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

DFOP0018219: FY 2026 Future Leaders Exchange Global (FLEX Global)

Closed Closed June 29, 2026 Opportunity DFOP0018219 ☆ Save

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.

• Award ceiling$22.0 million
• Award floor$400,000
• Expected awards11
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

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.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges awards averaged $2.0 million; this notice allows up to $22.0 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

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invite proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 FLEX Global high school exchange program. Applicants may apply for one or both of the following program components: · Administrative Component: Manages overseas operations, recruitment and selection of inbound and outbound participants, travel, host family recruitment and placement for outbound participants (e.g., American students studying abroad), database and website management for all inbound and outbound participants, alumni activities for all inbound and outbound participants, program-wide events, and overall program coordination. · Placement Component: Manages host family and school placement of inbound foreign participants in the U.S., regional “American Excellence” enhancement type activities, and ongoing monitoring and support. FLEX Global builds on the 34-year legacy of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program and the 24-year legacy of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, expanding participation beyond specific world regions. The program advances U.S. interests by cultivating a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. culture and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, civic engagement, and leadership. Key Activities: · Up to 1,200 foreign high school participants will study in the U.S. for an academic year. · Up to 150 American high school participants will study abroad for an academic year. As noted above, this element of the program will be managed entirely through the Administrative Component. Organizations applying solely for the Placement Component should not include any costs related to this activity. · All participants live with host families, attend high school, and engage in leadership and American Excellence enhancement activities. ECA expects to issue one award for the Administrative Component and six to ten awards for the Placement Component. Eligible organizations may apply for one or both components but must submit a separate proposal for each component. The POGI document outlines the activities, roles, and responsibilities of the FLEX Global Administrative Component and Placement Component recipients. Please see the full announcement for additional information.

Category: Other.

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.