The U.S. Embassy in Norway has announced the Annual Program Statement (APS) for the Fiscal Year 2025 Small Grants Program under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This program is designed to support projects that strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Norway by promoting shared values, security cooperation, economic ties, academic collaboration, and historical connections. The initiative encourages projects that engage Norwegian audiences through public diplomacy efforts, including seminars, lectures, cultural events, and research collaborations with an American component.

This funding opportunity is open to Norwegian and American non-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, government institutions, and individuals. However, grants cannot be used for religious or political activities, commercial projects, for-profit ventures, fundraising, academic research, construction, or institutional development projects. Cost-sharing or matching funds are not required, though applicants are encouraged to demonstrate financial sustainability.

Grants awarded under this program range from $1,000 to $24,000, with total available funding estimated at $100,000, subject to funding availability. The number of anticipated awards varies between 10 to 20, depending on the amounts allocated. Funded projects must be completed within 12 months, though extensions may be considered in exceptional cases. Funding is derived from the Smith-Mundt Act and the Fulbright-Hays Act, supporting public diplomacy initiatives.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with four submission deadlines: January 15, February 15, April 15, and June 15, 2025. Each deadline has an estimated notification period, with results announced by the end of the following month. The final deadline for applications is June 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM Oslo time. The selection process involves a two-tiered system, where applicants first submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) outlining their project proposal, objectives, and budget. Successful SOIs will then be invited to submit a full grant application, which requires additional documents, including resumes, a detailed budget, and specific federal forms.

The evaluation criteria include the feasibility of the project, organizational capacity, planning effectiveness, alignment with embassy priorities, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation methods, and long-term sustainability. Selected applicants will receive grant agreements administered by a Grants Officer, and payments will be processed through reimbursement requests. Awardees must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws and adhere to reporting requirements specified in the grant agreement.

For further details and to access application forms, applicants can visit the U.S. Embassy Norway’s website or Grants.gov. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the embassy at oslogrants@state.gov. Organizations must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov, although full registration is not required for foreign entities receiving less than $500,000. Exemptions from the UEI requirement may be granted on a case-by-case basis upon request.