Public Affairs

U.S. Embassy

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT GRANTS PROGRAM 2008
U.S. Embassy Ankara, Turkey

GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Introduction

The U.S Mission in Turkey announces the Youth Empowerment Grants Program to support projects for Turkish youth throughout Turkey. The main objective of the grant program is to support innovative, small-scale, cutting-edge projects developed and implemented by and/or for young people in the areas of educational development, environment issues, community development, civil society building,  human rights, youth enrichment activities, health and human services and employability for youth between the ages of 15 - 25. 

Application Procedure and Eligibility

• The U.S. Mission in Turkey invites registered NGOs (working for and with youth) to submit proposals up to $13,000. Groups of young students or individuals under the age of 25 may also submit proposals for sums up to $2200. 
  
• Language:  Proposals to the U.S mission in Ankara must be submitted in English; however the consultation with the Youth Program Coordinator from the U.S. Mission may be done in Turkish.
  
• The project duration can be minimum of 3 months and maximum of 12 months.
  
• Proposals for funding new activities as part of an ongoing funded project will also be eligible for consideration.
  

Deadlines and Key Dates:

Round 1:  Submission Deadline: January 15, 2008 (projects will be reviewed by February 1) Round 2: Submission Deadline:  April 30, 2008 (projects will be reviewed by May 15) Round 3: Submission Deadline:  June 30, 2008 (projects will be reviewed by July 15)

• Disbursement:  The grants will be disbursed on within a month period to the registered NGOs, schools and community organizations and individuals after their proposal is approved by the selection committee.

While submitting the application there are also additional documents that the registered
NGOs need to submit;

• Most recent annual financial statement listing income sources (audited if available)
  
• Copy of the applicant organization’s registration status (For NGOs only)
  

Themes

Possible themes of the “Youth Empowerment Grants Program” focus on:

I) Educational Development
II) Environmental Issues
III) Community development/ Civil Society Building/ Human Rights
IV) Enrichment activities for youth such as Summer Camps, Debates, Competitions, IT Classes
V) Health and Human Services
VI) Employability among youth
VII) or Other related sub topics

Assessment Criteria

• Targeting:  Aims at improving and expanding the opportunities, skills, world views
  
• Innovation: Applies approaches and ideas that vary from current approaches. The U.S Mission in Turkey is particularly interested in projects which introduce a new approach, process or technology in tackling one of the issues listed above.
  
• Sustainability: Demonstrates the organizational capacity, viability of partnerships and the longer term financial viability of the project (i.e. The organization’s capacity to continue the project beyond the initial funding period).
  
• Results and Measurability: Demonstrates a quantifiable, direct impact on the target group with clearly articulated mechanisms to measure the project’s effectiveness in reaching them within the timeframe of implementation.
  
• Cost Sharing: Demonstrates cost sharing (funds or in kind contributions are acceptable) from the organizations involved in the proposal. Cost sharing is required and should be clearly indicated and adequately calculated in the budget.