publish reports?
No. The notice explicitly stated that proposals needed to go beyond holding events or publishing reports by including a credible plan for measuring results and effectiveness.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number was DOS USNATO PAA 2018 001.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number was 19.040.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 3, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was September 8, 2018.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $100,000.
How many awards did USNATO anticipate making?
USNATO anticipated making up to three awards.
Was this competition focused on Europe and Canada specifically?
Yes. The notice required that activities be directed at European and/or Canadian audiences and take place in Europe or Canada.
What kind of organizational experience did USNATO appear to value?
Based on the notice language, USNATO wanted experienced policy and public diplomacy organizations capable of convening credible voices, producing accessible analysis, and generating discussion that reaches wider public audiences beyond specialist communities.
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