Opportunity Information: Apply for DOSRUS21CA006
The U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section (PAS), part of the U.S. Department of State, offered this FY 2021 grant opportunity to support and expand ongoing engagement with Russian alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange and in-country programs. The award was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected organization would not simply receive funding and operate independently, but would work closely with PAS Moscow and coordinate key steps, especially the review and approval of alumni-supported projects. The overall intent was to keep alumni connected to the embassy, help them continue building professional and civic skills, and provide practical support that enables alumni to run local activities tied to community needs.
This program sits on the scale of a very large alumni community: more than 85,000 Russians have taken part in programs funded by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State over time. PAS Moscow described its core interest as maintaining an open line of communication with these alumni and offering assistance through small grants as well as hands-on logistical and technical support. The Alumni Support Program is therefore both an outreach platform and a small-project support mechanism. It includes maintaining an alumni-focused website and social media presence, regularly communicating with alumni who register, and creating a clear, workable process for alumni to request support for projects that strengthen their skills and benefit their communities.
A central feature of the opportunity is that the grantee functions as the administrator and facilitator of alumni project support. The selected implementer would solicit proposals from alumni, conduct an initial selection, and then submit chosen proposals for U.S. Embassy clearance. After approval, the grantee would coordinate implementation with the alumni and document results and impact. The notice highlights a practical challenge the program is designed to solve: in many cases, alumni are reluctant to accept direct funding from the U.S. Embassy or implementers. Because of that, the program often relies on the grantee to handle the logistical elements instead of simply transferring grant funds. That can include purchasing airline tickets, paying for lodging, covering venue rental fees, procuring materials or equipment, and paying workshop, training, or tuition fees. When necessary, the grantee may also wire funds to alumni, but the emphasis is on the grantee acting as the intermediary that can execute payments and procurement in a compliant, transparent way.
Funding for the opportunity was listed as up to 75,000 total, and all costs had to fit within that ceiling, including both the money used to support alumni projects and the administrative costs of running the program (staff time, salaries, overhead, and operational expenses). The number of individual alumni projects funded would vary depending on project size, and the notice notes that in prior years alumni could request support up to about 1,500 per project, indicating the program’s focus on small, practical initiatives rather than large-scale grants.
The required work plan for the grantee was fairly specific and operational. Over the grant period, the implementer was expected to maintain and improve the existing alumni Russia website; hire or contract staff dedicated to logistics and program operations; maintain the current alumni database and expand it as new alumni register; communicate with alumni through electronic newsletters and social media; design and run the solicitation process for alumni proposals; select proposals for embassy review and clearance; procure requested items and services tied to approved proposals; transfer funds when needed; and monitor each supported alumni project to ensure responsible use of resources and successful completion. Monitoring and reporting were framed as essential, both for accountability and for demonstrating measurable impact.
The stated purpose and goals emphasize civic engagement and sustained relationships. PAS Moscow described the program as a way to prepare alumni to be responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities, empower them to actively address issues that matter locally, and foster lasting relationships between the U.S. Embassy and the Russian alumni community. The objectives also point to capacity and communications: the program sought competent, responsive Russian and American staff to run it effectively; an assessment of the existing website and outreach tools to improve alumni connection; and a concrete program plan for delivering information, logistics, and support in a way that alumni can actually use.
In terms of eligibility, the opportunity was open to U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that meet 26 USC 501(c)(3) requirements, as well as public and private institutions of higher education. The funding opportunity number was DOSRUS21GR006 (also referenced in the source data as DOSRUS21CA006), under CFDA 19.040. The application deadline was April 15, 2021, with an anticipated award date of June 1, 2021, and an anticipated project completion date of September 30, 2022. The listing also indicated an expectation of multiple awards (noted as 5), suggesting PAS Moscow may have planned to support more than one implementing partner or make several cooperative agreements depending on proposal quality and program needs.Apply for DOSRUS21CA006
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Moscow PAS Alumni Support Program" 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 Mar 05, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: U.S. Embassy Moscow PAS Alumni Support Program (FY 2021)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This FY 2021 opportunity from the U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section (PAS), U.S. Department of State, was designed to support and expand engagement with Russian alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange and in-country programs by providing a platform for outreach plus practical support for alumni-led local activities.
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The purpose is to keep alumni connected to the embassy, help them continue developing professional and civic skills, and provide practical support that enables alumni to carry out local projects that respond to community needs.
3) Who is the program intended to serve?
The program focuses on Russian alumni of U.S. Embassy and U.S. Department of State-funded exchange and in-country programs. PAS Moscow cited a community of more than 85,000 Russian participants over time.
