PROGRAM STATEMENT – PUBLIC AFFAIRS ITALY
🏛 U.S. Mission to Italy
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and individuals in the U.S. and Italy working on public diplomacy and cultural exchange. Eligible applicants include registered U.S. and Italian nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, educational institutions, government agencies, and individuals. All proposals must feature significant American cultural elements or partnerships with American experts, organizations, or institutions. Programs must strengthen U.S.-Italy cultural ties and promote bilateral understanding.
Funding priorities include countering misinformation, strengthening transatlantic relations, creativity in education and arts, American Studies, diversity and inclusion, STEM education and entrepreneurship, English language study, and media literacy.
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Program description
The U.S. Mission to the Republic of Italy’s Public Affairs Section (PAS) is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement outlining funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.
PA Italy invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Italy through cultural and exchange programming that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. All programs must include a significant American cultural element, connection with American expert(s), organization(s), OR institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.
Priority Program Areas:
- American and Italian voices countering malign influencers and misinformation campaigns
- Promoting strong transatlantic relations;
- Creativity and innovation in education and the arts, and problem solving of issues of mutual interest to both countries;
- American Studies, particularly American History and Literature, to include university linkages;
- Promoting diversity and inclusion;
- Empowerment and prosperity through STEM education and entrepreneurship;
- American English Language Study;
- Media Literacy.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project narrative or proposal
- Budget and budget justification
- Organizational background/credentials
- Letters of support from American and Italian partner organizations
- Evidence of applicant registration (if nonprofit/government)
Program contact
- 👤 Alberto Benvenuti Grantor
- 📧 RomePAGrants@state.gov
- 📞 00393420158732
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.040 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$4,682,072
-
$3,371,312
-
$2,650,000
-
$2,446,525
-
$2,050,500
-
$1,861,451
-
$1,700,000
-
$1,565,795
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,480,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.040). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $129,428,262 | |
| 2019 est. | $34,549,598 | |
| 2020 | $129,979,440 | |
| 2021 | $128,999,999 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Registered nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, educational institutions, governments, and individuals from both the U.S. and Italy are eligible. All applicants must propose programs with significant American cultural elements or connections to American experts or institutions.
Is there a specific deadline?
This is a rolling grant program with an Annual Program Statement. Applications are accepted throughout the year, but submit early for best consideration.
What types of activities are funded?
The program funds cultural and exchange programming that strengthens U.S.-Italy relations. Priority areas include misinformation countering, STEM education, American Studies, arts and innovation, diversity initiatives, and media literacy.
How competitive is this grant?
Competition varies by year and program area. Proposals with strong partnerships between U.S. and Italian organizations, clear messaging impact, and alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities tend to rank higher.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards range from $10,000 to $100,000, though actual grants vary by project scope and priorities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Partner with credible American organizations or experts to strengthen your proposal's authenticity and impact. This is a core requirement, not optional.
- Clearly articulate how your program advances U.S. foreign policy objectives in Italy, particularly around transatlantic relations and countering malign influence.
- Align your proposal directly with one of the eight priority program areas. Grants addressing misinformation, STEM, or American Studies tend to score well.
- Demonstrate measurable outcomes: how many Italians will engage, what attitudes or behaviors change, how understanding improves.
- Include letters of support from Italian partners and American institutional partners to show genuine bilateral collaboration.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lacking genuine American partnerships or expert involvement fail consistently. Proposals misaligned with U.S. foreign policy priorities or unclear on transatlantic benefits get rejected. Vague metrics and unmeasurable outcomes significantly weaken competitiveness.
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