FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange

The Community Engagement Exchange program is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. This bureau is responsible for advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives through educational and cultural exchange programs that foster mutual understanding between the United States and other countries. The Community Engagement Exchange initiative is situated within the Office of Citizen Exchanges and reflects the bureau’s commitment to supporting civic leadership development, democratic values, and cross-cultural collaboration. The program is implemented through a cooperative agreement, indicating that the agency will have substantial involvement in program oversight and execution. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the design and implementation of a two-way international exchange program focused on emerging civic leaders from Europe and Eurasia. The program emphasizes the development and practical application of skills related to one of the core principles of the U.S. Constitution: freedom of speech. Through structured training, experiential learning, and professional placements, participants are expected to build competencies that enable them to promote constructive public discourse, reduce societal conflict, and strengthen community engagement within their home countries and networks. The program scope includes hosting approximately 30 to 40 international participants between the ages of 22 and 27 for a six- to eight-week exchange experience in the United States. This experience incorporates a four- to five-week professional placement within a U.S.-based organization, tailored to each participant’s background and goals. In addition, the program includes reciprocal exchanges in which approximately 15 to 20 American participants travel abroad to collaborate with international counterparts. These reciprocal visits are designed to highlight U.S. leadership, reinforce shared democratic values, and foster sustained partnerships between participants. Funding for this opportunity is structured as a single award with both the award ceiling and floor set at one million dollars, indicating that one recipient organization will be responsible for the full implementation of the program. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement specified, although applicants are encouraged in general guidance to demonstrate efficient use of funds and alignment with program objectives. Allowable uses of funding include program design, participant support, travel, training activities, monitoring and evaluation, and administrative costs consistent with federal grant regulations. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to U.S.-based organizations, including private and public institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Additional eligible entities may be described in the full announcement, but all applicants must demonstrate the organizational capacity to manage international exchange programs and comply with federal grant requirements. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and must include all required forms and proposal components, such as the SF-424 series, a detailed narrative, budget documentation, and supporting organizational materials as outlined in the Bureau’s submission guidelines. The application process requires adherence to strict formatting and submission requirements, including the preparation of an executive summary, proposal narrative, detailed budget, and supporting documentation. Applicants are responsible for ensuring timely submission by the stated deadline and for completing all necessary system registrations in advance. The application deadline for this opportunity is July 9, 2026. While specific award notification timelines are not provided in the summary, applicants can expect a review process consistent with federal grant evaluation procedures, including assessment of program design, organizational capacity, and alignment with stated objectives. This program does not explicitly state recurrence, and therefore it is treated as a one-time opportunity for the current fiscal year cycle. The anticipated performance period is not specified in the summary but is expected to align with the duration necessary to implement exchange activities and follow-on engagement. Contact for this opportunity is provided via an official Department of State email address for inquiries related to accessing the full announcement or application materials.

Submit early to allow time for Grants.gov registration; ensure all required documents are complete and formatted correctly; demonstrate experience with international exchange programs; align proposal clearly with program goals and outcomes