Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002706
The grant opportunity titled "Advancing NATO's Collective Defense and Industrial Capacity" (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0002706) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program run through the U.S. Mission to NATO, based in Belgium. It is offered under the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program and is designed to support a single project that strengthens transatlantic security by improving understanding of NATO's collective defense mission and by encouraging deeper cooperation on defense industrial issues across the Alliance. In practical terms, the opportunity is looking for a program that helps U.S. and Allied audiences better understand how NATO deters and defends, why industrial capacity matters to credible defense, and how partners can work together to meet shared security needs.
The program focus centers on connecting stakeholders across the United States and NATO Allies and partners, building expertise, and creating conditions for real collaboration among people working at the intersection of defense, public policy, and innovation. The target participants are policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and emerging leaders, with an emphasis on audiences across NATO member states and partner countries. The intent is to create a structured set of activities that not only share information but also build networks and practical cooperation, especially where defense investment priorities, production capacity constraints, and technology adoption create shared challenges.
Proposed activities can take a variety of forms, as long as they clearly advance the stated public diplomacy goals and include a clear U.S. component. The notice highlights examples such as workshops and convenings, exchanges that bring relevant communities together, research and analysis products that can inform public debate or policy thinking, and digital engagement that broadens reach beyond in-person events. Substantively, the Mission is interested in work tied to defense investment and burden-sharing, expansion of defense industrial capacity and resilience, and the integration of emerging technologies into defense planning and capability development. While the scope is broad, the common thread is strengthening Allied cohesion and capability by improving understanding, building relationships, and encouraging cooperative approaches.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, with eligible implementers including not-for-profit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities capable of delivering public diplomacy programming. Regardless of organizational type, applicants should be positioned to convene credible speakers and participants, manage events or exchanges, produce usable research outputs where relevant, and demonstrate an ability to reach the intended NATO-related audiences. Because this is a public diplomacy grant, proposals are generally expected to show how the project will communicate outcomes, expand mutual understanding, and highlight U.S. engagement in a constructive and visible way.
Funding is provided as a grant, associated with CFDA number 19.040, with an award ceiling of $50,000. The opportunity anticipates making one award, meaning the selection is competitive and the chosen project will likely need to show a clear theory of change, strong partners or networks, and a realistic plan to produce measurable outcomes within the budget. The original application closing date is June 20, 2026, and the opportunity was created on April 28, 2026.Apply for OFOP0002706
- The U.S. Mission to Belgium in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing NATO’s Collective Defense and Industrial Capacity" 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 2026-04-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-20. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Advancing NATO's Collective Defense and Industrial Capacity".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OFOP0002706.
Which U.S. government entity is running this program?
This is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program run through the U.S. Mission to NATO.
Where is the program based?
The U.S. Mission to NATO is based in Belgium.
What program is this offered under?
This opportunity is offered under the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The purpose is to support a single project that strengthens transatlantic security by (1) improving understanding of NATO's collective defense mission and (2) encouraging deeper cooperation on defense industrial issues across the Alliance.
How does the opportunity define the practical goals of the project?
The project should help U.S. and Allied audiences better understand how NATO deters and defends, why industrial capacity matters to credible defense, and how partners can work together to meet shared security needs.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making one award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $50,000.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Funding is provided as a grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 19.040.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. Eligible implementers include not-for-profit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities capable of delivering public diplomacy programming.
What types of organizations are considered capable implementers for this grant?
Applicants should be positioned to convene credible speakers and participants, manage events or exchanges, produce usable research outputs where relevant, and demonstrate an ability to reach NATO-related audiences.
What is the intended audience or target participants for supported projects?
The target participants include policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and emerging leaders, with an emphasis on audiences across NATO member states and partner countries.
Does the project need a U.S. component?
Yes. Proposed activities should clearly advance the public diplomacy goals and include a clear U.S. component.
What kinds of activities are allowed or encouraged?
Proposed activities can take a variety of forms as long as they advance the stated goals. The notice highlights examples such as:
- Workshops and convenings
- Exchanges that bring relevant communities together
- Research and analysis products that can inform public debate or policy thinking
- Digital engagement that broadens reach beyond in-person events
What substantive topics does the Mission want projects to address?
The Mission is interested in work tied to:
- Defense investment and burden-sharing
- Expansion of defense industrial capacity and resilience
- Integration of emerging technologies into defense planning and capability development
Is the scope limited to one specific type of deliverable?
No. The scope is described as broad, but the common thread is strengthening Allied cohesion and capability by improving understanding, building relationships, and encouraging cooperative approaches.
What does the program mean by "public diplomacy" in this context?
Because this is a public diplomacy grant, proposals are generally expected to show how the project will communicate outcomes, expand mutual understanding, and highlight U.S. engagement in a constructive and visible way.
What does the opportunity emphasize about stakeholder engagement?
The program focus centers on connecting stakeholders across the United States and NATO Allies and partners, building expertise, and creating conditions for real collaboration among people working at the intersection of defense, public policy, and innovation.
What kinds of challenges or themes should applicants keep in mind when designing the project?
The notice highlights shared challenges such as defense investment priorities, production capacity constraints, and technology adoption, and it encourages structured activities that build networks and practical cooperation around these issues.
Why is industrial capacity specifically mentioned as important?
The opportunity frames industrial capacity as important because it supports credible defense and is closely connected to deterrence and defense readiness across the Alliance.
What makes this competition especially competitive?
Because only one award is anticipated, the selection is competitive and the chosen project will likely need to show a clear theory of change, strong partners or networks, and a realistic plan to produce measurable outcomes within the $50,000 budget.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 28, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is June 20, 2026.
Does the grant support more than one project?
No. The opportunity is designed to support a single project and anticipates making one award.
What outcomes should a proposed project aim to produce?
Based on the notice, projects should aim to improve understanding of NATO deterrence and defense, build relationships and networks among relevant stakeholders, encourage cooperative approaches on defense industrial issues, and communicate outcomes in ways that support mutual understanding and visible U.S. engagement.
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