Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 011
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine (U.S. Department of State) is offering a discretionary grant to support a professional exchange program that uses U.S.-based internships to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship among young Ukrainian business leaders. The core idea is to bring cohorts of Ukrainian businesspersons, innovators, and entrepreneurs to the United States for structured, short-term professional placements and targeted networking, with the goal of exposing them to U.S. practices, institutions, and policies that encourage entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and a stronger investment and business climate. A stated geographic priority is to focus recruitment and impact outside Kyiv, steering opportunities toward participants from other regions and non-major cities.
The recipient organization is expected to design and run at least two program cycles (two iterations) during the project period. Each cycle should include a cohort of at least six participants, ages 20 to 40, and should combine practical workplace experience with deliberate relationship-building. The internships are intended to place participants inside U.S. public and private sector organizations so they can observe and learn how innovation ecosystems function in real settings, including how local and national policy can support startups, scale-ups, investment attraction, export readiness, and overall competitiveness. Beyond the internship itself, the program is expected to create meaningful networking opportunities that continue after the exchange, helping participants maintain professional ties and translate what they learned into activities back in Ukraine.
The opportunity lays out a fairly specific program structure that proposals should follow. Applicants must run a competitive selection process that includes both a written application and an in-person interview, emphasizing merit-based recruitment and clear participant vetting. The program should provide pre-internship orientations in both Ukraine and the United States to prepare participants for professional expectations, cultural context, and the goals of the exchange. Once in the U.S., participants should take part in a pre-internship networking event, complete a 4 to 5 week internship with a U.S. host organization, and then participate in a post-internship debrief in the United States to reflect on lessons learned and document outcomes. The cycle concludes with a post-internship networking event in the U.S., reinforcing connections with host organizations and broader innovation and entrepreneurship networks.
A major requirement is sustainability after participants return home. Proposals are expected to include alumni-focused professional development and networking activities in Ukraine, so the exchange is not a one-time experience but part of a longer pipeline of mentorship, collaboration, and peer learning. This alumni component is meant to help participants apply U.S.-learned approaches to their own ventures, foster regional innovation communities, and maintain active ties among cohorts and U.S. counterparts.
The intended participants are Ukrainian businesspersons, innovators, and entrepreneurs between 20 and 40 years old. The Embassy Public Diplomacy Grants Committee indicates a clear preference for proposals that actively recruit and include: women; marginalized and underrepresented groups (explicitly including people with disabilities and LGBTQI community members); residents of non-major Ukrainian cities; and representatives of STEAM fields. In practice, this means strong applications will describe concrete outreach and selection strategies to reach these groups and ensure their meaningful participation rather than treating inclusion as a general aspiration.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity PAS UKRAINE 2020 011 under CFDA 19.900, with the activity categories tied to business and commerce and community development. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The agency anticipated making one award, with a maximum award ceiling of $275,000. The notice was originally posted on February 21, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 20, 2020.Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 011
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine in the business and commerce, community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ukraine: Professional Internships Exchange Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship" 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 21, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 20, 2020. (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 $275,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity about?
This discretionary grant from the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine (U.S. Department of State) supports a professional exchange program that uses U.S.-based internships to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship among young Ukrainian business leaders. The program brings cohorts of Ukrainian businesspersons, innovators, and entrepreneurs to the United States for short-term professional placements and targeted networking.
What is the main goal of the program?
The goal is to expose participants to U.S. practices, institutions, and policies that encourage entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and a stronger investment and business climate, and to help them translate that learning into concrete activities after returning to Ukraine.
What is the geographic priority for recruitment in Ukraine?
A stated priority is to focus recruitment and impact outside Kyiv by steering opportunities toward participants from other regions and non-major cities.
Who are the intended participants?
Participants are intended to be Ukrainian businesspersons, innovators, and entrepreneurs between 20 and 40 years old.
How many program cycles are required?
The recipient organization is expected to design and run at least two program cycles (two iterations) during the project period.
How many participants must be included in each cycle?
Each program cycle should include a cohort of at least six participants.
What kinds of U.S. organizations can host internships?
Internships are intended to place participants inside U.S. public and private sector organizations so participants can observe and learn how innovation ecosystems function in real settings.
How long are the internships expected to last?
Each participant is expected to complete a 4 to 5 week internship with a U.S. host organization.
What topics or learning areas should the internship experience cover?
The program is designed to help participants learn how innovation ecosystems work, including how local and national policy can support startups and scale-ups, investment attraction, export readiness, and overall competitiveness.
What networking elements are expected as part of the exchange?
The program is expected to create meaningful networking opportunities that continue after the exchange. The described structure includes a pre-internship networking event in the United States and a post-internship networking event in the United States to reinforce connections with host organizations and broader innovation and entrepreneurship networks.
Is a selection process required? If so, what must it include?
Yes. Applicants must run a competitive selection process that includes both a written application and an in-person interview. The opportunity emphasizes merit-based recruitment and clear participant vetting.
Are orientations required before internships begin?
Yes. The program should provide pre-internship orientations in both Ukraine and the United States to prepare participants for professional expectations, cultural context, and the goals of the exchange.
What activities are expected after the internship concludes in the U.S.?
The program structure calls for a post-internship debrief in the United States to reflect on lessons learned and document outcomes, followed by a post-internship networking event in the United States.
Is sustainability after participants return to Ukraine required?
Yes. A major requirement is sustainability after participants return home. Proposals are expected to include alumni-focused professional development and networking activities in Ukraine so the exchange becomes part of a longer pipeline of mentorship, collaboration, and peer learning.
What is the purpose of the alumni component in Ukraine?
The alumni component is meant to help participants apply U.S.-learned approaches to their own ventures, foster regional innovation communities, and maintain active ties among cohorts and U.S. counterparts.
Does the Embassy express participant inclusion preferences?
Yes. The Embassy Public Diplomacy Grants Committee indicates a clear preference for proposals that actively recruit and include women; marginalized and underrepresented groups (explicitly including people with disabilities and LGBTQI community members); residents of non-major Ukrainian cities; and representatives of STEAM fields.
What does the opportunity suggest about how inclusion should be addressed in proposals?
Strong applications are expected to describe concrete outreach and selection strategies to reach preferred groups and ensure meaningful participation, rather than treating inclusion as a general aspiration.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity PAS UKRAINE 2020 011 under CFDA 19.900.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The activity categories are tied to business and commerce and community development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
How many awards does the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipated making one award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award ceiling is $275,000.
When was the notice posted and what was the application deadline?
The notice was originally posted on February 21, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 20, 2020.
Is the grant described as discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine (U.S. Department of State).
What makes the program more than just an internship placement?
The program is designed to combine practical workplace experience with deliberate relationship-building through structured orientations, networking events, a debrief process to document outcomes, and an alumni program in Ukraine focused on continued professional development and networking.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Business and Commerce, Community Development
Next opportunity: NEA/PPD Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI)
Previous opportunity: Strengthening Ministry of Health's Capacity (MOH-Cap) for HIV Diagnosis, Treatment, and Monitoring in the Kingdom of Lesotho under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 011
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAS UKRAINE 2020 011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Mapping the Entrepreneurial Landscape for Tibetans-in-Exile in India Apply for ND NOFO 23 104 Funding Number: ND NOFO 23 104 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to India Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Regional Startup Network Apply for K NOFO 20 104 Funding Number: K NOFO 20 104 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM (STEP) Apply for SB OITST 25 001 Funding Number: SB OITST 25 001 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| FY26 Women Business Center Renewal Announcement Apply for SB OEDWB 26 001 Funding Number: SB OEDWB 26 001 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAS UKRAINE 2020 011", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.