FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0017999
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $2,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Points of contact
-
- Nalinee Cain cainnl@state.gov (771) 204-2492
- 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 a single recipient organization to manage and implement approximately 40 short-term sports exchange projects under the new Sports Diplomacy On Demand (SD On Demand) program. The recipient must be a U.S. public or private nonprofit organization meeting 501(c)(3) requirements and must demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. Key responsibilities include participant recruitment and selection, visa support via DS-2019 forms, health insurance enrollment, performance data collection aligned with the MODE Framework, logistics management, and regular progress reporting. The program will serve 120-140 total participants, comprising 40-50 foreign sports leaders and athletes plus 80-90 American participants from all six geographic regions, with projects featuring sports including flag football, mixed martial arts, tennis, golf, and U.S.-origin sports highlighting Freedom 250 themes. The application deadline is May 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with an anticipated award date of September 15, 2026.
The cooperative agreement award is valued at approximately $2,000,000 with a performance period of 24 to 36 months. Allowable costs include international and domestic travel, lodging at federal per diem rates, interpreter services, cultural allowances of $150 per foreign participant, consultant services up to $250 per day, equipment, working meals, health benefits, and approximately $50,000 in small grants for participant action plans. Performance activities will occur across the United States and internationally, with recipient organizations required to register with SAM.gov, maintain active MyGrants system accounts, and submit applications electronically through Grants.gov, including required forms such as the SF-424, executive summary, detailed proposal narrative, SF-424A budget form, and comprehensive budget narrative demonstrating cost-effectiveness and institutional capacity.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Office of Sports Diplomacy, in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), announces an open competition for the FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to manage short-term sports exchange projects designed to support key sporting and cultural priorities of the Administration.
Sports Diplomacy On Demand (SD On Demand) is a new, flexible program that will allow the Department of State to quickly respond to Administration's foreign policy priorities in sports. SD On Demand projects are designed for rapid implementation, enabling swift responses to emerging policies, geopolitical opportunities, and pressing foreign policy needs. The SD On Demand Program will advance U.S. foreign policy through sports-focused programs that leverage the Decade of Sport in America, solidifying the FIFA World Cup 2026 legacy, building momentum toward the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and beyond.
The recipient will implement a series of customized, short-term sports-based exchange projects for a variety of individuals that may include high-profile athletes, leaders in sports federations and ministries abroad, or non-elite athletes, coaches, and sports administrators. The program expects to support approximately 40 exchange projects for 120-140 participants, including approximately 40-50 foreign participants and 80-90 from the United States.
Please see the announcement for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The Office of Sports Diplomacy, in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), announces an open competition for the FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to manage short-term sports exchange projects designed to support key sporting and cultural priorities of the Administration. Sports Diplomacy On Demand (SD On Demand) is a new, flexible program that will allow the Department of State to quickly respond to Administration's foreign policy priorities in sports. SD On Demand projects are designed for rapid implementation, enabling swift responses to emerging policies, geopolitical opportunities, and pressing foreign policy needs. The SD On Demand Program will advance U.S. foreign policy through sports-focused programs that leverage the Decade of Sport in America, solidifying the FIFA World Cup 2026 legacy, building momentum toward the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and beyond. The recipient will implement a series of customized, short-term sports-based exchange projects for a variety of individuals that may include high-profile athletes, leaders in sports federations and ministries abroad, or non-elite athletes, coaches, and sports administrators. The program expects to support approximately 40 exchange projects for 120-140 participants, including approximately 40-50 foreign participants and 80-90 from the United States. Please see the announcement for additional information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY26 SD On Demand NOFO.pdf |
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