We are pleased to announce our next round of OneBeat Follow-On Accelerator proposals. The purpose of this funding is to support the development and/or implementation of OneBeat Alumni projects that support democratic principles around the globe including, but not limited to, climate change, inclusion, media literacy, access to education, economic empowerment, and community resilience.

For this seed funding, we will consider projects at their initial stages that have a clear plan for moving forward, or for new elements or features of existing projects. Projects that have a unique approach to fostering community strength, supporting vulnerable or underserved populations, or providing spaces for connection and mutual support, will receive priority.

What we don’t fund:

1) Project proposals that are centered around the creation of an album or recording will not be funded. (The exception, however, is if an album or recording is an output of a larger project, but not the central focus of the proposal.)

2) As a U.S. State Department seed grant emphasizing global exchange, projects from alumni based in the United States must include an international exchange component to be competitive for an Accelerator award.

Selected projects will receive seed grants of $2,500 each. For each award, we will be asking for two outputs:

1) A public-facing presentation of your experience of process (for example, a virtual panel discussion, a short video shared on social media, a blog post, etc...)

2) A brief final report within 6-8 months of receiving the grant.

OneBeat Accelerator applications will be reviewed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Found Sound Nation, and a jury of outside expert reviewers.

Our selection criteria include:

1) Vision/Scope: How innovative & compelling is the project?

2) Impact/Need: Who will the project impact, and what will be the strength of that impact?

3) Feasibility/Clarity: What is the capacity of the individual/team to meet this project’s goals?

Please note that if you have previously received a OneBeat Accelerator grant, you will not be eligible for another award for 3 years (from the time of your award).

Applications will be reviewed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Found Sound Nation, and a jury of outside expert reviewers. Applications will close on January 20, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST. Results will be announced by April 2023.