DFOP0017856: FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program
Closed
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.
- Award ceiling$10.0 million
- Award floor$5.0 million
- Expected awards2
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFOP0010288 | March 6, 2024 | Closed May 7, 2024 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | April 29, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 29, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | June 28, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits and colleges and universities.
- 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 full announcement.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges awards averaged $2.0 million; this notice allows up to $10.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (95% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
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.
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.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Councils for International Education: Actr/Accels, Inc. | District of Columbia | 34 | $220 million |
| International Research and Exchanges Board Inc. | District of Columbia | 11 | $59.2 million |
| World Learning Inc. | Vermont | 20 | $32.2 million |
| Aspen Institute, Inc. (the) | District of Columbia | 2 | $22.3 million |
| Afs-USA, Inc | New York | 8 | $17.0 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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