Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy Muscat, is soliciting proposals for alumni-led educational and cultural exchange projects that celebrate Freedom 250 and advance U.S. foreign policy objectives. Applicant teams must consist of at least two alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, with projects to be implemented outside the United States. All proposals must align with the Freedom 250 celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary, with preference given to initiatives addressing commercial ties, sports diplomacy, cultural heritage and creative industries excellence, emerging and advanced technologies, or space cooperation and innovation. Proposals will be evaluated based on six criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), degree of alumni involvement (20 points), program planning and ability to achieve objectives (15 points), budget and narrative (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). The application deadline is June 14, 2026, with inquiries directed to muscatpasgrants@state.gov. Applicants must register in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to submission, which typically requires 4-8 weeks.

Awards will range from $5,000 to $35,000 per project, with two awards anticipated totaling $75,000 in available funding pending fund availability. The anticipated project start date is September 2026, with programs to be completed within 12 months or less. Successful projects will serve communities outside the United States, with direct beneficiaries ranging from 30 to 500 individuals and indirect reach potentially extending to 3,000 participants depending on project scope. Recipients must comply with federal regulations including 2 CFR parts 200, 25, 170, 175, 182, 183, and 600, and submit quarterly financial and program reports with closing reports due within 120 days of grant conclusion.