Opportunity Information: Apply for SRB10020FO001
The Alumni Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SRB10020FO001) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Serbia, specifically the Embassy's Public Affairs Section in Belgrade. Funding is set aside for alumni of U.S. Government sponsored exchange programs, with the core idea being that former participants use what they gained in the United States to design and carry out practical projects that benefit their local communities or Serbian society more broadly. The program is positioned as a way for alumni to demonstrate leadership, strong organization and project management, creative problem-solving, and the ability to build partnerships and networks to reach concrete outcomes. The notice also makes clear that awards depend on the availability of funding.
Projects must be time-limited and feasible: proposed activities should be completed within 18 months or less. The opportunity anticipates around 20 awards, with an award ceiling of $30,000 per grant. While the detailed evaluation criteria are referenced in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity on the Embassy website, the basic message is that proposals need to directly align with the program's objectives and be written to the required standards, or they will be deemed ineligible.
Eligibility is narrow and strictly enforced. Applicants must be alumni of a USG-sponsored exchange program and must also be either Serbian citizens (applying as individuals) or registered Serbian non-governmental organizations (applying as organizations). Organizations, unlike individuals, are required to complete standard U.S. government registrations that are free of charge, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) associated with Dun and Bradstreet (often referenced historically as a DUNS number), securing an NCAGE/CAGE code, and maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Any applicant appearing on the Excluded Parties List System within SAM is not eligible to receive an award.
The application process is document-heavy and formatted to U.S. federal grant standards. Submissions must be emailed to belgradealumni@state.gov, and all application materials must be in English with budgets presented in U.S. dollars. Required forms include SF-424 (for organizations) or SF-424-I (for individuals), SF-424A (budget information for non-construction), and in some cases SF-424B (assurances for non-construction) if the applicant has not registered or recertified in SAM since February 2, 2019 and completed the online representations and certifications. Applicants must also submit the program's application form and a current CV or resume for the applicant(s). In addition, a budget justification narrative is required, submitted as a separate write-up that explains each budget line in detail and shows how costs were calculated and why they are necessary.
There are clear spending limits and restrictions intended to keep projects local to Serbia and focused on programming rather than capital purchases. Grant budgets cannot include expenses incurred outside the Republic of Serbia, which means no international transportation and no purchasing goods or paying for services in other countries. Equipment can be rented if needed, but equipment purchases are not allowed. Personnel and staffing costs are capped as well: fees for staff involved in implementation of larger projects (such as a project manager, assistant, or accountant) cannot exceed 30 percent of the total project budget.
The Embassy also lists several categories of projects and applicants that are explicitly ineligible, which effectively defines what the program is not meant to fund. Applications are not allowed if the applicant is not an eligible exchange-program alumnus, not a Serbian citizen, and not a registered Serbian NGO. Projects involving partisan political activity are prohibited. International travel is restricted as well: projects cannot involve travel to or from the United States or travel outside the Balkan region. The program does not fund charitable or humanitarian aid activities, fundraising campaigns, commercial or profit-making ventures, or projects focused primarily on academic or scientific research.
Timing is organized into three submission rounds under the original closing framework, with applications due no later than the relevant round date: Round 1 on 04/15/2020, Round 2 on 05/15/2020, and Round 3 on 06/15/2020, with the original final closing date listed as June 15, 2020. Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on the U.S. Embassy website for complete instructions, review criteria, and detailed budget guidance, and questions are handled through the same program email address (belgradealumni@state.gov).Apply for SRB10020FO001
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Serbia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Small Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 11, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2020 Applications are due no later than Round 1 #8211 04/15/2020 Round 2 #8211 05/15/2020 Round 3 #8211 06/15/2020. (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 $30,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Alumni Small Grants (SRB10020FO001) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the Alumni Small Grants opportunity (SRB10020FO001)?
The Alumni Small Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SRB10020FO001) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Serbia, specifically the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in Belgrade. It supports practical, time-limited community projects designed and implemented by alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs in Serbia.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is designed to help alumni apply skills and knowledge gained in the United States to create practical projects that benefit their local communities or Serbian society more broadly. It emphasizes alumni leadership, organization and project management capacity, creative problem-solving, and building partnerships and networks to achieve concrete outcomes.
3) Who runs and manages the program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of State via the U.S. Mission to Serbia, through the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade's Public Affairs Section.
4) Is funding guaranteed if an application is strong?
No. Awards are discretionary and are explicitly dependent on the availability of funding.
5) How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipates approximately 20 awards.
6) What is the maximum grant amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $30,000 per grant.
