U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Grants Cycle 2026

U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Grants Cycle 2026 is sponsored by U.S. Embassy to Romania (U.S. Department of State). The U. S.

Embassy to Romania has launched the 2026 grants cycle of the U. S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), prioritizing projects that preserve cultural heritage while highlighting U.

S. values of freedom, democracy, and unity.

**U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2026 Program** The U.S. Embassy in Beijing,on behalf of the Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) in the U.S.State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA),is pleased to announce the start of the 2026 grants cycle for the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).

The 2026 grant cycle celebrates 250 years of American independence, as well as the 25th anniversary of the AFCP. As part of the Freedom 250 initiative, ECA is placing special emphasis on projects that honor the global contributions of the United States throughout history.

Each AFCP project will be an opportunity to highlight the enduring cultural and historical relationships between the United States and China that shaped the American national story and identity since 1776. AFCP projects should involve technical exchange between Americans and Chinese counterparts.

AFCP supports projects that showcase U.S. global leadership in cultural heritage preservation, improving U.S. favorability overseas, and supporting U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy goals**. ** This AFCP round is a single, full application round. Applicants must submit full project applications to the U.S. Embassy by**March 27, 2026.

** Pending the availability of funds, awards will range from**$25,000 to $250,000. **The anticipated number of awards worldwide are from 25 to 35 projects. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing may deem applications ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the AFCP Freedom 250 priorities, requirements, or other criteria stated here.

Applications should be submitted electronically toBeijingEOLPolicy@state. gov**no later than March 27, 2026. ** This Freedom 250 special edition of the AFCP honors U.S.enduring commitment to freedom, democracy, and unity via cultural heritage stewardship.

In the spirit of these values, priority projects should incorporate technical exchange between Americans and Chinese counterparts and illuminate the rich historical and cultural ties between the United States and China. CHC will prioritize projects that meet one or more of the following criteria: 1.

Cultural objects or sites in other countries associated with, or frequently visited by**notable Americans**, such as homes, studios, or institutions. [Example: Conservation of the 19th-century Finca Vigía, the American writer Ernest Hemingway’s house in Cuba (AFCP 2024)] 2. Cultural objects or sites in other countries developed, excavated, or otherwise brought to light by**American archaeologists or other heritage professionals**.

[Example: Conservation of the 6th-century Rosalila Temple at the Maya site of Copan in Honduras (AFCP 2022), excavated by American archaeologists in the 1890s] 3. Cultural objects or sites in other countries associated with**American history or American contributions**to significant historical events, such as peace agreements, military memorials, and other commemorative sites.

[Example: Preservation of the World War II battle site at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, the first major engagement between U.S. and Axis forces in Africa (AFCP 2001)] 4. Cultural objects or sites in other countries associated with**American innovations and leadership in the sciences**, such as laboratories or observatories. 5.

Cultural objects or sites in other countries highlighting the intellectual and philosophical roots of**American institutions**. [Example: Conservation of the Ishtar Gate and other structures at ancient Babylon in Iraq, site of the first example of codified law that paved the way for later legal systems, including America’s (AFCP 2010)] 6.

Cultural objects or sites in other countries associated with**American-inspired independence movements**that showcase the United States as an example for nations striving toward liberty and self-governance.

[Example: Conservation of 19th- and 20th-century monuments in Colombia commemorating the 1819 Battle of Boyacá and Simón Bolívar—military leader, liberator, and admirer of American ideals of self-governance and popular sovereignty (AFCP 2019)] 7. Forms of traditional cultural expression such as music and dance that heavily influenced**American art forms**.

[Example: Documentation of endangered musical traditions in Mali, which helped lay the foundations for American jazz and blues (AFCP 2011)] 8. Historical sites of significance to diaspora communities in the United States.

[Example: Conservation of the 14th-century fortified Alma Vii church in Romania, a cultural touchstone for Americans of Transylvanian Saxon ancestry (AFCP 2019)] The**AFCP Freedom 250 Special Edition**supports the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, museum collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression, such as indigenous languages and crafts. Appropriate project activities may include: 1.

**Anastylosis:**Reassembling a site using its original parts. 2. **Conservation:**Addressing damage or deterioration to an object or site.

3. **Consolidation:**Connecting or reconnecting elements of an object or site. 4.

**Documentation:**Recording the condition and important features of an object, site, or tradition in analog or digital format. 5. **Inventory:**Listing objects, sites, or traditions by location, feature, age, or other unifying characteristics.

6. **Preventive Conservation:**Addressing conditions that threaten or damage a site, object, collection, or tradition. 7.

**Restoration:**Replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of an object or site, usually appropriate for fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings. 8. **Stabilization:**Reducing the physical disturbance of an object or site.

**NOTE:**Sites and Objects Having a Religious Connection:The Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution permits the government to include religious objects and sites within a program under certain conditions.

For example, an item with a religious connection (including a place of worship) may be the subject of a cultural preservation grant if the item derives its primary significance from and is nominated solely based on architectural, artistic, historical, or other cultural (not religious) criteria.

**ELIGIBLE PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS** Eligible project implementers are reputable and accountable non-commercial entities that demonstrate they have the capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage.

Eligible implementers may include non-governmental organizations, museums, educational institutions, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based educational institutions and organizations subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code.

The AFCP will**NOT**award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or past award recipients that have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous awards. **APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS (DEADLINE: March 27, 2026.) ** 1.

