Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Grants

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The U.S. Creative Tech Exchange (U.S.CTX) is a new international arts exchange program that drives economic growth by connecting U.S. creative professionals and technologists with international peers working at the intersection of the arts and emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to position American technology as a key driver of American innovation, economic, and cultural influence in art and technology, For the purposes of this program, arts refers specifically to architecture, creative coding and gaming, fashion, graphic design, music and immersive art such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR); but excludes film and television. U.S.CTX will support up to 30 participants through short-term, hands-on activities such as collaborative labs, fellowships, workshops, and public showcases. ECA will award one U.S.-based nonprofit or educational organization $1.32 million to design and implement the program in close coordination with ECA and U.S. embassies. Applicants should propose a concept that leverages their strengths and includes clear plans for recruitment, program delivery, and measurable outcomes in creative arts, economic impact, and public diplomacy. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for proposals to implement the FY 2026 Tech Youth program. Tech Youth is a new three-week, U.S.-based youth exchange that will equip young innovators with essential technical, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills to lead effectively and succeed in emerging industries. Participants will gain hands-on experience through job shadowing, site visits to U.S. companies, meetings with industry leaders, and intensive coursework and hands-on training. The program advances U.S. efforts to secure technological advantage over strategic competitors. The program will support approximately 96 American and international participants from select countries worldwide (approximately 72 English-speaking international high school students and 24 U.S. high school students) in pre-exchange activities, the three-week U.S.-based exchange (to be conducted in summer 2027), post-exchange alumni engagement, and implementation of required capstone projects that address real-world economic and business challenges. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 U.S. Creative Tech Exchange

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Tech Youth Program

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Exchange

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for the FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program. TechLeaders will strengthen America s technological edge and industry dominance by promoting U.S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Space Technology, Biotechnology/Health Technology, Supply Chain/Cold Chain Technology, and Agricultural Technology (AgriTech). This initiative engages approximately 60 foreign participants, ages 25-40, from Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere through a five-week intensive placement in the United States. Participants will collaborate with U.S.-based mentors and companies to develop actionable solutions in critical technology sectors, showcasing American expertise and innovation. The program will also feature overseas components including reciprocal exchanges and an accelerator following the second U.S.-based cohort to expand U.S. influence, inspire future STEM professionals, and foster collaboration with American businesses. TechLeaders supports U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives by exporting American expertise and technological innovations abroad, promoting U.S.-preferred technology standards globally, bolstering economic ties, and countering the proliferation of malign competitors technology in the global market. Organizations applying for this federal award must demonstrate the capacity to recruit, select, and place participants, manage all program logistics, and implement overseas programming, which includes annual reciprocal exchanges and a Critical Emerging Technologies Accelerator program after the second cohort of participants. The recipient will be awarded $ 1,500,000 for the overall FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently to advance U.S. national interests and global leadership in critical technology sectors. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design and implement the FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange (CEE). CEE is a two-way exchange initiative for approximately 30-40 emerging civic leaders (ages 22-27), from Europe and Eurasia, that provides skill-based training, hands-on activities, and practical application of one of the First Amendment s most fundamental rights: the freedom of speech. Grounded in the enduring principles of the U.S. Constitution, CEE equips participants with the skills to promote free speech, reduce conflict and strengthen community engagement. CEE participants will work alongside American counterparts in a substantive six- to eight-week exchange program, including a four-to five-week individually tailored professional placement in a U.S. organization, designed to cultivate practical First Amendment (1A) skills. Approximately 15 20 Americans will travel on reciprocal visits, co-designed with CEE participants, that showcase America s leadership, promote free speech, and create opportunities for sustained collaboration. CEE advances U.S. foreign policy by strengthening the free speech and community engagement, promoting constructive public discourse, and fostering international partners equipped to address complex challenges in alignment with U.S. interests. CEE is supported by Pawel Adamowicz supplemental funding. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) aims to advance economic prosperity in the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland through short-term exchange activities focused on two overarching themes: Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience. The AEP will consist of three targeted exchange activities with distinct cohorts of approximately eight to 10 participants each. One activity will take place in each participating country, subject to local conditions. The scope of these activities may vary based on program needs. Across all three exchange activities, the AEP will build participants professional capacity and create new partnership opportunities that advance economic prosperity in the United States, Canada, and Greenland. The program will position the United States as a partner of choice in Arctic economic development initiatives, promote U.S. business interests, and counter adversarial influence in this strategically important region.Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

