America Works in Russia | DOSRUS21GR001

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOSRUS21GR001

America Works in Russia is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Russia, specifically the U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section (PAS). The program is designed to strengthen practical, people-to-people engagement between Americans and Russians around business, entrepreneurship, and higher education. At its core, it funds projects that help Russian participants build real-world skills and better understand how American business and workplace norms operate, while also encouraging longer-term cooperation between U.S. and Russian professionals and institutions.

Funding is available for proposals requesting up to $200,000 per award, but applicants are not expected to request the maximum. Budgets are supposed to match the applicant organization’s actual capacity and be tightly aligned with the project’s goals and activities, and the opportunity notes that smaller awards may move faster in the approval process. Applications were accepted on a rolling basis until June 1, 2021, with proposals reviewed monthly and awards made on a first-come, first-served basis as funds were available. Some projects could be funded quickly, while others might not receive funding until later in the year (the notice mentions that some funding might not be available until September 2021). The total amount available was dependent on the availability of funds, and the opportunity anticipated around 20 awards.

The purpose and expected impact of funded projects is fairly specific: PAS Moscow is looking for programs that expand understanding of entrepreneurship and American business, workplace, and legal values, and that measurably increase entrepreneurship skills and career opportunities for Russian people. Strong proposals are expected to improve Russian participants’ competitiveness in the international business environment and deepen understanding of issues like innovation, rule of law, labor rights, and environmentally responsible business practices. A key competitiveness factor is a sustained U.S. connection, meaning projects should include meaningful involvement from American experts, organizations, or institutions in ways that can keep U.S.-Russia professional ties going even after the grant period ends. In addition to business and entrepreneurship, PAS also welcomes proposals that help Russians understand the U.S. higher education system and build connections between U.S. and Russian universities and students.

The opportunity organizes its priorities into several theme areas. In entrepreneurship and business, it highlights skill-building for small business and entrepreneurship, especially for youth, women, minorities, and other under-represented groups. It also emphasizes promoting free, fair, and open communication, trade, and investment opportunities between the United States and Russia, as well as showcasing the contributions of American companies operating in Russia and supporting women’s economic empowerment. In the rule of law in business category, it prioritizes responsible business conduct, disability rights in the workplace, stronger intellectual property protection, fair labor practices, and corporate social responsibility. It also encourages projects that address eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable business practices and efforts to prevent movement of illicit goods, including trafficking in persons and wildlife, plus education around the legal rights of corporations and individuals in business. A third pillar focuses on U.S. higher education, including promoting the U.S. university system as a study destination, explaining the U.S. application process, positioning U.S. education as a pathway to higher income and prosperity, connecting U.S. and Russian institutions and students, and elevating the voices and achievements of Russian alumni of U.S. universities. There is also an agriculture theme area, which includes sharing agricultural practices, building agricultural trade links, supporting free and fair trade of agricultural commodities, encouraging community-supported farming models, and promoting farm-to-table concepts such as organic markets and cuisine.

There are also clear boundaries on what the grants will not support. Projects cannot be structured to solely benefit a single Russian or American entity, business, or university, which signals an emphasis on broader public benefit rather than private gain. Projects also should not be designed to generate income for participants or organizers, and any revenue incidentally produced by project activities must be reinvested to advance the project’s goals (for example, extending the project or supporting additional participants). In addition, proposals should not primarily be academic or scientific research projects, indicating the program prefers applied, skills-oriented, and engagement-focused programming rather than research for its own sake.

A major operational constraint at the time of the announcement was COVID-19. PAS Moscow stated it could not fund projects involving travel or in-person interaction due to the pandemic. Proposals that included any in-person component needed to provide a credible virtual alternative that could be implemented if in-person activities remained impossible. Applications that failed to include a workable virtual plan risked being excluded from further consideration, so virtual delivery and contingency planning were effectively built into the program’s expectations.

Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S. and Russian organizations. The notice lists nonprofits (including those with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status), private institutions of higher education, NGOs and civil society organizations, and community-focused entities such as museums, parks, reserves, and community organizations. For-profit organizations and individuals appear in the eligible applicant data, but the narrative makes clear that corporate and individual applicants would only be funded in limited circumstances and that prospective applicants in those categories were encouraged to consult the grants office directly. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is Business and Commerce, the opportunity number is DOSRUS21GR001, and the CFDA number listed is 19.040. Overall, the program is positioned as a practical engagement vehicle: it funds skill-building, exchange, and collaboration activities that connect U.S. and Russian expertise in ways that are tangible, broadly beneficial, and sustainable beyond the life of the award.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "America Works in Russia" 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 Nov 25, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

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