Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0003732
Mission Australia APS, 2026 (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0003732) is a discretionary U.S. government grant competition run through the U.S. Mission to Australia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS). The program uses cooperative agreements, meaning the U.S. government expects to stay actively involved in shaping or supporting funded activities during implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The overall purpose is to fund public diplomacy projects in Australia that advance U.S. economic, commercial, and security interests, while also improving understanding of U.S. perspectives and policy through meaningful engagement with American people, institutions, expertise, or cultural elements.
Funding is set at between $25,000 and $100,000 per award (award ceiling $100,000), with projects allowed to run for up to 24 months. The opportunity anticipates making around three awards. Applications are due by September 20, 2026, and projects may begin as early as October 1, 2026. Applicants are instructed to read the full APS package carefully because proposals that fail eligibility checks or omit required components will not be reviewed.
Proposals must clearly address at least one of three strategic goals. The first is promoting flag football in Australia, which suggests projects could focus on expanding participation, building institutional partnerships, training coaches, creating youth development pathways, supporting clinics or exhibitions, or connecting Australian stakeholders with U.S. flag football organizations and expertise. The second goal is combating antisemitism through Holocaust education, which points toward programs that strengthen historical understanding, teacher training, curriculum development, public education initiatives, museum or archival collaborations, speaker series, or community-based learning that uses credible scholarship and effective educational practice. The third goal is strengthening Pacific Islands partnerships by highlighting shared cultural values among the peoples of the United States, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, with a specific emphasis on arts, cultural heritage preservation, education, and training. In practice, this could include cultural exchanges, collaborative artistic productions, preservation workshops, community-led heritage documentation, training programs for cultural institutions, or educational initiatives that reinforce people-to-people ties across the region.
Beyond selecting one of those strategic goals, the APS signals that competitive applications will do several things well. They will articulate how the project advances American leadership and excellence in a tangible way, rather than relying on broad statements. They will also define measurable results, meaning the proposal should include clear objectives and outcomes that can be tracked (for example, participant numbers and demographics, skills gained, curriculum adoption, partnerships formed, events delivered, follow-on activities, or pre- and post-program indicators of knowledge or attitudes, depending on the project type). A central requirement across all proposals is a visible U.S. connection: programs must include American experts, organizations, institutions, or distinct American cultural elements relevant to the field, and that connection must be integral to the design rather than an afterthought. The intent is that U.S. participation helps audiences better understand U.S. viewpoints and strengthens ties between U.S. and Australian (and where relevant, Pacific Islands) counterparts.
Eligibility in the posted source data is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The funding activity category is education and the CFDA number listed is 19.040, which is commonly associated with public diplomacy programs administered by the U.S. Department of State. The agency name in the source data is shown as the U.S. Mission to New Zealand, but the narrative description clearly positions the opportunity under the U.S. Mission to Australia PDS; applicants should follow the APS package instructions and use the listed contact for clarification if needed. Questions and requests for additional guidance are directed to PASGrantsAustralia@state.gov.Apply for OFOP0003732
- The U.S. Mission to New Zealand in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mission Australia APS, 2026" 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 2026-08-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-20. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Mission Australia APS, 2026 (OFOP0003732)
1) What is Mission Australia APS, 2026 (OFOP0003732)?
Mission Australia APS, 2026 (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0003732) is a discretionary U.S. government grant competition run through the U.S. Mission to Australia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS). It funds public diplomacy projects in Australia that advance U.S. economic, commercial, and security interests while improving understanding of U.S. perspectives and policy through meaningful engagement with American people, institutions, expertise, or cultural elements.
2) What type of award will be used?
The program uses cooperative agreements. This means the U.S. government expects to stay actively involved in shaping or supporting funded activities during implementation, rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.
3) What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support public diplomacy projects in Australia that (a) advance U.S. economic, commercial, and security interests and (b) improve understanding of U.S. perspectives and policy through direct and meaningful U.S. engagement built into the project design.
4) How much funding is available per award?
Awards are expected to range from $25,000 to $100,000, with an award ceiling of $100,000.
5) How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipates making around three awards.
6) How long can a project last?
Projects are allowed to run for up to 24 months.
7) When is the application deadline?
Applications are due by September 20, 2026.
8) When can projects start?
Projects may begin as early as October 1, 2026.
9) Who is eligible to apply based on the posted source data?
Eligibility in the posted source data is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
10) What is the funding activity category and CFDA number listed?
The funding activity category is education, and the CFDA number listed is 19.040 (commonly associated with public diplomacy programs administered by the U.S. Department of State).
11) What strategic goals must proposals address?
Proposals must clearly address at least one of three strategic goals:
- Promoting flag football in Australia
- Combating antisemitism through Holocaust education
- Strengthening Pacific Islands partnerships by highlighting shared cultural values among the peoples of the United States, Australia, and the Pacific Islands (with emphasis on arts, cultural heritage preservation, education, and training)
12) What kinds of projects fit the "promoting flag football" goal?
The APS suggests projects could include expanding participation, building institutional partnerships, training coaches, creating youth development pathways, supporting clinics or exhibitions, or connecting Australian stakeholders with U.S. flag football organizations and expertise.
13) What kinds of projects fit the "combating antisemitism through Holocaust education" goal?
This goal points toward programs that strengthen historical understanding through efforts such as teacher training, curriculum development, public education initiatives, museum or archival collaborations, speaker series, and community-based learning grounded in credible scholarship and effective educational practice.
14) What kinds of projects fit the Pacific Islands partnerships goal?
This goal emphasizes arts, cultural heritage preservation, education, and training. Examples described include cultural exchanges, collaborative artistic productions, preservation workshops, community-led heritage documentation, training programs for cultural institutions, and educational initiatives that reinforce people-to-people ties across the United States, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.
15) Is a U.S. connection required?
Yes. A central requirement across all proposals is a visible U.S. connection. Programs must include American experts, organizations, institutions, or distinct American cultural elements relevant to the field, and that U.S. connection must be integral to the project design rather than an afterthought.
16) What does the APS mean by a "visible U.S. connection"?
Based on the description provided, it means the project should meaningfully incorporate U.S. participation (such as American experts or institutions) or American cultural elements in a way that is essential to how the program works and what it delivers, with the intent of helping audiences better understand U.S. viewpoints and strengthening ties between U.S. and Australian (and where relevant, Pacific Islands) counterparts.
17) What characteristics are emphasized for competitive applications?
The APS signals that competitive applications will:
- Explain clearly how the project advances American leadership and excellence in a tangible way (not just broad statements)
- Define measurable results with objectives and outcomes that can be tracked
- Include a strong, integral U.S. connection (American experts/organizations/institutions or distinct American cultural elements)
18) What are examples of measurable results mentioned in the opportunity description?
Examples provided include participant numbers and demographics, skills gained, curriculum adoption, partnerships formed, events delivered, follow-on activities, and pre- and post-program indicators of knowledge or attitudes (depending on the project type).
19) What happens if an application is missing required components or fails eligibility checks?
Applicants are instructed to read the full APS package carefully because proposals that fail eligibility checks or omit required components will not be reviewed.
20) Which U.S. Mission is running the program?
The narrative description positions the opportunity under the U.S. Mission to Australia Public Diplomacy Section (PDS). However, the agency name in the posted source data is shown as the U.S. Mission to New Zealand. Applicants are encouraged to follow the APS package instructions and use the listed contact for clarification if needed.
21) Who should applicants contact with questions or requests for guidance?
Questions and requests for additional guidance are directed to PASGrantsAustralia@state.gov.
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