Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 014
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is seeking grant proposals for a project that blends public history and digital media to capture and share personal, first-hand stories about Ukraine's recent democratic development. The core idea is to "crowdsource" history by collecting interviews and narratives from everyday Ukrainians and turning them into a professional digital storytelling product that helps audiences understand a specific historical moment through real lived experiences, rather than only through formal political or academic accounts.
A key requirement is meaningful public participation in the content-production process. Applicants are expected to build in a participatory component that teaches or empowers non-professionals to preserve stories, gather oral histories, or contribute to the documentation process. This could take the form of workshops, masterclasses, training sessions, community interview events, or other hands-on formats that help members of the public learn how to record, curate, and responsibly share their own stories or those of others. In other words, the program is not just funding a finished media series; it is also supporting the process of engaging communities in preserving democratic memory.
The expected end result is a professional-quality digital media deliverable based on collected interviews. The opportunity is intentionally flexible about format, as long as the output is a polished media product suitable for broad public consumption. Examples listed include a podcast, a series of online videos, a series of TV or radio segments, or an equivalent digital media package. Whatever the format, the content should be grounded in interviews and highlight the experiences of ordinary people as they lived through a meaningful episode or period in Ukraine's democratic evolution.
Distribution is built into the program design through a partnership with the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UAPBC). If the final product meets production and editorial standards that are agreed upon in advance, UAPBC will serve as an in-country distribution channel. At the same time, the Embassy makes clear that it will not exercise editorial control over the final product, which signals an emphasis on independent storytelling within the agreed standards. Applicants are also encouraged to propose additional distribution pathways beyond UAPBC, but any channels used must be widely accessible to the public and free of charge, reinforcing the public-service and broad-reach purpose of the project.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine, using a Cooperative Agreement mechanism, which typically implies more coordination with the funder than a standard grant while still leaving implementation to the awardee. The funding opportunity number is PAS UKRAINE 2020 014, and it falls under education and humanities-related programming (with cultural affairs relevance). The maximum award amount is $150,000, and the Embassy anticipated making up to two awards under this call.
Eligibility is relatively broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations (both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status), individuals, and other applicants as further clarified in the full notice. The opportunity was posted June 18, 2020, with an original application deadline of July 17, 2020. For full program rules, application requirements, and detailed standards, the Embassy provided official notices in both English and Ukrainian on its website.Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 014
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine in the education, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ukraine: Crowdsourcing the Story of Ukrainian Democracy: Participatory History through Digital Storytelling" 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 Jun 18, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity about?
This U.S. Embassy in Kyiv grant opportunity funds a project that combines public history and digital media to collect, preserve, and share first-hand stories about Ukraine's recent democratic development. The project is designed to help audiences understand a specific historical moment through real lived experiences, not only through formal political or academic accounts.
What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is to "crowdsource" history by gathering interviews and personal narratives from everyday Ukrainians and turning them into a professional, public-facing digital storytelling product grounded in those interviews.
What kinds of stories should the project focus on?
The content should highlight the experiences of ordinary people as they lived through a meaningful episode or period in Ukraine's democratic evolution. The opportunity emphasizes first-hand, personal accounts connected to democratic development.
Is public participation required, or is it optional?
Meaningful public participation is a key requirement. Proposals are expected to include a participatory component that involves non-professionals in the content-production process and helps communities take part in preserving democratic memory.
What does "meaningful public participation" mean in practice?
It means building hands-on ways for members of the public to contribute to documenting and preserving stories. The opportunity suggests options such as workshops, masterclasses, training sessions, community interview events, or similar formats that teach or empower people to gather oral histories, preserve stories, and contribute responsibly to documentation.
Is the grant only funding a final media series?
No. The program is not just funding a finished media series; it is also supporting the process of engaging communities in preserving and documenting democratic memory through participatory learning and contribution.
What is the expected final deliverable?
The expected end result is a professional-quality digital media deliverable based on collected interviews. The format is flexible as long as the output is a polished product suitable for broad public consumption.
What formats are acceptable for the final media product?
The opportunity lists examples such as a podcast, a series of online videos, a series of TV or radio segments, or an equivalent digital media package. The key requirement is that the final product is professional-quality and grounded in interview-based storytelling.
Does the project have to be digital?
The opportunity is framed around digital media deliverables and professional digital storytelling products. The listed examples include online video, podcasts, and broadcast segments presented as part of an overall digital media package for broad public consumption.
How will the final product be distributed?
Distribution is built into the program design through a partnership with the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UAPBC). If the final product meets pre-agreed production and editorial standards, UAPBC will serve as an in-country distribution channel.
Is distribution through UAPBC guaranteed?
Distribution through UAPBC is conditional. The final product must meet production and editorial standards that are agreed upon in advance for UAPBC to serve as a distribution channel.
Will the U.S. Embassy control the editorial content of the final product?
No. The Embassy states it will not exercise editorial control over the final product, indicating an emphasis on independent storytelling within the agreed production and editorial standards.
Can applicants propose additional distribution channels beyond UAPBC?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional distribution pathways beyond UAPBC, as long as those channels are widely accessible to the public and free of charge.
Are there restrictions on access or paywalls for the final content?
Yes. Any distribution channels used must be widely accessible to the public and free of charge, reinforcing the public-service and broad-reach purpose of the project.
What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered under a Cooperative Agreement mechanism. This typically implies more coordination with the funder than a standard grant while leaving implementation to the awardee.
Who is the funding agency?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine (the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAS UKRAINE 2020 014.
What program area does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under education and humanities-related programming, with relevance to cultural affairs.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount is $150,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The Embassy anticipated making up to two awards under this call.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is relatively broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations (both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status), individuals, and other applicants as further clarified in the full notice.
Do nonprofits need U.S. 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. Nonprofit organizations are eligible both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status, based on the information provided.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals are included in the listed eligible applicant types.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 18, 2020.
What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was July 17, 2020.
Where can applicants find the official rules and application requirements?
The Embassy provided official notices in both English and Ukrainian on its website, which include the full program rules, application requirements, and detailed standards.
Are there language options for the official announcement materials?
Yes. The official notices were provided in both English and Ukrainian on the Embassy's website.
What quality level is expected for the final media deliverable?
The final deliverable is expected to be professional-quality and suitable for broad public consumption, not an informal or purely internal project output.
Does the final content need to be based on interviews?
Yes. The expected end result is based on collected interviews, and the content should be grounded in those interview narratives.
Is there flexibility in how the participatory component is designed?
Yes. The opportunity allows flexibility in participatory design, suggesting multiple possible formats (workshops, training sessions, interview events, and other hands-on approaches) as long as the public participation is meaningful and tied to preserving and sharing stories responsibly.
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