2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)

Closed Posted

Opportunity number
PDS-DOS-GEO-FY26-003
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$5,000 to $35,000

Opportunity facts

Funding instrument
Grant
Category
  • Other
Eligible applicants
  • Individuals

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The U.S. Mission in Tbilisi, Public Diplomacy Section, is soliciting proposals for alumni-led projects that promote U.S. policy objectives and celebrate Freedom 250, the United States' 250th anniversary. Applicants must be alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs and submit project teams comprising at least two alumni, with a minimum of two non-U.S. citizen alumni required. Projects must align with at least one of three primary goals: convening alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand alumni networks, strengthening alumni-government relationships, or supporting alumni leadership development. Evaluation criteria emphasize program quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity (25 points), project planning (20 points), budget reasonableness (10 points), monitoring and evaluation (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). The application deadline is May 18, 2026, at 18:00 Tbilisi time, with submissions required via email to TbilisiGrants@state.gov.

Awards will range from $5,000 to $35,000, with 1 to 3 awards anticipated from $70,000 in total available funding; larger regional initiatives may reach $100,000. Projects must be completed within a 12-month performance period with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026. All project activities must occur outside U.S. territories with primary benefits accruing to foreign national communities in Georgia and the surrounding region aligned with U.S. foreign policy objectives. Cost-sharing is not required, and recipients must comply with federal requirements under 2 CFR 200, submit quarterly progress and financial reports within 30 days of each reporting period, and provide final reports 120 days after project completion.

Synopsis

The U.S. Mission in Tbilisi, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce the roll-out of the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF). The AEIF is an annual funding opportunity designed to invest in U.S. government-funded exchange participants and programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects that promote shared interests and policy objectives and benefit local communities. We invite you to submit proposals for projects that meet the requirements of the program (discussed in Section C below). Please read this notice carefully before preparing and submitting a funding proposal.

Please also note the following: This solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by the U.S. government. A final award cannot be made until the proposal has been reviewed and approved, and an award agreement is drawn up and signed by a grants officer. The U.S. Mission reserves the right not to issue an award after receipt of any proposal. The U.S. Mission also reserves the right to reduce, revise, and/or increase a proposal budget in accordance with the needs of the program and availability of funds.

Please do not apply for this funding opportunity if you are not an alumnus of a U.S. government-funded exchange program.

AEIF increases the impact of the U.S. government's investment in exchange programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects to support U.S. policy objectives and promote shared interests. All AEIF projects must celebrate and promote Freedom 250 - the celebration of the United States' 250th birthday - and align with policy goals such as making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, celebrating American excellence, or defending freedom of speech.

Additionally, all AEIF projects must include at least one of the following:

1. Convene alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand an alumni network capable of working together on common interests and increase regional and global collaboration of alumni.

2. Strengthen the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government to work together on activities that address shared goals and challenges.

3. Support alumni as they develop their leadership capacity and implement projects in their communities for maximum impact.

Files

File Type Posted
SF424 Forms and Instructions.zip ZIP file
AEIF 2026 Budget Form.xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
AEIF 2026 Proposal Form.docx DOCX document
NOFO AEIF 2026 Tbilisi Georgia - Final.docx DOCX document

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