Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS 800 FY23 05
The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2023 (Funding Opportunity Number PAS 800 FY23 05) is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia. It is designed to fund local programs that strengthen democratic institutions and improve community-level governance and civic life. The opportunity is positioned as a small grants mechanism, with an award ceiling of $24,000 per grant and an anticipated total of about 25 awards, making it suitable for focused, practical projects with clear outcomes rather than large, multi-year initiatives.
The Embassy is seeking submissions from eligible organizations and independent media (the listing notes "Others" and refers applicants to additional eligibility guidance in the full notice). The goal is to identify strong project concepts that advance democracy-related reforms and public participation across North Macedonia. Projects should align with at least one of five priority areas established for FY 2023: (1) rule of law and government accountability, such as initiatives that promote transparency, oversight, anti-corruption practices, or institutional integrity; (2) citizen participation, including efforts that help people engage in public decision-making, local governance, or civic advocacy; (3) cybersecurity and disinformation, which can include public awareness, resilience to manipulation, media literacy, or safer digital practices; (4) youth development and women empowerment, focusing on expanding leadership, participation, skills, and opportunities for young people and women; and (5) environmental protection, supporting civic action or accountability connected to environmental governance and sustainable community outcomes.
A key feature of this opportunity is its two-step application process, which lowers the initial burden on applicants. The first step is a concise, one-page Statement of Interest (SOI). The SOI is not a full proposal and is meant to quickly and clearly communicate the core of the project idea. Applicants are expected to spell out the intended audience, planned activities, target locations, and the main objectives or results the project aims to achieve. The Embassy uses this stage to screen and evaluate ideas before asking applicants to invest time in a full application package.
After the SOI submission, the Embassy conducts a merit review to determine which concepts are eligible and competitive. Applicants whose SOIs score well are then invited to submit a full proposal, expanding the initial concept into a complete project plan. Full proposals undergo a second merit review, and final funding decisions are made after that round. In practical terms, the process rewards clarity and feasibility early on, and then requires stronger detail later, such as implementation planning and measurable results, once an applicant has been shortlisted.
Administratively, the program is categorized as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under the Community Development activity category, with CFDA number 19.900. The opportunity was posted with a creation date of January 24, 2023, and an original closing date of July 1, 2023. Overall, this program is best understood as a small-grants pipeline for democracy-support projects in North Macedonia, starting with a short concept submission and progressing to full proposals only for those ideas that perform well in the initial competitive review.Apply for PAS 800 FY23 05
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2023" 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 Jan 24, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 01, 2023. (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 $24,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2023?
The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 2023 is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia. It supports local programs intended to strengthen democratic institutions and improve community-level governance and civic life in North Macedonia.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is PAS 800 FY23 05.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The Funding Instrument Type is a Grant.
How large are the awards?
The award ceiling is $24,000 per grant.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipates about 25 awards in total.
What kinds of projects is this program best suited for?
This is positioned as a small-grants mechanism, meaning it is best suited for focused, practical projects with clear outcomes rather than large, multi-year initiatives.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program is designed to fund local programs that strengthen democratic institutions and improve governance and civic life at the community level. It seeks project concepts that advance democracy-related reforms and increase public participation across North Macedonia.
Where must projects take place?
The program is aimed at supporting projects across North Macedonia, including community-level activities and local governance-related work.
What are the priority areas for FY 2023?
Projects should align with at least one of the following five priority areas for FY 2023:
- Rule of law and government accountability
- Citizen participation
- Cybersecurity and disinformation
- Youth development and women empowerment
- Environmental protection
What topics fall under "rule of law and government accountability"?
This priority area includes initiatives that promote transparency, oversight, anti-corruption practices, or institutional integrity.
What kinds of activities fit under "citizen participation"?
This priority area includes efforts that help people engage in public decision-making, local governance, or civic advocacy.
What does the program mean by "cybersecurity and disinformation"?
This priority area can include public awareness activities, building resilience to manipulation, media literacy, or promoting safer digital practices.
What is included under "youth development and women empowerment"?
This priority area focuses on expanding leadership, participation, skills, and opportunities for young people and women.
What does "environmental protection" mean in the context of this grant?
This priority area supports civic action or accountability connected to environmental governance and sustainable community outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
The listing states the Embassy is seeking submissions from eligible organizations and independent media. The listing also notes "Others" and directs applicants to additional eligibility guidance in the full notice.
Is independent media allowed to apply?
Yes. The opportunity description explicitly mentions independent media among the groups from whom submissions are sought, along with eligible organizations.
Is there a two-step application process?
Yes. The program uses a two-step application process: first a Statement of Interest (SOI), and then a full proposal only for applicants who are invited after the initial review.
What is the first step of the application?
The first step is submitting a concise, one-page Statement of Interest (SOI). It is meant to quickly and clearly communicate the core of the project idea.
Is the Statement of Interest (SOI) the same as a full proposal?
No. The SOI is not a full proposal. It is intended as a brief concept submission to help the Embassy screen and evaluate ideas before requesting full application packages.
What information should be included in the SOI?
Applicants are expected to describe the intended audience, planned activities, target locations, and the main objectives or results the project aims to achieve.
Why does the program use an SOI first?
The two-step process is designed to lower the initial burden on applicants by requiring only a short concept submission first. Applicants develop a full proposal only if their SOI is competitive and they are invited to proceed.
What happens after the SOI is submitted?
After SOI submission, the Embassy conducts a merit review to determine which concepts are eligible and competitive. Applicants whose SOIs score well are invited to submit a full proposal.
What happens during the full proposal stage?
Invited applicants expand their initial concept into a complete project plan. Full proposals undergo a second merit review, and final funding decisions are made after that round.
How are funding decisions made?
The Embassy uses merit review at two points: first to evaluate SOIs and identify competitive concepts, and second to evaluate full proposals. Final funding decisions are made after the second merit review.
What does the merit review process emphasize?
Based on the opportunity description, the process rewards clarity and feasibility early on (SOI stage) and then requires stronger detail later (full proposal stage), such as implementation planning and measurable results, once an applicant has been shortlisted.
What activity category is associated with this opportunity?
The program is categorized under the Community Development activity category.
What is the CFDA number?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 19.900.
When was the opportunity posted?
The creation date for the opportunity is January 24, 2023.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is July 1, 2023.
Does the opportunity description indicate whether this is discretionary funding?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant competition.
What is the main takeaway for applicants deciding whether to apply?
This opportunity functions as a small-grants pipeline for democracy-support projects in North Macedonia: start with a short, one-page concept (SOI), and prepare a full proposal only if invited after the initial competitive review.
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