FY 2025 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program: Overseas Components
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0017284
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $11,761,350
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Points of contact
-
- Katherine David-Fox david-foxko@state.gov (202) 492-6242
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking a cooperative agreement recipient to administer the FY 2025 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program's Overseas Components. The program aims to strengthen national security by facilitating youth exchanges between the United States and approximately 30 countries of strategic importance. Eligible applicants include public and private higher education institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofits who can manage comprehensive exchange program logistics, including recruitment, selection, orientation, travel coordination, and alumni support for both international and U.S. high school participants. The evaluation will likely focus on applicants' demonstrated capacity to execute complex international youth exchange programs, track participant outcomes through the Performance Monitoring Plan, and achieve the program's cross-cultural and leadership development objectives. Applications for this cooperative agreement are due by August 15, 2025, with an anticipated award date of September 22, 2025.
The cooperative agreement is valued at approximately $11,761,350 and will support two exchange cohorts during the 2026-27 academic year: YES (bringing 450 international high school students to the U.S.) and YES Abroad (sending 60 American high school students abroad). The performance period spans 36 months from September 2025 to August 2028, with participants living with host families, studying in local high schools, engaging in community service, and developing leadership skills. Participants will be placed in all 50 U.S. states and select international partner countries, with a focus on creating lasting interpersonal connections and mutual understanding between emerging young leaders from strategic partner nations.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program strengthens national security by engaging emerging young leaders from the United States and from countries of strategic importance. YES is a merit-based, academic-year program consisting of two exchange cohorts: YES and YES Abroad. YES brings approximately 450 high school participants to the United States each year from approximately 30 countries of strategic importance. Participants live with volunteer Americans host families in all 50 states, study in U.S. high schools, engage in community service activities, and learn leadership skills for an academic year. YES Abroad sends approximately 60 American high school participants abroad each year to select YES countries for a similar program.
The FY 2025 Kennedy-Lugar YES Program: Overseas Components cooperative agreement, which is the subject of this NOFO, will fund the recruitment, selection, orientation, travel, liaison activities with natural parents, and alumni support for international and U.S. participants. This award will also fund the placement and support of U.S. participants abroad. Participant placement and support for the international participants in the United States will be conducted under separate awards. The exchanges for both cohorts will take place during the 2026-27 academic year.
Please see the full announcement for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program strengthens national security by engaging emerging young leaders from the United States and from countries of strategic importance. YES is a merit-based, academic-year program consisting of two exchange cohorts: YES and YES Abroad. YES brings approximately 450 high school participants to the United States each year from approximately 30 countries of strategic importance. Participants live with volunteer Americans host families in all 50 states, study in U.S. high schools, engage in community service activities, and learn leadership skills for an academic year. YES Abroad sends approximately 60 American high school participants abroad each year to select YES countries for a similar program. The FY 2025 Kennedy-Lugar YES Program: Overseas Components cooperative agreement, which is the subject of this NOFO, will fund the recruitment, selection, orientation, travel, liaison activities with natural parents, and alumni support for international and U.S. participants. This award will also fund the placement and support of U.S. participants abroad. Participant placement and support for the international participants in the United States will be conducted under separate awards. The exchanges for both cohorts will take place during the 2026-27 academic year. Please see the full announcement for additional information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Monitoring Plan_MODE 2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| Performance Monitoring Plan_MODE 2.3_02.03.2025.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY2025 YES Overseas NOFO.pdf |
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