US-Russia Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Dialogue Program

Public and private not-for-profit organizations registered in the U.S. or Russia at the time of application are eligible for funding. This includes nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, schools, and other entities. For-profit and business institutions are not eligible to apply, with the exception of for-profit cultural organizations. Experience working directly with international partners in the past is not required for this funding opportunity.

Restrictions:

Projects that provide direct benefit to the Government of the Russian Federation at any level, including Russian government entities (museums, universities, schools, etc.) and Russian government officials or employees in any branch of government (including paying salary or honoraria to teachers, professors, museum workers, etc.) are not eligible for funding.

Organizations registered and/or located in any country other than the U.S. or Russia are not eligible to serve as project partners.

Organizations and partnerships that have applied to P2P in the past are eligible to apply for funding in the new round provided that an original concept note is submitted. Submitted concept notes that propose the same project as a previously submitted concept note will not be considered for funding.

While universities and other research institutions are eligible to apply to the P2P program, funded projects must expand beyond pure research. Specifically, all P2P projects should include or culminate in concrete deliverable or deliverables, including but not limited to offering newly-developed training sessions, lectures, conferences, video/music productions, art exhibits, performances, etc.

EF will not fund projects that engage in political activism or lobbying, support public policy reform movements, or seek to sway public opinion about policy. Rather, competitive projects will seek out project topics that can lead to productive international partnership and have potential to spark long-term peer-to-peer relationships.

Applicants are advised that P2P funding may not be used to fund projects that focus primarily on academic or scientific research, focus on initiatives that have already been launched or continuing activities, provide benefit to the Government of the Russian Federation at any level, including Russian government entities (museums, universities, schools, etc.) and Russian government officials or employees in any branch of government (including teachers, professors, museum workers, etc.). Additionally, Russian government officials or employees from Russian governmental organizations, including but not limited to the examples above, are not eligible to participate in P2P-funded activities as active participants. P2P project activities may not take place at Russian government venues, including state universities.

Individuals are not eligible to be a partner of a P2P-funded project.

Projects which include funding for core administrative functions are not eligible.

In accordance with EF policy, funding may not be used for the following costs:
- Ongoing organization expenses;
- Construction expenses;
- Purchase of real estate, alcoholic beverages, entertainment, and business/first-class travel;
- Disbursements to organizations or institutions funded by the Russian government;
- Service/Repayment of debts.

Before being invited to submit a full funding application, all prospective applicants must provide a statement of interest application.

To be considered for funding, applicants must submit their applications using EF’s online funding management platform by 11:59 p.m. EST on March 5, 2020.

Statement of interest applications must address five questions and full applications must address six questions that are found on the URL for Full Text link below, under "Application Process".

Applicants must also submit a letter of commitment from their international partner in the statement of interest application (detailed instructions provided in the funding management system).

Each application must also include a cost share component beyond the EF funding amount. Applicants are required to contribute at least 10% of the requested sum in monetary and in-kind contributions. Applicants are encouraged to seek ways to expand their cost share above 10% of the total project budget, including pro-bono work, in-kind contribution, and corporate sponsorship.

About P2P: https://www.usrussiap2p.org/about
FAQs: https://www.usrussiap2p.org/faqs