# EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program 2026

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/pds-lusaka-edusa-fy26-educationusa-opportunity-funds-program-2026/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362867

> U.S. Mission to Zambia offered grants of up to $28,000 (at least $10,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award worth $28,000 in total. Applications closed on July 10, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | PDS-LUSAKA-EDUSA-FY26 |
| Agency | U.S. Mission to Zambia |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | July 10, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $28,000 |
| Award floor | $10,000 |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | $28,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.022 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations. Public and private educational institutions. Must be able to submit documentation verifying eligibility, including: Proof of legal registration and physical presence in Zambia, organizational chart showing key personnel letters of reference and past performance documentation. Organizations with a track record managing U.S or international grants are encouraged to apply.

## What the grant funds

EducationUSA connects academically gifted Zambian students with opportunities at U.S. universities and colleges. The Opportunity Funds support the students with costs related to U.S. college applications such as application fees, standardized testing fees, visa fees, and travel expenses. This program enables economically disadvantaged students to complete applications to pursue enrollment at U.S.-accredited institutions. Recruitment and selection will rigorously prioritize merit-based criteria, with particular emphasis on candidates pursuing degrees in STEM, AI, cybersecurity, data science, and other critical and emerging fields central to U.S. innovation leadership. Selection criteria will include demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and articulated career goals in high-priority fields, assessed through a structured rubric developed by the Embassy's Education Outreach Coordinator to ensure the cohort reflects U.S. strategic priorities while remaining accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. By facilitating international enrollment, the program advances U.S. economic prosperity — fee-paying students generate revenue for American institutions, support domestic job creation, and strengthen U.S. global competitiveness; select participants return home to fill critical skill gaps to build Zambia's economy and create markets for U.S. investment. Beyond economics, the program serves key U.S. strategic and national security interests by cultivating a generation of American-educated Zambian leaders, scientists, and professionals, building durable institutional ties and reducing the influence of strategic competitors like China and Russia among Zambia's youth. Taken together, EducationUSA strengthens the bilateral relationship between the United States and Zambia through shared academic and professional experience, advancing mutual understanding and long-term partnership. Successful students will be enrolled into the EducationUSA alumni program, offering long term partnership with future students and the U.S. Embassy. The program will track enrollment rates in STEM and other Administration-priority fields, alumni career outcomes, and retention in EducationUSA and Embassy engagement networks post-graduation. The grantee will not be involved in the selection and recruitment of Opportunity Fund students. The grantee will assist the U.S.

## Questions people ask

### Is PDS-LUSAKA-EDUSA-FY26 still open?

No. It closed on July 10, 2026.

### Who can apply for EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program 2026?

U.S. Mission to Zambia accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program 2026?

Closed July 10, 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 $28,000 each. About $28,000 in total for one award.

### Who has won Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Appropriation Overseas Grants grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees, Georgetown University, Persatuan Gaya Hidup Lestari Biji Biji Kuala Lumpur. The program made 3,361 awards worth $57.2 million in that time.