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The Embassy of the United States in Cuba launched an official grant call titled "Towards a Free and Prosperous Cuba," aimed at individuals and independent organizations wanting to develop projects aligned with the values of freedom, justice, democracy, and individual prosperity.
The initiative is part of the Public Diplomacy Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2026 and is set within the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, under the global campaign "Freedom 250" led by the Department of State.
The call is open to civil society organizations, independent religious and educational entities, independent journalists, social media content creators, independent artists, and individual persons.
The official document establishes an explicit exclusion: "No individual or organization that represents or works in association with the Cuban regime is eligible to apply."
For-profit entities also cannot be primary beneficiaries, although they can participate as subcontractors in projects led by non-profit organizations.
The program outlines two priority goals.
The first, titled "With Freedom and Justice for All," is aimed at members of civil society, opinion leaders, academics, artists, and independent journalists who advocate for freedom of expression and access to unbiased information.
The second one, "The Pursuit of Happiness," targets independent micro-entrepreneurs and seeks projects that demonstrate that "individual prosperity should not be hindered by any unnecessary intervention from governments or institutions."
All projects must mandatorily include an element that promotes understanding of the values, culture, and perspectives of the United States; without that component, the proposals are ineligible.
The deadline to submit applications is August 15, 2026.
Proposals should be submitted via email to usembassyhavanagrants@state.gov and include the title of the funding opportunity in the subject line of the message.
The total available amount is not specified with concrete figures in the public document, where it is stated as "subject to fund availability."
The selected projects must be completed within a maximum period of 12 months and incorporate the "Freedom 250" logos in all their materials and communications.
The announcement comes at a time of intense diplomatic activity by the U.S. mission in Havana, led by mission chief Mike Hammer, who met with the leadership of the Catholic Church in Cuba on June 2 to coordinate the 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid announced by the Trump administration.
Hammer also met with a Cuban political prisoner and his children last Thursday, as part of his strategy for direct contact with the island's independent civil society.
This new call also represents a reactivation of U.S. support for Cuban civil society following the period of turbulence in 2025, when the Trump administration temporarily suspended all federal grant programs, impacting independent media and Cuban non-governmental organizations.
Hammer publicly stated at a gala in Miami that "change is coming" and "will arrive in 2026," aligning with the maximum pressure stance that the Trump administration maintains towards the regime in Havana.
Proposals submitted between June 16 and August 15 will receive a response by approximately August 30, subject to fund availability.
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