The Hearts of Europe-Program
The Hearts of Europe initiative, funded jointly by USAID and the Rotary Foundation, is a three-year program that aims to foster collaboration, networking, and friendship among Rotary clubs in select Eastern European countries and the United States. The program will be administered through the Foundation’s global grants but will offer additional financial and project support.
What Hearts of Europe Global Grants can support
Hearts of Europe grant projects must meet global grant requirements as well as some additional requirements, including:
- Projects should involve activities that increase engagement and strengthen relationships between Rotary members in the U.S. and in Eastern Europe.
- The international sponsor of the grant project must be a club or district in the U.S. Clubs in other countries may participate in and contribute to the project in other ways.
- At least one U.S. Rotarian from the international sponsor club or district must visit the project and meet with members of the host club or district.
- If any Rotaract clubs are near the project site, the sponsors must involve Rotaractors in developing, implementing, and monitoring the project.
- All grant applications must be reviewed by a regional grants officer before they are submitted.
See Hearts of Europe Global Grants Guidelines for full details. Please note in the guidelines the additional rules and regulations of this special USAID Rotary program, such as environmental standards and prohibited activities.
Note: Rotary clubs and districts that apply to sponsor these grants may receive a double World Fund match. For example, if they request $15,000 from the World Fund, they can receive up to an additional $15,000 for a total of $30,000 in matching funds.
Who can apply for Hearts of Europe Global Grants
The projects funded by Hearts of Europe Global Grants must take place in the following countries where USAID has a presence: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. The host sponsor for the grant must be a club or district in one of these countries. The international sponsor for the grant must be a club or district in the United States.
How to apply
- Review the Terms and Conditions for Rotary Foundation District Grants and Global Grants, the Area of Focus Policy Statements, and the Hearts of Europe Global Grants Guidelines.
- Confirm host and international sponsor for the grant. The host sponsor must be a club or district in one of the countries listed above. The international sponsor must be a club or district in the United States.
- Conduct a community assessment.
- Contact Regional Grants Officers Lauren Sterenberg or Marty Daiga to discuss your project idea and confirm eligibility for the Hearts of Europe Global Grant. Lauren is responsible for the following countries: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia. Marty is responsible for the following countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine.
- Engage with your local USAID as needed. Regional Grant Officers can help facilitate these contacts.
- Fill out the global grant application in the Grant Center. Complete the Hearts of Europe Global Grants Application Appendix and upload to step 8 of the global grant application.