# FY 2026 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/dfop0017815-fy-2026-young-southeast-asian-leaders-initiative-yseali/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361804

> Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs offered grants of up to $8.0 million (at least $8.0 million) to nonprofits and colleges and universities. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on May 29, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | DFOP0017815 |
| Agency | Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | May 29, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $8.0 million |
| Award floor | $8.0 million |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.415 |

## Who can apply

- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Please see Notice of Funding Opportunity.

## What the grant funds

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, through its Office of Citizen Exchanges, invites proposals to design and implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship. The program advances U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific by developing a network of emerging leaders from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states who share America’s founding principles of liberty, opportunity, and self-reliance. By promoting free enterprise, open markets, and innovation, the program fosters shared prosperity and supports a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific. Through professional fellowships and reciprocal exchanges, YSEALI Professional Fellowship advances U.S. leadership by strengthening commercial ties, promoting regional stability, and supporting peace and security across the Indo-Pacific. Each year two cohorts of approximately 220 participants from Southeast Asia will travel to the United States for five to six weeks of professional and leadership development. Participants, ages 25 to 35, will be placed with U.S. public, private, and nonprofit institutions for customized placements aligned with four strategic themes central to U.S. foreign policy: Economic Prosperity, Strategic Energy and Minerals, Liberty and Freedom, and Peace and Security. The exchange will culminate in a YSEALI Professional Fellowship Forum in Washington, D.C., where participants will share lessons learned and explore future collaboration. Following each U.S. fellowship, approximately 100 American professionals will travel to Southeast Asia on Reciprocal Exchanges to extend engagement, transfer expertise, and strengthen bilateral partnerships. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

## Questions people ask

### Is DFOP0017815 still open?

No. It closed on May 29, 2026. A newer notice is open: DFOP0017180, closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left).

### Who can apply for FY 2026 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship?

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs accepted applications from nonprofits and colleges and universities. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for FY 2026 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship?

Closed May 29, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $8.0 million each.

### Who has won Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc., International Research and Exchanges Board Inc., World Learning Inc. The program made 289 awards worth $569 million in that time.