7) How long can a project last?
Projects must be time-limited and feasible, with proposed activities completed within 18 months or less.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is narrow and strictly enforced. Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. Government-sponsored exchange program and must also be either (a) Serbian citizens applying as individuals, or (b) registered Serbian non-governmental organizations applying as organizations.
9) Can non-alumni apply?
No. Applicants that are not eligible exchange-program alumni are explicitly ineligible.
10) Can non-Serbian citizens apply as individuals?
No. Individual applicants must be Serbian citizens.
11) Can organizations that are not registered Serbian NGOs apply?
No. Organizational applicants must be registered Serbian non-governmental organizations.
12) Are there additional eligibility checks related to U.S. government exclusion lists?
Yes. Any applicant appearing on the Excluded Parties List System within SAM is not eligible to receive an award.
13) What registrations are required for organizational applicants?
Organizations are required to complete standard U.S. government registrations (free of charge), including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) associated with Dun and Bradstreet (historically referenced as a DUNS number), securing an NCAGE/CAGE code, and maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
14) Do individuals need UEI/NCAGE/SAM registrations?
The notice specifies these registrations as required for organizations. Individuals instead apply using the individual version of the SF-424 form (SF-424-I).
15) How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted by email to belgradealumni@state.gov.
16) In what language must the application be submitted?
All application materials must be in English.
17) What currency should be used for the budget?
Budgets must be presented in U.S. dollars (USD).
18) What standard forms are required for organizations?
Organizations must submit SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs). In some cases, SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) is also required (see the SF-424B condition described in the notice).
19) What standard forms are required for individuals?
Individuals must submit SF-424-I (the individual application version) and SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs).
20) When is SF-424B required?
SF-424B may be required in cases where the applicant has not registered or recertified in SAM since February 2, 2019 and completed the online representations and certifications.
21) What program-specific documents are required beyond the SF forms?
Applicants must also submit the program's application form and a current CV or resume for the applicant(s).
22) Is a budget justification required?
Yes. A budget justification narrative is required and must be submitted as a separate write-up. It should explain each budget line in detail, show how costs were calculated, and explain why each cost is necessary.
23) Are there restrictions on where project funds can be spent?
Yes. Grant budgets cannot include expenses incurred outside the Republic of Serbia. This includes prohibitions on international transportation and on purchasing goods or paying for services in other countries.
24) Can the grant pay for international transportation or costs outside Serbia?
No. The notice states that budgets cannot include expenses incurred outside Serbia, including international transportation and purchases/services in other countries.
25) Can the grant be used to purchase equipment?
No. Equipment purchases are not allowed. However, equipment can be rented if needed.
26) Is there a cap on personnel and staffing costs?
Yes. Fees for staff involved in implementing larger projects (for example, a project manager, assistant, or accountant) cannot exceed 30% of the total project budget.
27) What types of projects are explicitly not allowed (ineligible)?
The Embassy lists several categories as ineligible. These include projects involving partisan political activity; charitable or humanitarian aid activities; fundraising campaigns; commercial or profit-making ventures; and projects focused primarily on academic or scientific research.
28) Are partisan political projects eligible?
No. Projects involving partisan political activity are prohibited.
29) Are charitable or humanitarian aid projects eligible?
No. The program does not fund charitable or humanitarian aid activities.
30) Are fundraising campaigns eligible for funding?
No. Fundraising campaigns are explicitly listed as ineligible.
31) Are commercial or profit-making ventures eligible?
No. Commercial or profit-making ventures are explicitly ineligible.
32) Are academic or scientific research projects eligible?
No. Projects focused primarily on academic or scientific research are explicitly listed as ineligible.
33) Are there travel restrictions for proposed projects?
Yes. Projects cannot involve travel to or from the United States or travel outside the Balkan region. Additionally, the budget rule prohibiting costs outside Serbia limits related travel spending.
34) What are the application deadlines?
The notice describes three submission rounds: Round 1 due 04/15/2020, Round 2 due 05/15/2020, and Round 3 due 06/15/2020. The original final closing date is listed as June 15, 2020.
35) Where can applicants find the full instructions and evaluation criteria?
Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on the U.S. Embassy website for complete instructions, review criteria, and detailed budget guidance.
36) What happens if an application does not meet the stated standards or objectives?
The notice indicates that proposals must directly align with the program objectives and be written to the required standards; otherwise, they will be deemed ineligible.
37) How can applicants ask questions about the opportunity?
Questions are handled through the program email address: belgradealumni@state.gov.
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