4) What type of award is this?
The award was structured as a cooperative agreement. This means the selected organization would work closely with PAS Moscow, including coordination of key steps and U.S. Embassy review and approval (clearance) of alumni-supported projects.
5) How does a cooperative agreement affect implementation?
Under this structure, the implementer is not expected to operate fully independently. The implementer would solicit and screen alumni proposals, then submit selected proposals for U.S. Embassy clearance before providing support and coordinating implementation.
6) What kinds of support does the program provide to alumni projects?
The program provides small-project support and hands-on assistance. Support can include small grants and logistical/technical help that enables alumni to implement community-relevant activities and strengthen their skills.
7) How are alumni projects identified and approved?
The grantee would solicit proposals from alumni, conduct an initial selection, and then submit chosen proposals to the U.S. Embassy for review and clearance. Only after clearance would the grantee coordinate implementation and support.
8) What role does the grantee play in the alumni project process?
The grantee acts as the administrator and facilitator: running the solicitation process, selecting proposals for embassy review, coordinating logistics and/or funding for approved activities, and documenting results and impact.
9) Why does the program emphasize logistical support instead of simply giving alumni money?
The notice described a practical challenge: alumni are sometimes reluctant to accept direct funding from the U.S. Embassy or implementers. As a result, the program often relies on the grantee to handle logistics and procurement rather than transferring funds directly to alumni.
10) What kinds of logistical expenses might the grantee cover?
Examples mentioned include purchasing airline tickets, paying for lodging, covering venue rental fees, procuring materials or equipment, and paying workshop, training, or tuition fees tied to approved alumni proposals.
11) Can the grantee ever transfer funds directly to alumni?
Yes. The notice indicates that when necessary, the grantee may wire funds to alumni. However, the emphasis is on the grantee serving as an intermediary that executes payments and procurement in a compliant and transparent manner.
12) How much funding was available under this opportunity?
Funding was listed as up to $75,000 total.
13) Does the $75,000 cap include administrative costs?
Yes. All costs had to fit within the $75,000 ceiling, including both alumni project support and administrative costs such as staff time, salaries, overhead, and operational expenses.
14) How large are the individual alumni project awards expected to be?
The number of projects supported would vary depending on project size. The notice referenced prior years where alumni could request support up to about $1,500 per project, signaling a focus on small, practical initiatives rather than large-scale grants.
15) What are the required or expected activities for the implementing organization?
The work plan described operational responsibilities including: maintaining and improving the alumni Russia website; hiring or contracting staff dedicated to logistics and operations; maintaining and expanding the alumni database; communicating through electronic newsletters and social media; designing and running the alumni proposal solicitation process; selecting proposals for embassy clearance; procuring items and services for approved proposals; transferring funds when needed; and monitoring supported projects for accountability and completion.
16) What communications and outreach components are part of the program?
The program includes maintaining an alumni-focused website and social media presence, regularly communicating with alumni who register, and delivering information in a way that supports ongoing connection between alumni and PAS Moscow.
17) Is maintaining an alumni database part of the scope?
Yes. The implementer was expected to maintain the current alumni database and expand it as new alumni register.
18) Are monitoring and reporting required?
Yes. Monitoring and reporting were described as essential for accountability and for demonstrating measurable impact from supported alumni projects.
19) What outcomes does PAS Moscow want to see from this program?
The stated goals emphasize civic engagement and sustained relationships, including preparing alumni to be responsible citizens and contributing community members, empowering them to address local issues, and fostering lasting relationships between the U.S. Embassy and the Russian alumni community.
20) Who was eligible to apply as the implementing organization?
Eligibility was open to U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that meet 26 USC 501(c)(3) requirements, as well as public and private institutions of higher education.
21) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number was DOSRUS21GR006 (also referenced as DOSRUS21CA006 in the source data). The CFDA number was 19.040.
22) What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The application deadline was April 15, 2021. The anticipated award date was June 1, 2021. The anticipated project completion date was September 30, 2022.
23) Was PAS Moscow expecting to make more than one award?
Yes. The listing indicated an expectation of multiple awards (noted as 5), suggesting the possibility of several cooperative agreements depending on proposal quality and program needs.
24) What staffing expectations were described for running the program?
The objectives referenced the need for competent, responsive Russian and American staff to run the program effectively, including personnel dedicated to logistics and program operations.
25) Does the program include improving existing outreach tools?
Yes. The objectives included assessing the existing website and outreach tools and improving them to strengthen alumni connection and engagement.
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