Ukraine: Financial Stability for Media in Pandemic and Crisis Times. | PAS UKRAINE 2022 06

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2022 06

The Ukraine: Financial Stability for Media in Pandemic and Crisis Times grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAS UKRAINE 2022 06) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine program run through the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. Its core purpose is to help Ukrainian independent media outlets and media organizations stay financially resilient during pandemic and broader crisis conditions, while also strengthening their ability to operate freely over the long term. The program is designed around a practical idea: if media organizations have stronger management, clearer revenue strategies, and more engaging digital products, they are less likely to shrink, shut down, or become vulnerable to pressure that can undermine media freedom.

Projects funded under this call are expected to give media organizations concrete tools and skills that improve both operational efficiency and revenue generation. The Embassy highlights several priority directions for proposed activities, including hands-on training for media editors and owners in modern media management (delivered offline and/or online), and opportunities for peer learning through study visits or experience-sharing tours between outlets. Another major focus is helping media professionals understand and adopt different monetization models for online content, including platform strategies and best practices that have worked in other contexts. The opportunity also stresses improving the appeal and usability of online journalism by training staff to produce content in formats audiences actually consume, such as podcasts, social media-first storytelling, infographics, live streams, video, and other digital narrative techniques. On the sustainability side, applicants are encouraged to share and implement best practices that build stable income, such as membership models, subscription growth tactics, and crowdfunding approaches. Finally, the Embassy places special value on regional-level collaboration, aiming to strengthen cooperation between larger media, local businesses, and civil society organizations to create more durable local support networks.

In terms of funding details, the total funding available is up to $350,000, with individual awards typically ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. The notice anticipates up to roughly 15 awards, depending on the availability of funds. The performance period is expected to be between 6 and 12 months, and projects must be completed in 12 months or less. The anticipated start date listed in the announcement is March 31, 2022, and the funding instrument is a grant using FY21 foreign assistance funds. No cost sharing or matching funds are required, which lowers the barrier for smaller outlets that may not have spare resources to contribute.

Eligibility is centered on Ukrainian independent media outlets and media organizations, with strict political neutrality requirements. Applicant organizations and their members cannot represent a political party or serve as appointed or elected public officials at the time of application or throughout the grant. NGOs that belong to, or are financially supported by, a political party are not eligible. The rules also prohibit spending the organization s own funds on behalf of candidates or political parties during the grant, and grant funds cannot be used to support political campaigns or offset campaign contribution costs. In addition, recipients may not publish or communicate content that explicitly supports or opposes any political candidate, party, or coalition as part of the funded work. The announcement also notes that applying for, or receiving, this grant does not prevent an organization from applying for other U.S. government funding opportunities.

Applications had to be submitted by email to KyivMDF@state.gov by February 28 at 11:59 p.m. Kyiv time, and the Embassy stresses that proposals not meeting the stated requirements can be ruled ineligible. Submissions must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, and pages should be numbered. Required components include the standard federal forms SF-424 and SF-424A, a project proposal of no more than five pages (covering items such as a problem statement, goals and objectives, activities, methods, timeline, key personnel, partners, monitoring and evaluation, and future funding or sustainability), and a budget justification narrative explaining each line item in detail. Applicants must also include attachments such as one-page CVs or resumes for key personnel, organizational registration documents, and proof of required entity registrations.

A key compliance requirement is that applicant organizations must have a unique entity identifier (historically referenced as a DUNS number) and be actively registered in SAM.gov to receive an award, and no entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM may apply or participate. The notice emphasizes that DUNS and SAM registration are free, while warning that third-party companies may offer paid services to handle registrations and that the U.S. government will not reimburse those costs. Proposals are evaluated by a Grants Review Committee using criteria focused on the quality and feasibility of the idea, the organization s capacity and prior grant performance, the strength of planning and likelihood of achieving objectives, the appropriateness of the budget, and the monitoring and evaluation approach. If selected, the award is administered by a Grants Officer, expenses may only be incurred starting on the official award start date, and there is no promise of future or renewal funding. Recipients must comply with standard federal grant rules and terms (including relevant sections of 2 CFR and Department of State standard terms) and must submit periodic program and financial reports as specified in the award document.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ukraine: Financial Stability for Media in Pandemic and Crisis Times." and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 01, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 2022. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2022 06

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