FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange
Status: Forecasted
Posted date: June 10, 2026
Archive date: August 8, 2026
Close date: July 9, 2026
Opportunity ID: 362751
Opportunity number: DFOP0018606
Opportunity category: Discretionary
Agency name: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Agency code: DOS-ECA
Award floor: $1,000,000
Award ceiling: $1,000,000
Cost sharing required: No
Funding Instrument Types
- Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity
- Other
Eligible Applicants
- Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Others
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Categories (use these for quoted searches)
- agency_code:dos_eca
- category_of_funding_activity:other
- cost_sharing_or_matching_requirement:false
- eligible_applicants:nonprofits_having_a_501_c_3_status_with_the_irs_other_than_institutions_of_higher_education
- eligible_applicants:others
- eligible_applicants:private_institutions_of_higher_education
- eligible_applicants:public_and_state_controlled_institutions_of_higher_education
- funding_instrument_type:cooperative_agreement
- opportunity_category:discretionary
- status:forecasted
The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design and implement the FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange (CEE). CEE is a two-way exchange initiative for approximately 30-40 emerging civic leaders (ages 22-27), from Europe and Eurasia, that provides skill-based training, hands-on activities, and practical application of one of the First Amendment’s most fundamental rights: the freedom of speech. Grounded in the enduring principles of the U.S. Constitution, CEE equips participants with the skills to promote free speech, reduce conflict and strengthen community engagement. CEE participants will work alongside American counterparts in a substantive six- to eight-week exchange program, including a four-to five-week individually tailored professional placement in a U.S. organization, designed to cultivate practical First Amendment (1A) skills. Approximately 15–20 Americans will travel on reciprocal visits, co-designed with CEE participants, that showcase America’s leadership, promote free speech, and create opportunities for sustained collaboration. CEE advances U.S. foreign policy by strengthening the free speech and community engagement, promoting constructive public discourse, and fostering international partners equipped to address complex challenges in alignment with U.S. interests. CEE is supported by Pawel Adamowicz supplemental funding. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.