EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP) 2026

The U.S. Department of State's U.S. Mission in South Africa is seeking non-profit organizations to implement a cooperative agreement that assists highly qualified South African students with limited financial resources in pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions. Eligible applicants include non-profit South African or U.S. organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, and educational institutions that can recruit up to 30 eligible students and support approximately 20 through the enrollment process. Key objectives include recruiting and preparing students for U.S. university applications, arranging standardized admission test preparation, providing virtual or in-person advising, covering application and financial aid fees, and managing pre-departure logistics including visa fees and settling-in allowances. Proposals will be evaluated on quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity and prior grants performance (25 points), project planning ability (20 points), budget efficiency (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plans (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). The application deadline is May 29, 2026, at 23:59 SAST, with mandatory submission of federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B) and a proposal not exceeding 7 pages.

A single cooperative agreement award of $67,500 is available, subject to funding availability, with a performance period of 12 to 24 months and projects anticipated to start within 45 days of approval notification. All applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active registration in SAM.gov, with cost sharing not required. All program activities and student support will take place in South Africa, with the Department of State providing substantial oversight of student selection processes, training accuracy, and access to American Spaces and EducationUSA resources. Recipients must comply with 2 CFR Part 200 regulations and submit quarterly financial and program reports.