Call for Applications

We are pleased to announce the next call for OneBeat Accelerator proposals. Accelerator micro-grants support promising OneBeat Alumni projects that are in early to mid stage development and embody the power of music to advance community resilience. The Accelerator can be used to develop proof of concept, kick-start initiatives, or lay the groundwork for larger-scale initiatives. OneBeat Accelerator projects should align with U.S. State Department priorities and respond directly to local community challenges – themes include Building Civic Participation and Resilient Communities, Fostering Economic Prosperity, Empowering Marginalized Communities, Advancing Science, Technology, Health, and Innovation, Promoting Democratic Principles and Educational Opportunity, Addressing Environmental Challenges. Previous projects have focused on youth education, women’s empowerment, civic engagement, the documentation of unheard voices, preservation of intangible and tangible heritage, and entrepreneurship endeavors. Inspiration can be found at OneBeat Accelerator – OneBeat.

The review criteria includes:

1) Vision/Scope: The project should be innovative, compelling, well-defined and relevant to the goals of the OneBeat Accelerator. Project goals and objectives should be reasonable, feasible and flexible. The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals that are achievable and measurable.

2) Impact/Need: The project should clearly demonstrate how it meets the needs of its intended audience/community. The project should continue to have an impact beyond the Accelerator award.

3) Feasibility/Capacity: The individual/team has the capacity to achieve project goals.

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

What the Accelerator funds: Projects with a unique approach to addressing U.S. State Department policy priorities such as fostering mutual understanding, building professional capacity and strengthening networks that promote democratic principles will receive priority. Projects in the initial stage of development are eligible to receive an Accelerator grant; however, the project must demonstrate a path towards sustainability and include an implementation plan. Discrete elements or features of an ongoing project are eligible for support, but the proposal must demonstrate how they are integral to the overall project. Please note: Proposals from U.S.-based Alumni must include an international exchange component to be considered competitive.

What the Accelerator doesn’t fund: Proposals that are centered around the creation of an album or recording (the exception is if an album or recording is an output of a larger project, but not the central focus of the proposal). The Accelerator will also not fund capital (building or infrastructure) projects, although infrastructural costs can be part of a larger proposal.

Awarded projects will receive an Accelerator grant of $3500 USD. As a condition of the award, Accelerator awardees must:

1) Include a tangible output and a public-facing presentation/or engagement (for example, a virtual panel discussion, a workshop, a short video shared on social media, etc.).

2) A brief final report within 8-10 months of receiving the grant. We will ask for these reports in the form of an Exit Survey, where you will be asked to outline the activities funded by the Accelerator award and the outcomes of those activities. Please plan to include a selection of photos or a video(s) as part of this report that can be shared on our website & social media.

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 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST. Results will be announced by April 25, 2025.