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Grants / Department of State / Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

DFOP0017856: FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program

Closed Closed May 29, 2026 Opportunity DFOP0017856

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Annual Program Statement for U.S. Presentation at International Architecture Biennales (DFOP0017180). Status: Closes January 1, 2099 (26353 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs notices from 2026.

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs offered grants of up to $10.0 million (at least $5.0 million) to nonprofits and colleges and universities. It expected to make about 2 awards. Applications closed on May 29, 2026.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed April 29, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.

Other notices with this title

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs has posted this title under other numbers: earlier or later rounds, or the same competition for another area. Each has its own dates and may change its rules.

NoticePostedDeadlineStatus
SFOP0010288March 6, 2024Closed May 7, 2024Closed

Key dates

PostedApril 29, 2026
DeadlineMay 29, 2026
Archived by Grants.govJune 28, 2026

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits and colleges and universities.

Please see full announcement.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities.

Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

This NOFO has been amended. Please see the amended Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information. As 2027 marks 15 years since the loss of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, and in honor of his enduring legacy, the Global Leaders Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), invites proposal submissions for two cooperative agreements to design, administer, and implement activities under the broader J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). ECA anticipates making two separate cooperative agreements to design, implement, and manage the FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) under two distinct program options: (1) J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative and (2) J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative: Digital Leaders for Peace and Economic Opportunity. Applicants may submit applications for program option one or program option two. Organizations may submit two separate applications, one for each program option, if they wish to be considered for both. Each application will be evaluated independently. Each application must clearly state in the Executive Summary which program option is being proposed. If applying separately for each program options the applicant must clearly demonstrate the organizational capacity to implement both program options, including the ability to work in the MENA region and the United States and to deliver both online and hybrid program elements. The JCSVEI advances U.S. foreign policy priorities by championing American scientific excellence, technological leadership, and innovation, while promoting core U.S. principles—freedom of speech, individual liberty, and the rule of law—as foundations of peace and prosperity. The program achieves these goals through American-led virtual exchanges that connects young leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with peers across the United States.

Category: Other.

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

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges (19.415) awarded $569 million across 289 grant awards, an average of $2.0 million per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc.District of Columbia34$220 million
International Research and Exchanges Board Inc.District of Columbia11$59.2 million
World Learning Inc.Vermont20$32.2 million
Aspen Institute, Inc. (the)District of Columbia2$22.3 million
Afs-USA, IncNew York8$17.0 million

Top states: District of Columbia ($336 million), New York ($50.2 million), California ($43.7 million), Vermont ($40.0 million), Virginia ($14.1 million).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DFOP0017180, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is DFOP0017856 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 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program?

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 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program?

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 $10.0 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.

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