Book Translation Program | DOS GEO 23 005 02032023

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS GEO 23 005 02032023

The Book Translation Program (Funding Opportunity No. DOS GEO 23 005 02032023) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia (CFDA 19.900) that supports the translation and publication of books into Georgian. The program is intended for works that have not previously been published in Georgian and that will be translated directly from the original language (not via an intermediary translation). While the notice lists up to 15 expected awards, it does not specify an award ceiling in the provided information.

A central requirement is cost sharing: applicants must cover 50 percent of the total project cost through matching funds. This cost share can come from the applicant organization itself or from other sources. If another organization is providing co-funding, the application must include an approval letter from that funder confirming the amount of support and identifying what expense categories it will cover. This makes it important to line up commitments early, since the documentation is part of demonstrating that the project is financially viable.

The program also sets practical publication standards. As a baseline, projects are expected to produce a minimum print run of 1,000 copies, though smaller print runs may be considered depending on the specifics of an individual project. For projects involving textbooks or academic literature, the expectation is that the translation will use the latest edition, which helps ensure the final Georgian publication reflects current content and scholarship rather than outdated versions.

Copyright clearance is treated as an applicant responsibility and is not optional. Applicants are expected to begin negotiations with the copyright holder before submitting a proposal and must provide evidence of that outreach, such as copies of correspondence or a draft contract, along with other required application documents. If the project is selected as a finalist, the applicant must then provide a copyright agreement signed by both parties. In other words, the program expects applicants to do substantial rights-related homework up front and to be ready to finalize permissions if selected.

There are also limits on how many applications can be submitted. Each applicant may submit up to five proposals per call. An organization may apply under both deadlines in the same year, but it cannot resubmit the exact same proposal in the second call of that year. This structure encourages applicants to prioritize their strongest titles and to avoid recycling unsuccessful submissions without meaningful changes.

For collaborative or jointly implemented projects, the opportunity requires letters of support from project partners. These letters must clearly describe what each partner will do and how responsibilities will be divided, which helps reviewers assess capacity, accountability, and whether the partnership is functional rather than informal.

Finally, the program expects projects to go beyond printing the translated book by including post-publication promotion and outreach. Required promotional activities can include a book launch and public presentation, readings and discussions, social media campaigns, contests, and similar efforts designed to build awareness and readership. The opportunity strongly recommends coordinating these activities with American Spaces in the regions, signaling that community engagement and public programming are an important part of what the grant is intended to achieve.

Key administrative details from the notice include an original closing date of March 29, 2023, a funding instrument type listed as Grant/Other, and eligibility described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced but not included in the provided excerpt.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Book Translation Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 09, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 29, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for DOS GEO 23 005 02032023

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: