FY 2026 American Music Mentorship Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0017971
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $700,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Points of contact
-
- Julia Gómez-Nelson nelsonjg2@state.gov (202) 623-6409
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs seeks qualified applicants to implement the FY 2026 American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP), a professional mentorship exchange designed to pair up to 20 international mid-career music industry professionals with U.S. music industry mentors. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, private higher education institutions, and public higher education institutions with at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. The program requires the recipient to manage complex logistics including participant recruitment and selection in coordination with U.S. embassies, mentor-mentee matching, travel arrangements, housing, insurance enrollment, needs assessments in three to five participating countries, and development of professional tracks covering audio production, artist development, publishing, business strategy, and legal practice. Applicants will be evaluated based on their organizational capacity to execute the program components, experience with international exchange programs, ability to secure private sector partnerships, and commitment to performance monitoring aligned with the ECA's MODE Framework. The application deadline is May 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with an anticipated award date of September 1, 2026.
The anticipated award is approximately $700,000 through a cooperative agreement for an 18-month performance period. The program consists of three main components: a two-week U.S.-based residency for international mentees scheduled for October 2027, approximately one year of monthly virtual mentoring sessions, and a one-week outbound exchange in April 2028 sending up to 10 U.S. mentors overseas. Overhead costs including consultant honoraria are capped at $300 per day unless ECA approves special circumstances, and cost sharing is not required but is encouraged. Performance will take place in the United States during the residency and virtual sessions, with international activities occurring in three to five participating countries during the outbound exchange component.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The FY 2026 American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP) cooperative agreement will implement a mentorship exchange pairing international mid-career music industry professionals who manage, produce, distribute, and promote music - with U.S. music industry mentors. Rather than focusing solely on performers, AMMP aims to strengthen music industry infrastructure and create pathways that expand global market access for American music.
AMMP's FY 2026 theme, Made in America: Influence and Innovation of the American Music Industry, emphasizes commercial and creative development through residencies and training to strengthen participants' capacity to effectively partner with American creative industries. The program fosters professional development, knowledge sharing, and new industry pathways such as licensing, co-production, and distribution to position the American music sector as a platform for innovation and cross-border collaboration, underscoring its role as a driver of American economic growth and cultural influence.
Mentees from three to five countries will participate in a two-week U.S. residency followed by monthly virtual sessions with American music industry mentors over approximately 10 to 12 months to sustain collaboration. Through curated mentorships these professionals will gain access to the U.S. music industry, enhance technical and business skills, and build lasting networks. Mentees will engage with experts from small companies, independent labels, and larger businesses during the residency, participating in workshops, forums, collaborations, and site visits.
An outbound component will send approximately 10 U.S. mentors and instructors overseas for approximately one week to engage with local music industries, expand networks, and share best practices.
AMMP is implemented through a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and a leading private sector organization in the U.S. music industry. This collaboration combines U.S. government leadership in cultural diplomacy with industry expertise to advance innovation and global engagement in the U.S. creative industries. The private sector partner leads recruitment and selection of U.S. mentors from its membership and provides access to creative, business, and technical leaders, while ECA provides strategic oversight and ensures alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives. The FY 2026 award recipient will serve as the implementing partner, managing program logistics, coordinating activities, and facilitating mentorship exchanges in close collaboration with both partners.
The award recipient must manage complex logistics, strict timelines, private sector partner and participant needs, program promotion, and share updates with all stakeholders.
Please see the NOFO for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The FY 2026 American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP) cooperative agreement will implement a mentorship exchange pairing international mid-career music industry professionals who manage, produce, distribute, and promote music - with U.S. music industry mentors. Rather than focusing solely on performers, AMMP aims to strengthen music industry infrastructure and create pathways that expand global market access for American music. AMMP's FY 2026 theme, Made in America: Influence and Innovation of the American Music Industry, emphasizes commercial and creative development through residencies and training to strengthen participants' capacity to effectively partner with American creative industries. The program fosters professional development, knowledge sharing, and new industry pathways such as licensing, co-production, and distribution to position the American music sector as a platform for innovation and cross-border collaboration, underscoring its role as a driver of American economic growth and cultural influence. Please see the NOFO for additional information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY26 AMMP - NOFO.pdf |
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