Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Mission in South Africa, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition to implement a program to roll-out of the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF). The 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund is designed to increase the impact of the U.S. government’s investment in exchange participants and programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects that support U.S. policy objectives and promote shared interests. All AEIF projects must celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America (Freedom 250) and align with administration policy goals to make the U.S. safer, stronger and more prosperous, or defend freedom of speech. Please read this notice of funding opportunity document carefully before preparing and submitting a funding proposal. -----------Please do not apply for this funding opportunity if you’re not an alumnus of a U.S. government-funded exchange program-----------

• The proposed project identifies and supports U. · S. policies and Freedom 250 initiatives.• Alumni who participated in a U. · S. government-sponsored exchange program where the proposed project involves at least two U. · S. government-sponsored exchange program alumni, and one is a specified team lead• Alumni associations from countries with current U. · S. representation, but such applications must specify an alumni team lead• If three or more alumni are applying together, U. · S. citizen alumni may be included on alumni teams, but the team must have at least two non-U. · S. citizen exchange program alumni. U. · S. citizen alumni cannot be team leads on project proposals.

Criteria for selecting proposals vary by awards supporting individual activities and are outlined in the solicitations for individual activities.