Apply Now: ASF Grants for Public Project

Deadline: 15-Sep-26

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) is inviting non-profit organizations to apply for grants supporting public projects that bring American and Scandinavian culture, art, and thought to wider audiences. The grants support public programming that strengthens cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and the Nordic countries. Funding is available for a range of projects that highlight American and Scandinavian arts, culture, intellectual traditions, and public engagement. Organizations can receive grants of up to $5,000, while average awards typically range from $1,000 to $2,000.

About the American-Scandinavian Foundation Grants

The American-Scandinavian Foundation was established to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and the Nordic countries. The Foundation has a longstanding commitment to increasing public appreciation of American and Scandinavian culture through events, artistic activities, intellectual programming, and other public initiatives. Through its grant programme, ASF supports projects that bring these cultural traditions to diverse audiences and encourage meaningful public engagement. What Projects Are Supported? Funding is available for a wide range of public projects that present American and Scandinavian culture, art, and thought to broader audiences. Supported projects may include public programming and defined events that contribute to cultural exchange and public understanding.

ASF gives priority to projects that:

- Provide lasting benefits to the public. - Strengthen cultural exchange between the United States and Scandinavian countries. - Complement support received from other funding sources. - Provide clearly defined public programming or events. - Bring American and Scandinavian culture, art, or thought to diverse audiences. How Much Funding Is Available? The maximum ASF grant award is $5,000. However, average grants generally range from $1,000 to $2,000. Applicants should request an amount that is appropriate for the proposed project and clearly identify the requested funding in the project budget. The grant is intended to complement other sources of support rather than necessarily cover the entire cost of a project. Who Can Apply? The grants are available exclusively to non-profit organizations. Applicants must provide proof of appropriate non-profit status, including: - 501(c)(3) status in the United States, or - An equivalent non-profit status in Scandinavia. Organizations should ensure that their legal status can be documented as part of the application. What Should the Application Include? Applicants must submit detailed information demonstrating the project’s purpose, relevance to ASF’s objectives, budget, organizational capacity, and expected public engagement.

Application materials should include:

- A detailed project description referencing the objectives of the American-Scandinavian Foundation. - A project budget specifying the amount requested from ASF. - Background information about the organization. - Biographies of key project participants. - Information about audience engagement. - A publicity strategy for reaching audiences. The application should clearly explain how the proposed project advances ASF’s cultural exchange objectives. Audience Engagement and Publicity Applicants should explain how the project will engage the public and reach its intended audience. The application should provide information about the anticipated audience as well as the organization’s strategy for promoting and publicizing the project. A clear audience engagement and publicity plan can demonstrate how the proposed activity will bring American and Scandinavian culture to wider audiences. Application Limits Organizations must follow ASF’s application limits. Only one application per organization per competition cycle is permitted. In addition, only one award per fiscal year in any grant category will be granted to an organization. Organizations should therefore select their strongest and most appropriate project when applying. Project Start Date Projects cannot begin before the decision announcement date. Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed project schedule allows sufficient time for the ASF funding decision before any project activities begin. What Expenses Are Not Supported? ASF grants do not support certain types of expenses. In particular, the programme does not support: - Capital costs. - Institutional overhead. - Retroactive funding. Applicants should ensure that their proposed budgets focus on eligible project-related expenses and do not include unsupported costs. Why Apply for American-Scandinavian Foundation Grants? The ASF grants provide non-profit organizations with an opportunity to develop public programmes that strengthen cultural connections between the United States and Scandinavian countries. The funding can help organizations present artistic, cultural, and intellectual work to wider audiences while contributing to long-term public appreciation and mutual understanding. The Foundation’s preference for projects with lasting benefits also encourages applicants to demonstrate how their proposed activities can create value beyond a single event or funding period. Key Facts About American-Scandinavian Foundation Grants

- Funder: American-Scandinavian Foundation

- Maximum award: $5,000

- Average award: $1,000–$2,000

- Eligible applicants: Non-profit organizations

- U.S. eligibility: Organizations with 501(c)(3) status

- Scandinavian eligibility: Organizations with equivalent non-profit status

- Focus: American and Scandinavian culture, art, and thought

- Project type: Public programming and defined events

- Priority: Projects demonstrating lasting benefits and complementing other support

- Application limit: One application per organization per competition cycle

- Award limit: One award per fiscal year in any grant category

- Project timing: Proje