Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026

The U.S. Department of State's Embassy in Honduras, through its Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, seeks public service projects from alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs designed to strengthen U.S.-Honduras ties and support U.S. foreign policy priorities. Eligible applicants must be organized as nonprofits (501(c)(3) or non-501(c)(3)) or individuals and must form project teams comprising at least two alumni, with U.S. citizen alumni eligible only as team members, not lead applicants. All projects must address at least one of four priority areas: promoting regional security cooperation, building regional economic prosperity, advancing science and technology innovation, or defending freedom of speech and digital freedom, while mandatory activities must commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Applications will be evaluated on six criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), organizational capacity and prior grant performance (25 points), project planning ability (20 points), budget reasonableness (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). The application deadline is May 12, 2026, at 23:59 CST, with submissions required via email to hondurasalumni@state.gov, and all applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintain active registration in SAM.gov.

Awards will range from $5,000 to $35,000, with a maximum of two awards available under this funding opportunity. Projects will operate for a 12-month performance period from September 2026 through August 2027, requiring quarterly financial and program progress reports during the project period and a final report due 120 days after project completion. All performance activities and project implementation will take place in Honduras, with recipients required to comply with Department of State branding guidance and incorporate Freedom 250 logos in all program materials. Non-allowable costs include staff salaries, office space, large durable equipment, alcohol, airfare to the United States (except for U.S. citizen alumni supporting implementation), scholarships, gifts, prizes, and for-profit ventures.