What are the expected outputs of an accepted OneBeat Accelerator seed grant?

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

What is the selection criteria for choosing a OneBeat accelerator?

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.

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 panel of outside expert reviewers.

Can I submit more than one Accelerator application if I have multiple projects?

No, you can only submit one proposal per application cycle. However, you are welcome to reapply as many times as you would like in subsequent years.

I've applied and been rejected for an Accelerator in the past. Can I reapply with the same project idea?

Yes, you're welcome to reapply. We recommend updating your writing with any new information and progress you've made on your project since your last application.

I've already received an Accelerator award in the past. Can I reapply?

If you have previously received a OneBeat Accelerator grant or OneBeat Institute Fellowship, you will not be eligible for another award for 3 years. This means that if you received an Accelerator grant or Institute Fellowship on or after 2021, you are not eligible to apply this year.

What are the funding priorities for the Accelerator grant?

Accelerator grants support projects that advance democratic principles around the globe including, but not limited to, access to education, community resilience, conflict transformation, diversity and inclusion, economic empowerment, environmental protection, media literacy, and youth engagement.

What does the Accelerator seed grant NOT support?

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.) The Accelerator will also not fund capital (building or infrastructure) projects, although infrastructural costs can be part of a larger proposal. Also, please note 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.

What will Accelerator recipients receive?

Up to 8 Accelerator proposals will receive seed grant funding of $3,500 each, pending available funding.

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