ECA announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a program that will convene cultural ministers from key countries at an iconic location in the United States for high level discussions on cultural heritage and cultural property protection as part of the State Department s programming to mark America s 250th birthday. The implementing partner will work closely with ECA to develop the program s one-to-two-day exchange agenda, including showcasing innovation and new technologies of the U.S. private sector and other American institutions in the cultural heritage field; strengthening cooperation in combatting art and antiquities trafficking; and using cultural heritage to amplify global narratives on America s foundational values. The convening will feature U.S. models, standards, and best practices; strengthen relationships with key countries in the cultural heritage field; and produce concrete follow-on steps to advance the program s agenda. Two to three virtual sessions with working level representatives of the selected cultural ministers will precede the U.S. program, helping gain input into and solidify the agenda. Participants will include 25-40 cultural ministers or equivalents/designees from select countries; representatives from the U.S. government, U.S. companies and other institutions involved in cultural heritage preservation and protection; and U.S. law enforcement focused on combatting art and antiquities trafficking. The program will introduce the foreign participants to U.S. advancements in cultural property protection and preservation, strengthen commercial diplomacy, and accelerate coordination between ECA and U.S. law enforcement, thereby enhancing border security and reducing financing from trafficked art and antiquities. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional Information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors Programs

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for the FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors program. Proposals may be submitted to implement one, or more, of eight program options outlined in this solicitation. A different proposal must be submitted for each program option, if applying for more than one. You must clearly identify which program option a proposal is for, early in the Executive Summary of the proposal. The Youth Ambassadors program provides groups of youth and adult mentor (select programs) participants from select countries in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (AF), East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), Middle East and North Africa (NEA), South Central Asia (SCA), the Western Hemisphere (WHA), and the United States of America (USA) , with a three-week exchange focusing on youth leadership. In addition to participants travelling internationally, exchanges will include U.S. youth and adult mentors participating as peers in U.S. based exchanges. As applicants explore the main theme of leadership, they are encouraged to showcase creative and transformative application of AI concepts, resources, strategies, and tools. Program participants will apply knowledge gained on the program to implement follow-on projects in their home communities. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design and implement the FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP). The United States has a strong tradition of hard work, entrepreneurship, and local leadership that has powered economic growth. American communities succeed by building on what they do best innovating, strengthening key industries, and coordinating business, workforce, and community leadership to deliver results. CSP invests in American and international community leaders interested in learning from proven U.S. approaches to regional economic growth. It will engage leaders, ages 27 39, who will work alongside American partners to understand how regional industry clusters and locally driven strategies expand opportunities that benefit the American people. During a three- to four-month exchange in the United States, approximately 50 60 participants will work directly with American counterparts on real-world economic growth initiatives across key sectors such as: culinary industries/farm-to-table; business and entrepreneurship; hospitality and tourism; technology and innovation, and others as proposed. Placements will demonstrate how U.S. communities organize around regional industry clusters to attract talent, secure investment, grow businesses, and strengthen local economies. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

<p>The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design and implement the FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP). The United States has a strong tradition of hard work, entrepreneurship, and local leadership that has powered economic growth. American communities succeed by building on what they do best — innovating, strengthening key industries, and coordinating business, workforce, and community leadership to deliver results. CSP invests in American and international community leaders interested in learning from proven U.S. approaches to regional economic growth. It will engage leaders, ages 27–39, who will work alongside American partners to understand how regional industry clusters and locally driven strategies expand opportunities that benefit the American people. During a three- to four-month exchange in the United States, approximately 50–60 participants will work directly with American counterparts on real-world economic growth initiatives across key sectors such as: culinary industries/farm-to-table; business and entrepreneurship; hospitality and tourism; technology and innovation, and others as proposed. Placements will demonstrate how U.S. communities organize around regional industry clusters to attract talent, secure investment, grow businesses, and strengthen local economies. </p><p><br></p><p>Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.</p>

