Opportunity Information: Apply for BER NOFO FY21 002
Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship (BER NOFO FY21 002) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Germany funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy Berlin Public Affairs Section. It supports projects that get young people in Germany to take a fresh look at the U.S.-German transatlantic relationship, connect it to issues they care about today, and help shape ideas for what the partnership should look like in the future. The Embassy frames the relationship as a long-standing pillar of stability built on shared democratic values such as freedom, rule of law, and self-determination, while noting that many younger Germans have little direct, lived experience with the historical conditions that originally shaped the partnership. Because youth expectations often center on present-day concerns like climate change, environmental justice, diversity, employment prospects, and overall quality of life, the program is looking for proposals that make the transatlantic relationship feel relevant, practical, and worth engaging with now.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Embassy expects to be actively involved in the project as it is carried out (for example, through coordination, guidance, or participation). Awards are intended for projects lasting one year or less. The notice indicates an award ceiling of up to USD 15,000 per project and anticipates around three awards, though the FAQ also notes there is USD 30,000 total available and encourages applicants to request what they need up to the available funding limits described. Applications were originally due April 5, 2021 (with the opportunity created February 4, 2021), and late applications are not accepted.
At the heart of the program is youth engagement and co-creation rather than one-way instruction. Eligible projects can take many forms, including workshops, virtual or in-person speaker events and panel discussions, conferences, and people-to-people exchanges. Regardless of format, proposals are expected to be inclusive, interactive, and designed to spark critical thinking. The Embassy is explicitly encouraging participants to examine where the transatlantic relationship stands today, question the status quo, and then articulate their own expectations for how the partnership should evolve. Strong proposals will also show a clear theory of change: a realistic explanation of how the activities lead to learning, reflection, attitude shifts, civic engagement, or longer-term relationship-building.
The primary target group is youth ages 13 to 26, and applicants are allowed to define their specific audiences within that range as long as the choices make sense and are grounded in a clear rationale. The Embassy is especially interested in reaching diverse participant pools and, ideally, including teenagers and young adults who have had little previous exposure to the United States or to established transatlantic or political youth organizations. When possible and if requested, the Embassy indicates it may complement projects with hands-on elements such as briefings with diplomats or participation in Public Affairs programs, giving participants a practical window into how diplomatic engagement and public diplomacy work.
Implementers (the organizations or individuals running the project) are responsible for designing the program and curriculum, recruiting participants, organizing and leading sessions, and setting up ways to measure quality and impact. A major emphasis is placed on evaluation and learning: the Embassy expects projects to generate actionable insights, including demographic and attitudinal information about participants and evidence about what worked, for whom, and why. In other words, the project is not only meant to deliver activities, but also to produce useful takeaways about youth perspectives and effective engagement strategies that can inform future work on transatlantic relations.
The notice leaves considerable flexibility on content and structure. There are no strict requirements about which policy topics must be covered, what specific materials must be produced, or what exact program format must be used. That flexibility is paired with clear preferences: interactive methods over lecture-style teaching, thoughtful selection of particularly promising audiences and locations, and sustainable designs that continue to have influence beyond the grant period (for example, by building networks, creating reusable toolkits, or establishing ongoing youth forums).
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. and German-oriented institutional types that commonly participate in public diplomacy programming: state, county, and municipal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status (other than universities); and individuals. The activity category is listed under Humanities (with reference to cultural affairs), and the CFDA/assistance listing number is 19.040.
Budget and administrative guidance is also outlined in the FAQ. Applicants without a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) may use the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (a base that excludes certain categories such as equipment, capital expenditures, rental costs, scholarships and fellowships, and the portion of subawards over USD 25,000). The Embassy allows reasonable budget reallocations when circumstances require, but expects changes to be justified and communicated in advance to the grants officer. Applicants may include cost items that might later be deemed unallowable; doing so will not automatically harm the proposal during review as long as those items do not make up the majority of the requested budget, because the Embassy prefers to address unallowable costs during the assessment process. For currency conversions into USD, applicants can choose a rate reasonably close to the current market rate. The Embassy also clarifies that the U.S. fiscal year end does not impose extra spending or reporting constraints beyond the normal award terms. Finally, SAM.gov registration can be completed after the application deadline, but it must be active before the U.S. government can legally issue and obligate the award funds.Apply for BER NOFO FY21 002
- 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 04, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 05, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship (BER NOFO FY21 002)
What is the Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship grant opportunity?
Reimagining the Transatlantic Relationship (BER NOFO FY21 002) is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy Berlin Public Affairs Section (U.S. Mission to Germany). It supports projects that encourage young people in Germany to take a fresh look at the U.S.-German transatlantic relationship, connect it to issues they care about today, and help shape ideas for what the partnership should look like in the future.
What is the main goal of the program?
The program aims to make the U.S.-German transatlantic relationship feel relevant, practical, and worth engaging with for younger Germans, especially those who may not have direct lived experience with the historical conditions that originally shaped the partnership. Projects should promote youth engagement and co-creation, spark critical thinking, and support participants in examining where the relationship stands today and how it should evolve.
