FY 2026 U.S. Creative Tech Exchange

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is offering funding through the FY26 U.S. Creative Tech Exchange program, identified by Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018285. The program is administered under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act, and is designed to strengthen U.S. global leadership in the intersection of creative industries and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. The initiative positions American creative professionals and technologists as leaders in responsible AI adoption and innovation within creative sectors such as architecture, creative coding and gaming, fashion, graphic design, music, and immersive media including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. Film and television activities are specifically excluded from eligibility. The Department anticipates issuing one cooperative agreement award totaling approximately $1,320,000 with a projected performance period of 18 months beginning September 1, 2026. The program seeks to support up to 30 early- and mid-career creative professionals aged 19 and older from the United States and three to five partner countries to participate in collaborative international exchange activities. Activities may include collaborative project labs, workshops, short-term fellowships, mentorships, public showcases, and industry placements lasting from five days to six weeks. Programming may occur domestically, internationally, or in hybrid formats. Applicants are encouraged to develop innovative program models that demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workforce development, economic competitiveness, entrepreneurship, public diplomacy, and cultural exchange. The program emphasizes market-driven innovation, artistic freedom, ethical AI usage, and expansion of global demand for U.S. creative content and services. Proposed activities should also support foreign policy priorities connected to technological leadership, digital freedom of expression, and international collaboration. Eligible applicants are limited to U.S. nonprofit organizations, including nongovernmental organizations and think tanks, as well as U.S. nonprofit public and private educational institutions. Organizations must maintain active SAM.gov registration and possess a Unique Entity Identifier. Because the anticipated award exceeds $130,000, applicants must demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchange programs. Only one proposal per organization will be reviewed. Current ECA award recipients must identify at least one existing ECA award that will remain active at the anticipated start of the performance period. Applications that fail to comply with the solicitation instructions or required application components may be deemed technically ineligible and excluded from review. Applications must include a completed SF-424 form, SF-424A budget form, executive summary, proposal narrative, detailed line-item budget, and budget narrative. Applicants are also encouraged to provide calendars of activities, resumes and CVs limited to two pages, and letters of commitment or endorsement from partners. The proposal narrative should clearly describe recruitment and selection procedures, implementation plans, partnerships, participant support structures, monitoring and evaluation methods, and risk management approaches. The Department requires applicants to incorporate ECA Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework indicators and develop a comprehensive performance monitoring plan. Applicants may use the Department's optional Qualtrics MODE Survey Builder platform or another approved system to collect required participant outcome data. Allowable costs include personnel salaries, fringe benefits, consultant fees, participant and staff travel, accommodations, participant stipends, insurance, workshop supplies, venue rental, technology licenses, cloud computing tools, showcase expenses, evaluation activities, and alumni engagement efforts. Participant stipends are expected to range from $500 to $4,000 depending on activity duration. Follow-on micro-grants may be awarded to alumni but may not exceed five percent of the FY2026 award amount. Equipment purchases over $10,000 require prior approval. There is no required cost-sharing percentage, although ECA encourages applicants to maximize institutional and private-sector contributions. Funding restrictions prohibit support to UNRWA, activities encouraging migration caravans toward the U.S. southwest border, and procurement or operation of prohibited foreign-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than July 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants are encouraged to begin registration and submission procedures early because SAM.gov registration may take four to eight weeks. Questions regarding the competition may be directed to Julia Gomez-Nelson or Jill Staggs in the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Cultural Programs Division, at nelsonjg2@state.gov or staggsjj@state.gov, telephone 202-623-6409. ECA will conduct a technical eligibility review followed by panel review evaluating program quality, institutional capacity, monitoring and evaluation plans, cost effectiveness, and alignment with ECA objectives. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award from the Department of State Grants Officer. Pending satisfactory implementation and future appropriations, ECA intends to renew the award for up to two additional consecutive fiscal years before recompeting the opportunity. The opportunity appears to be part of an anticipated recurring annual funding cycle tied to future fiscal year appropriations.

Demonstrate substantial international exchange management experience and clear expertise in creative technology and emerging AI applications. Provide a detailed work plan with measurable outcomes and a strong monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with MODE indicators. Emphasize cost effectiveness institutional capacity participant safety and strategic partnerships with industry and cultural organizations. Clearly explain how the program advances U.S. foreign policy priorities economic competitiveness and responsible AI leadership.