Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation

Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation is sponsored by U.S. Mission to Georgia. Preserves cultural heritage sites and objects in Georgia.

## Proposal Solicitation for Cultural Heritage Preservation Projects ($25,000 – $250,000) **APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: All full project proposals must be submitted on or before Friday, April 3, 18:00 pm. ** The United States Embassy in Georgia is accepting full project proposals for the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2026 Freedom 250 Special Edition Competition. Please see below for details of how to apply.

The 2026 grant cycle commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence and marks the 25th anniversary of the AFCP program. This Freedom 250 special edition of the AFCP honors U.S. leadership and enduring commitment to freedom, democracy, and unity via cultural heritage stewardship.

In the spirit of these values, priority projects will incorporate technical exchange between Americans and their Georgian counterparts and illuminate the rich historical and cultural ties between the United States and Georgia.

AFCP will prioritize projects that meet one or more of the following criteria: **CULTURAL OBJECTS AND SITES:** Support cultural objects or sites associated with, or frequently visited by, notable Americans; Support cultural objects or sites developed, excavated, or brought to light by American archaeologists or heritage professionals; Support cultural objects or sites associated with American history or U.S. contributions to significant historical events, including peace agreements, military memorials, or commemorative sites; Support cultural objects or sites associated with American innovations and leadership in the sciences; Highlight the intellectual and philosophical roots of American institutions; Support cultural heritage associated with American-inspired independence movements demonstrating the United States as a model of liberty and self-governance; **FORMS OF TRADITIONAL CULTURAL EXPRESSION:** Preserve forms of traditional cultural expression that significantly influenced American art forms; **APPLICATION CLOSING DATE**:**_All full project proposals must be submitted on or before Friday,April 3, 18:00 pm.

_**Applications submitted after 18:00 pm will be ineligible for consideration. Applications should be submitted toTbilisiCultural@state. gov. (Please see the full project application form and budget template attached.)

We will confirm receipt of each proposal. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check the email address and ensure the email is within a reasonable size and resubmit.

**FULL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:** All applicants must submit a complete proposal package including the following items (please see the full project application form attached): Project activities description and timeframe that present the project tasks in chronological order and list the major milestones with target dates for achieving them (Note: Applicants may propose project periods of up to 60 months [five years]); Detailed scope of work with (1) clear preservation goals and activities for achieving those goals, and (2) the country or community’s intended broader goals and activities for achieving those goals.

Each set of activities should clearly lead to their corresponding goals with no gaps; Freedom 250 Statement describing how the project aligns with one or more Freedom 250 funding priorities; Statement of importance highlighting the historical, architectural, artistic, or cultural (non-religious) values of the cultural heritage; Description of any technical exchange component with American experts or institutions, where applicable; Maintenance plan outlining the steps or measures that will be taken to maintain the site, object, or collection in good condition after the AFCP-supported project is complete; or, in the case of forms of traditional cultural expression, to preserve and disseminate the documentation, knowledge, or skills gained from the project; Data and Information Access Plan outlining how project-generated information or publications will be shared with the public and the Department of State; Résumés or CVs of the proposed project director and key project participants; Detailed project budget, demarcated in one-year budget periods (2026, 2027, 2028, etc.), that lists all costs in separate categories (Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel [including Per Diem], Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Other Direct Costs, Indirect Costs); indicates funds from other sources; and gives a justification for any anticipated international travel costs; (please see the AFCP Excel budget form attached); A budget narrative explaining how the costs were estimated (quantity x unit cost, annual salary x percentage of time spent on the project, etc.) and any large budget line items; Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), including Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A), Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B); Relevant supporting documentation, such as historic structure reports, restoration plans and studies, conservation needs assessments and recommendations, architectural and engineering records, etc., compiled in preparation for the proposed project; Official permission letters; A minimum of five high-quality digital images (JPEGs or PNGs) or audiovisual files that convey the nature and condition of the heritage.

**ELIGIBLE PROJECT APPLICANTS**include reputable and accountable non-commercial entities, such as non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations that are able to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage.

**INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS:**AFCP will NOT support the following activities or costs, and applications involving any of the activities or costs below will be deemed ineligible: Preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned cultural objects, collections, or real property, including those whose transfer from private or commercial to public ownership is envisioned, planned, or in process but not complete at the time of application; Preservation of natural heritage; Preservation of hominid or human remains; Archaeological excavations or exploratory surveys for research purposes; Construction of new buildings, building additions, or permanent coverings; Creation of replicas or conjectural reconstructions of cultural objects or sites that no longer exist; Stand-alone digitization projects not part of a larger conservation effort; Cash reserves, endowments, or revolving funds; Costs of fund-raising campaigns; Contingency or miscellaneous costs; Costs of work performed prior to the announcement of the award; Individual projects costing less than $25,000; Independent U.S. projects overseas.

**INELIGIBLE PROJECT APPLICANTS:**AFCP does not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or to past award recipients that have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous AFCP awards. **SAM REGISTRATION**: An implementing partner must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in the U.S. government’s System for Award Management (SAM) prior to receiving U.S. federal assistance.

Non-U.S. organizations or public entities are exempt from registering in SAM. gov but are still required to obtain a UEI. The SAM registration process can take weeks or months, especially for non-U.S. applicants.

SAM will assign a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) automatically to any entity registering or renewing its record in the system. Registration in SAM is free:https://sam. gov Questions about the grant application process should be directed toTbilisiCultural@state.

govwith a subject line: AFCP 2026 Freedom 250