Examples of PDS Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:

·        Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs

·        Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions

·        Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs

·        Professional and academic exchanges and programs

·        Programs focused on entrepreneurship and innovation

·        Programs focused on empowerment of youth and underserved communities across the societal and cultural spectrum

·        Programs focused on democratic processes and values

·        Programs focused on gender issues

·        Programs focused on human and equal rights

·        Programs focused on critical thinking in media consumption

·        Programs focused on strengthening resiliency against false information and malign influence

·        Programs focused on safeguarding natural resources and ecosystems

·        Programs that support North Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration process

Priority Program Areas:

The objectives of the Public Diplomacy Grant Program are to promote positive relations between North Macedonia and the United States; to reinforce shared values; and to connect North Macedonia’s emerging leaders to the American people. We fund projects that:

• Help North Macedonia’s youth build and develop skills to improve their potential through innovative science (e.g. health awareness), technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEM) programs, as well as through entrepreneurship programs and vocational training.

• Encourage North Macedonia’s youth to participate in civic life through social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community engagement.

• Strengthen understanding of U.S. values and institutions; highlight U.S. culture, including American Studies, English language teaching/learning, and study in the United States; as well as support diversity through the acceptance of minority groups, including individuals with special needs or handicapping conditions, and other areas of mutual interest.

Participants and Audiences:

US Mission North Macedonia encourages not only diverse applicants to apply to our grants programs but would also like to see diverse target audiences and trainers. Diversity can be defined by different geographic regions, ethnicities, religious orientations, gender, physical disabilities including visual, hearing, speech, and other physically handicapping conditions.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

·        Printing or promotion of books or manuscripts

·        Travel to the United States for professional development

·        Promotion of local arts scenes

·        Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single-party electoral campaigns

·        Charitable or development activities

·        Construction programs

·        Programs that support specific religious activities

·        Fund-raising campaigns

·        Lobbying for specific legislation or programs

·        Scientific research

·        Commercial or trade activities

·        Individual travel to conferences and meetings

·        Social welfare projects

·        Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization

·        Ongoing salary costs and office equipment

·        Paying to complete activities that were begun with other funds or

·        Programs that duplicate existing programs