Annual Program Statement (APS)

The U.S. Embassy Athens Public Diplomacy Section (PDS Athens) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program in fiscal year 2025. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The deadline for grant applications is July 11, 2025. Funding decisions will be made on these applications on a rolling basis after this deadline, with a goal of informing all applicants of the final funding decision by September 30, 2025. Applicants may apply for funding between $25,000 and $100,000 . Please use the grant application documents and budget template found on the Embassy website https://gr.usembassy.gov/education/.

Purpose of Grants program: PDS Athens invites proposals for projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Greece through concrete demonstrations of cooperation between our two peoples, aiming at making America safer, stronger and more prosperous. All grant proposals must convey an element of American history, culture, or shared values. Competitive proposals should support a priority program area (see below). They should also include a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s that will promote increased cooperation between the people of the United States and Greece even after the program has finished.

Priority Program Areas: The Public Diplomacy Section is focused on the following priorities in the form of programs, exchanges, and media opportunities that:

• Promote American Excellence in Emerging Technologies

• Celebrate 250 Years of American Excellence: Spotlight on America’s Achievements, Innovation, and Leadership

Promoting American Excellence in Emerging Technologies 

Greek students and professionals in emerging technologies have demonstrated a strong technical foundation that can be strategically leveraged to benefit U.S. technology firms and bolster American leadership in critical industries. By channeling this talent to serve the needs of American companies, we can reinforce U.S. technological dominance, strengthen innovation pipelines, and ensure that international engagement directly supports American economic and strategic priorities.

We invite proposals aimed at enhancing U.S.-Greece technological cooperation in ways that clearly advance U.S. national interests. Proposals must focus on initiatives (not conferences) that help U.S. firms address critical workforce and skill shortages, expand the reach of American products and innovation standards, and create structured pathways for Greek talent to contribute to U.S.-driven innovation. Prioritized activities include, but are not limited to:

• Public-private partnerships that connect U.S. technology firms with high-potential Greek talent through American-led career readiness programs, skills development, and reskilling/upskilling initiatives tailored to U.S. industry standards and needs.
• Training modules designed for integration into Greek higher education or vocational curricula that:

1. Align directly with the needs of U.S. employers; and
2. Target high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing—strengthening the global competitiveness of U.S. firms.

• Innovation bootcamps that feature U.S. technologies, platforms, and products, familiarizing international talent with high-quality American tools and practices.
• Collaborative projects between U.S. technology companies and Greek educational institutions to promote the adoption and use of American-developed AI and other emerging technologies, reinforcing the global footprint of U.S. innovation.

All proposals should demonstrate a clear benefit to the United States and prioritize American commercial and strategic interests, consistent with the principles of the America First policy.

Celebrating 250 Years of American Excellence: Spotlight on America’s Achievements, Innovation, and Leadership

On July 4, 2026, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historic milestone presents a powerful opportunity to celebrate American excellence, leverage people-to-people ties, and highlight our achievements, legacies, and contributions as part of America’s story of excellence. 

We invite proposals that underscore American excellence and contribute to the celebration of America250, highlighting this momentous occasion through impactful and engaging programs. We welcome submissions that promote U.S.-Greece bilateral engagement and spotlight American achievements, innovation, leadership, and the role of faith and religion in democratic societies. 

Proposals should feature initiatives (not conferences), and include activities such as (but not limited to): 

• Podcasts and/or public lectures on U.S. history, its ties to Greece, democracy, and its global impact 
• Roadshows showcasing 250 years of American innovation and U.S.-Greek cooperation 
• Sports activities or themed games/events 
• Secondary educational modules that will reach Greek classrooms and help to enhance Greek students’ and educators’ positive understanding of America 

All proposals should demonstrate a clear benefit to the United States and prioritize American strategic interests, consistent with the principles of the America First policy.