EducationUSA AI/STEM and Sports Diplomacy Grant

The Department of State, US Embassy Tbilisi, is soliciting applications for the EducationUSA AI/STEM and Sports Diplomacy Grant with an application deadline of August 10, 2026, at 18:00 Tbilisi time. Total available funding is $50,000, with 1–2 awards anticipated ranging from $25,000–$50,000 pending availability of funds.

Eligible applicants include EducationUSA advising centers, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, and organizations without established EducationUSA affiliation; for-profit entities are ineligible. Applicants must maintain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and valid SAM.gov registration.

The opportunity funds two complementary initiatives, each budgeted at $25,000: the EducationUSA AI/STEM and Innovation Hubs, and the EducationUSA Sports Pathways Initiative. The AI/STEM Hubs will engage high school and university students, young entrepreneurs, computer programmers, startup founders, and emerging tech leaders through coordinated advising workshops, innovation talks, and university outreach activities held at local American Spaces in five Georgian cities: Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi. The Sports Pathways Initiative will connect Georgia's top athletic talent with U.S. higher education opportunities through specialized advising on sports scholarships and athletic programs, targeting sports schools and athletic academies in the same five cities with focus on soccer, basketball, rugby, martial arts/MMA, judo, wrestling, and tennis.

The project period is 12 months or less, with an anticipated October 1, 2026 start date. No cost share is required. Applications are evaluated on five criteria totaling 100 points: quality and feasibility of program idea (30 points), organizational capacity and previous grant record (25 points), project planning and ability to achieve objectives (20 points), budget (10 points), and monitoring and evaluation (10 points), with an additional 5 points available for sustainability. Required documents include SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B forms, a proposal (maximum 10 pages), detailed line-item budget with justification narrative, key personnel resumes, letters of support from partners, and proof of organizational registration, submitted as a ZIP file to TbilisiGrants@state.gov. The Assistance Listing number is 19.023.