**Project Description**: Provide a project summary and clearly describe the goals of the project. Explain the outputs and outcomes the project will produce to achieve each goal and the activities that will generate these outputs and outcomes. Do this for both primary goals (such as restoring a part of a monument) and secondary goals (such as improving economic opportunities).

Successful applications describe a clear, logical pathway from activities to goals, including the necessary steps in between. Unsuccessful applications state broad goals but omit details on how they will be achieved. In addition to the description, applicants may include a list, table, or Gantt chart of activities in chronological order, along with major outputs and outcomes and target dates for achieving them.

2. **Key Personnel:**Names, titles,roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the project. 3.

**Statement of Importance:**Highlight the historical, architectural, artistic, or cultural (non-religious) values of the cultural heritage. 4. **Freedom 250 Statement:**Describe how the cultural heritage relates to one or more of the AFCP Freedom 250 funding priorities (stated above).

5. **Project Maintenance Plan:**Outline the steps or measures that the applicant will take 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, preserve and disseminate the documentation, knowledge, or skills gained from the project. 7.

**Data and Information Access Plan:**Outline how you as an implementing partner will share, as appropriate, raw data or processed information, such as publications, generated from the project with the public and the State Department. 8.

**Detailed Project Budget:**Provide a detailed project budget that lists all costs in separate categories (personnel, fringe benefits, travel [including per diem], equipment, supplies, contractual, other direct costs, indirect costs) and indicates funds from other sources. Applicants are required to use the budget template posted in the below RELATED DOCUMENTS section. 9.

**Budget Narrative:**Explain how the costs were estimated (quantity x unit cost, annual salary x percentage of time spent on project, etc.) and any large budget line items. 10. **Resumes or CVs:**Provide resumes or CVs of the proposed project director and other key personnel.

11. **Support Letters:**If applicable, letters of support from project partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner. 12.

**Proof of Official Permission:**Official permission letters, if required for project activities. 13. **Relevant Supporting Documentation:**Provide relevant supporting documentation, as applicable, 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.

14. **Visual or Audiovisual Documentation:**Provide a minimum of five high-quality digital images (JPEGs or PNGs) or audiovisual files that convey the nature and condition of the heritage and show the urgency or need for the proposed project (e.g., collapsing walls, extensive water damage). 15.

**NICRA:**If applicable, provide the latest Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) as a PDF file. 16. **Mandatory Application Forms (SF-424):**Include Application for Federal Assistance—Organizations (SF-424), Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A), Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B; only if applicant is not registered in SAM.

gov), and, if applicable, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). **COST SHARING AND OTHER FORMS OF COST PARTICIPATION** There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost participation required. When an implementing partner offers cost sharing, it is understood and agreed that the partner must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the budget of the application and later included in an approved agreement.

The implementing partner will be responsible for tracking and reporting on any cost share or outside funding, which is subject to audit per 2 CFR 200. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs.

**INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS** The AFCP Freedom 250 special edition does**NOT**support the following activities or costs, and CHC will consider applications requesting support for any of these activities or costs ineligible: 1.

**Privately or Commercially Owned Property:**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. 2.

**Natural Heritage:**Preservation of natural heritage (physical, biological, and geological formations, paleontological collections, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, fossils, etc.) unless the natural heritage has a cultural heritage connection or dimension. 3. **Human Remains:**Preservation of hominid or human remains.

4. **News Media:**Preservation of news media (newspapers, newsreels,radio and TV programs, etc.). 5.

**Published Materials:**Preservation of published materials available elsewhere (books, periodicals, etc.). 6. **Mandated Educational Materials:**Development of curricula or educational materials for required classroom use.

7. **Archaeological Research:**Archaeological excavations or exploratory surveys for research purposes. 8.

**Historical Research:**Historical research, except in cases where the research is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project. 9. **New Collections:**Acquisition or creation of new objects or collections for new or existing museums.

10. **New Construction:**Construction of new buildings, building additions, or permanent coverings (over archaeological sites, for example). 11.

**New Works of Art:**Commissions of new works of art or architecture for commemorative or economic development purposes. 12. **New or Modern Adaptations:**Creation of new or modern adaptation of existing traditional dances, songs, chants, musical compositions, plays, or other performances.

13. **Conjectural Reconstructions:**Creation of conjectural reconstructions of cultural objects or sites that no longer exist. 14.

**Relocation:**Relocation of cultural sites from one physical location to another unless under imminent threat of irreversible damage or destruction. 15. **Removal:**Removal of cultural objects or elements of cultural sites from the country for any reason.

16. **Digitization:**Digitization of cultural objects or collections, unless part of a clearly defined conservation, documentation, or public diplomacy effort. 17.

**Conservation Plans or Studies:**Conservation plans or other studies, unless they are one component of a larger project to implement the results of those studies. 18. **Cash Reserves or Endowments:**Cash reserves, endowments, or revolving funds (funds must be expended within the award period [up to five years] and may not be used to create an endowment or revolving fund).

19. **Fund-Raising Campaigns:**Costs of fund-raising campaigns. 20.

**Contingency Costs:**Contingency, unforeseen, or miscellaneous costs. 21. **Pre-Award Costs:**Costs of work performed prior to the announcement of the award unless allowable per 2 CFR 200.

458 and approved by the GO. 22. **Project Cost Limits:**Individual projects which cost less than US $25,000 or more than $250,000.

23. **Independent U.S. Projects:**Independent U.S. projects overseas. * AFCP Freedom 250 Application Checklist * AFCP Freedom 250 Budget Worksheet **For any inquiries regarding the submission process, please send inquiries to****BeijingEOLPolicy@state.

gov**.