Who is the primary target audience?
The primary target group is youth ages 13 to 26. Applicants may define a more specific audience within that range, as long as the selection is clearly explained and justified.
Is the program especially interested in any particular youth groups?
Yes. The Embassy is especially interested in reaching diverse participant pools and, ideally, including teenagers and young adults who have had little prior exposure to the United States or to established transatlantic or political youth organizations.
What kinds of issues or themes can projects connect to?
Projects are encouraged to connect the transatlantic relationship to present-day concerns that youth often prioritize, such as climate change, environmental justice, diversity, employment prospects, and overall quality of life. The notice also leaves considerable flexibility on content and does not require specific policy topics.
What types of activities are eligible under this opportunity?
Eligible projects can take many forms, including workshops, virtual or in-person speaker events and panel discussions, conferences, and people-to-people exchanges. Regardless of format, proposals are expected to be inclusive, interactive, and designed to spark critical thinking.
Are lecture-style activities acceptable?
The Embassy indicates a preference for interactive methods over lecture-style teaching. Proposals are expected to emphasize participation, dialogue, and co-creation rather than one-way instruction.
What does "co-creation" mean in the context of this program?
Co-creation refers to youth being actively involved in shaping ideas, questioning assumptions, and articulating their own expectations for how the partnership should evolve, rather than being passive recipients of information.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically means the U.S. Embassy Berlin expects to be actively involved during implementation (for example, through coordination, guidance, or participation).
How long can a funded project last?
Awards are intended for projects lasting one year or less.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The notice indicates an award ceiling of up to USD 15,000 per project.
How many awards are expected?
The notice anticipates around three awards.
How much total funding is available under this opportunity?
The FAQ notes there is USD 30,000 total available and encourages applicants to request what they need up to the available funding limits described in the opportunity.
Should applicants request the maximum amount?
Applicants are encouraged to request what they need, up to the funding limits described. The materials emphasize aligning the request with project requirements rather than requesting an arbitrary amount.
When was the application due?
Applications were originally due April 5, 2021. The opportunity was created February 4, 2021.
Are late applications accepted?
No. Late applications are not accepted.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and municipal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status (other than universities); and individuals. The opportunity references both U.S. and German-oriented institutional types commonly involved in public diplomacy programming.
What is the activity category and assistance listing number?
The activity category is listed under Humanities (with reference to cultural affairs). The CFDA/assistance listing number is 19.040.
What responsibilities do implementers have?
Implementers are responsible for designing the program and curriculum, recruiting participants, organizing and leading sessions, and setting up methods to measure quality and impact.
How important is evaluation and learning for this program?
Evaluation and learning are major emphases. The Embassy expects projects to generate actionable insights, including demographic and attitudinal information about participants and evidence of what worked, for whom, and why. Projects are expected to produce useful takeaways that can inform future work on transatlantic relations and youth engagement.
Is a theory of change required?
Strong proposals are expected to present a clear theory of change, meaning a realistic explanation of how planned activities lead to outcomes such as learning, reflection, attitude shifts, civic engagement, or longer-term relationship-building.
Does the Embassy require specific topics, materials, or outputs?
No. The notice states there are no strict requirements about which policy topics must be covered, what specific materials must be produced, or what exact program format must be used. The program allows considerable flexibility on content and structure.
What design preferences does the Embassy emphasize?
In addition to prioritizing interactive approaches, the Embassy highlights thoughtful selection of promising audiences and locations, inclusion and diversity, and sustainable designs that continue to have influence beyond the grant period (for example, building networks, creating reusable toolkits, or establishing ongoing youth forums).
Can the Embassy add hands-on diplomatic elements to projects?
When possible and if requested, the Embassy indicates it may complement projects with hands-on elements such as briefings with diplomats or participation in Public Affairs programs, to give participants a practical view into diplomatic engagement and public diplomacy.
Can applicants include costs that might later be deemed unallowable?
Yes. Applicants may include cost items that might later be deemed unallowable. Doing so will not automatically harm the proposal during review as long as those items do not make up the majority of the requested budget, since the Embassy prefers to address unallowable costs during the assessment process.
Can project budgets be reallocated after award?
The Embassy allows reasonable budget reallocations when circumstances require, but expects changes to be justified and communicated in advance to the grants officer.
How should applicants handle currency conversion into USD?
For currency conversions into USD, applicants may choose a rate reasonably close to the current market rate.
Does the U.S. fiscal year end create extra spending or reporting constraints?
No. The Embassy clarifies that the U.S. fiscal year end does not impose extra spending or reporting constraints beyond the normal award terms.
What indirect cost rate can be used if an applicant does not have a NICRA?
Applicants without a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) may use the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs.
What is included in the modified total direct cost base for the 10 percent de minimis rate?
The modified total direct cost base excludes certain categories such as equipment, capital expenditures, rental costs, scholarships and fellowships, and the portion of subawards over USD 25,000.
Is SAM.gov registration required at the time of application?
SAM.gov registration can be completed after the application deadline, but it must be active before the U.S. government can legally issue and obligate the award funds.
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