The 2025 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), managed by the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, invites proposals for projects that focus on the preservation of cultural heritage. The program is administered through the Cultural Heritage Center in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is designed to support the preservation of historic sites, collections, and intangible cultural heritage. For the 2025 cycle, there is an emphasis on preserving the intangible cultural heritage of ethnic Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Applications are due by December 6, 2024, at 11:59 PM local Armenia time.

The AFCP program will accept proposals in three main categories: preservation of cultural sites, conservation of collections, and preservation of intangible heritage forms. Projects can range from the conservation of ancient buildings and archaeological sites to the documentation of oral histories, traditional arts, and other cultural practices at risk. Suggested activities within these categories include documentation, preventative conservation, anastylosis (reassembling a site), stabilization, and restoration. Funded projects may last up to 60 months and must begin after September 30, 2025, with a maximum award amount of $500,000 and a minimum of $10,000.

Eligible applicants include reputable and non-commercial entities such as NGOs, museums, and government-affiliated organizations. These entities must demonstrate experience and capacity for managing cultural heritage preservation projects. Individuals, commercial entities, and organizations with unfulfilled prior award obligations are not eligible. Applications are also encouraged to include non-U.S. government cost-sharing contributions. All applicants are required to register in the U.S. government’s System for Award Management (SAM) prior to receiving federal assistance, as registration can take several weeks.

The application process is divided into two rounds. In Round 1, applicants submit a concept note by December 6, 2024. This note should include project basics, an outline of the scope of work, a brief description of the project implementer, and visual evidence of the project’s urgency, such as photos or videos. Successful Round 1 applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by March 20, 2025. The full application must detail the project’s goals, significance, budget, timeline, maintenance plan, and include resumes of key personnel. Supporting documentation like historical assessments and conservation plans may also be required.

Applications will be evaluated on the quality of the program idea, organizational capacity, and the ability to meet objectives. A Grants Review Committee will assess each concept note individually based on these criteria and may suggest modifications or additional conditions to be addressed in the full proposal. Proposals should be submitted via email to yerevanafcp@state.gov by the specified deadline, and the embassy does not accept file transfers via WeTransfer, Google Docs, or RAR files.

This funding opportunity underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, with particular attention to areas affected by conflict and displacement. Award notifications will be provided after the 2025 funding levels are confirmed, pending approval from Congress.