Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII) FY 14 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Title VIII FY 14 grant opportunity?

The Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII) FY 14 is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), Office of Outreach. It funds nationwide, competitive research and training programs focused on Eastern Europe and Eurasia, with particular emphasis on advanced research and language training.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program is intended to strengthen U.S. expertise on the countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia in ways that matter to real-world U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. Proposals are expected to go beyond academic enrichment by clearly explaining policy relevance and how the work builds practical U.S. national capability related to the region.

Which regions and countries does the program focus on?

The focus is on the countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia, including the independent states of the former Soviet Union, as described in the opportunity.

What types of activities does the grant support?

The opportunity supports structured research and training programs at a national scale, including area studies research and language acquisition tied to Eastern Europe and Eurasia. The emphasis is on advanced research and language training that helps develop deep regional expertise.

Is this funding meant for isolated research projects?

No. The announcement emphasizes programs rather than isolated projects. Strong proposals are expected to articulate how outputs, training, or outreach activities will contribute to broader U.S. strategic interests and translate academic work into accessible insights for policy audiences.

Who is the intended beneficiary of funded programs?

Funded programs are expected to support U.S. scholars, students, and institutions by providing structured pathways for deep regional study, including research and language training related to Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

What does the announcement mean by “national reach”?

The opportunity is designed for nationwide, competitive programs and targets organizations with substantial, wide-reaching experience running research and training programs at a national scale. In other words, proposals should demonstrate an ability to operate beyond a local or single-campus footprint and support a broad U.S. audience.

What kind of organizational experience is expected from applicants?

Applicants are expected to already have substantial experience administering research and training programs at a national level. The most competitive proposals are described as those with credible program management capacity, national reach, and rigorous training and research design.

How important is the connection to U.S. foreign policy or national security?

It is central. Applicants must clearly show how proposed activities connect to U.S. foreign policy or national security priorities and how the work will expand U.S. knowledge and practical national capability related to Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

What does the program require regarding engagement with the U.S. government?

A major objective is to bring outside expertise into more direct service of the U.S. government. Proposals are expected to build meaningful bridges between funded scholars or institutions and the policy community, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange that can inform decision-making among State Department policymakers and Intelligence Community analysts.

Why does the program emphasize bridging academia/nonprofits and government practitioners?

The announcement notes that Intelligence Community analysts and State Department policymakers benefit from external perspectives that introduce new ideas, challenge assumptions, and generate original research. Programs are therefore expected to create opportunities for exchange and practical policy relevance.

What is meant by “advancing U.S. foreign assistance and broader policy goals”?

This purpose indicates that proposals should explain how program outputs, participant training, or outreach activities contribute to U.S. strategic interests. A strong application would describe specific policy relevance, anticipated benefits to U.S. government stakeholders, and how academic work will be translated into usable insights for policy audiences.

Which federal agency is offering and administering this grant?

The grant opportunity is from the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), Office of Outreach.

What type of grant is this?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the education activity category.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is EE ERT 15 001.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA listing is 19.300 (Program for Study of Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union).

How many awards were anticipated?

The Department of State anticipated making about 10 awards.

What is the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding level is $1,500,000.

What is the expected award size range?

Individual awards could range from a floor of $100,000 up to a ceiling of $1,500,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds to be eligible. The announcement notes that programs may still choose to leverage other resources if that strengthens impact.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based: (1) public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, (2) private institutions of higher education, and (3) nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions within that nonprofit category, since higher education institutions are listed separately).

Are non-U.S.-based organizations eligible?

No. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions and qualifying U.S.-based nonprofit organizations as described in the opportunity.

When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The announcement was posted on April 10, 2015. The application deadline was May 20, 2015.

What is the archive date listed for this opportunity?

The archive date is June 19, 2015.

Where can applicants get help with technical issues accessing the full announcement?

For technical issues, the announcement lists the Grants.gov Contact Center: 1-800-518-4726 and support@grants.gov. The contact center is available 24/7 except federal holidays.

What characteristics are described as making a proposal most competitive?

The opportunity states that the most competitive proposals would demonstrate credible program management capacity, national reach, rigorous training and research design, and a clear, well-argued link between scholarly activity and concrete U.S. foreign policy or national security needs.