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Community Solutions Program

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2027 Fulbright Scholar Program

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

<p>The Fulbright U.S. and Visiting Scholar Programs annually provide approximately 970 awards to U.S. scholars and professionals to lecture and/or conduct research overseas and approximately 1,025 awards to visiting (non-U.S.) scholars to lecture and/or conduct research in the United States. In addition to the core U.S. and Visiting Scholar Program components, the agreement also includes, but is not limited to, the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (S-I-R); Global Scholars Program; International Education Administrator Seminars (IEA) seminars; Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF); research-based, cohort programs to address priority policy areas; and other special awards that align with U.S. government priorities.</p><p><br></p><p>Please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity and POGI for additional details.</p>

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Fulbright U.S. and Visiting Scholar Programs annually provide approximately 970 awards to U.S. scholars and professionals to lecture and/or conduct research overseas and approximately 1,025 awards to visiting (non-U.S.) scholars to lecture and/or conduct research in the United States. In addition to the core U.S. and Visiting Scholar Program components, the agreement also includes, but is not limited to, the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (S-I-R); Global Scholars Program; International Education Administrator Seminars (IEA) seminars; Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF); research-based, cohort programs to address priority policy areas; and other special awards that align with U.S. government priorities.Please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity and POGI for additional details.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 (Academic Year 2027-2028) Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program and outbound Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX) travel component. The CBYX for Young Professionals and CBBSX programs advance America s national interests by building lasting personal and institutional relationships that promote prosperity and security between the United States and Germany. Key Activities: CBYX for Young Professionals: Approximately 65 American and approximately 65 German participants, ages 18.5-24, engage in year-long academic and professional exchanges. American participants complete two months of in-country German language training, study for one semester at a German university, technical, or professional school, and gain practical work experience. German participants study for one semester at a U.S. university, college, technical, or professional school and gain practical work experience. Both American and German participants live with host families throughout the program year. CBBSX: Ten U.S. Congressional and 10 German parliamentary staffers participate in a short-term reciprocal exchange with each other s legislatures. The U.S. recipient organization provides travel and administrative support for the outbound CBBSX exchange by coordinating round-trip airfare for the U.S. delegation. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity and POGI for additional information.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

<p><span style="color: black;">The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the</span> FY 2026 (Academic Year 2027-2028) Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program and outbound Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX) travel component. &nbsp;The CBYX for Young Professionals and CBBSX programs advance America’s national interests by building lasting personal and institutional relationships that promote prosperity and security between the United States and Germany.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>Key Activities:</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>CBYX for Young Professionals:</strong></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(28, 33, 39);">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Approximately 65 American and approximately 65 German participants, ages 18.5-24, engage in year-long academic and professional exchanges.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(28, 33, 39);">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;American participants complete two months of in-country German language training, study for one semester at a German university, technical, or professional school, and gain practical work experience.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(28, 33, 39);">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;German participants study for one semester at a U.S. university, college, technical, or professional school and gain practical work experience.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(28, 33, 39);">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Both American and German participants live with host families throughout the program year.</span></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>CBBSX:</strong></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(28, 33, 39);">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ten U.S. Congressional and 10 German parliamentary staffers participate in a short-term reciprocal exchange with each other’s legislatures.</span></p> <p><span style="color: black;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The U.S. recipient organization provides travel and administrative support for the outbound CBBSX exchange by coordinating round-trip airfare for the U.S. delegation.</span></p> <p><br></p> <p>Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity and POGI for additional information.</p>

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

FY 2027 International Visitor Leadership Program&rsquo;s National Program Agencies