FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0018339
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,000,000
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
-
- Martin Perschler perschlermj@state.gov (202) 531-6590
- 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 (ECA) seeks to procure cooperative agreement services to develop and implement a ministerial-level convening on cultural heritage protection and preservation as part of America's 250th birthday commemoration. Eligible applicants include public and private higher education institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. The implementing partner must organize a one-to-two-day convening featuring 25-40 cultural ministers from select countries at an iconic U.S. location, manage two-to-three preceding virtual working sessions, coordinate logistics for approximately 50 guests, arrange venue and catering, identify speakers and participants, and organize site visits to U.S. cultural institutions. The program objectives emphasize showcasing U.S. models and innovations in cultural property protection, strengthening international cooperation in combatting art and antiquities trafficking, and leveraging cultural heritage to advance narratives about America's foundational values. Applications must be submitted by July 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT, and must include a completed SF-424 form, executive summary, detailed proposal narrative, SF-424A budget form, line-item budget, budget narrative, and a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan aligned with ECA's MODE Framework.
The cooperative agreement will provide up to $1,000,000 in total funding for a single award with a 12-month performance period and an anticipated award date of August 1, 2026. Allowable costs include personnel, domestic travel, supplies, venue rental, catering, audio/visual services, and monitoring/evaluation activities; international participant travel costs are not eligible. The program will be performed at an iconic location within the United States, selected by the implementing partner in coordination with ECA, and all awardees must comply with federal requirements including registration in SAM.gov and MyGrants, annual performance progress reporting, and collection of performance data meeting ECA's MODE Framework standards with a minimum 60% survey response rate from participants.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
ECA announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a program that will convene cultural ministers from key countries at an iconic location in the United States for high level discussions on cultural heritage and cultural property protection as part of the State Department's programming to mark America's 250th birthday. The implementing partner will work closely with ECA to develop the program's one-to-two-day exchange agenda, including showcasing innovation and new technologies of the U.S. private sector and other American institutions in the cultural heritage field; strengthening cooperation in combatting art and antiquities trafficking; and using cultural heritage to amplify global narratives on America's foundational values. The convening will feature U.S. models, standards, and best practices; strengthen relationships with key countries in the cultural heritage field; and produce concrete follow-on steps to advance the program's agenda. Two to three virtual sessions with working level representatives of the selected cultural ministers will precede the U.S. program, helping gain input into and solidify the agenda.
Participants will include 25-40 cultural ministers or equivalents/designees from select countries; representatives from the U.S. government, U.S. companies and other institutions involved in cultural heritage preservation and protection; and U.S. law enforcement focused on combatting art and antiquities trafficking. The program will introduce the foreign participants to U.S. advancements in cultural property protection and preservation, strengthen commercial diplomacy, and accelerate coordination between ECA and U.S. law enforcement, thereby enhancing border security and reducing financing from trafficked art and antiquities.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional Information.
Update #1 ·
ECA announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a program that will convene cultural ministers from key countries at an iconic location in the United States for high level discussions on cultural heritage and cultural property protection as part of the State Department's programming to mark America's 250th birthday. The implementing partner will work closely with ECA to develop the program's one-to-two-day exchange agenda, including showcasing innovation and new technologies of the U.S. private sector and other American institutions in the cultural heritage field; strengthening cooperation in combatting art and antiquities trafficking; and using cultural heritage to amplify global narratives on America's foundational values. The convening will feature U.S. models, standards, and best practices; strengthen relationships with key countries in the cultural heritage field; and produce concrete follow-on steps to advance the program's agenda. Two to three virtual sessions with working level representatives of the selected cultural ministers will precede the U.S. program, helping gain input into and solidify the agenda. Participants will include 25-40 cultural ministers or equivalents/designees from select countries; representatives from the U.S. government, U.S. companies and other institutions involved in cultural heritage preservation and protection; and U.S. law enforcement focused on combatting art and antiquities trafficking. The program will introduce the foreign participants to U.S. advancements in cultural property protection and preservation, strengthen commercial diplomacy, and accelerate coordination between ECA and U.S. law enforcement, thereby enhancing border security and reducing financing from trafficked art and antiquities. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity 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 StewardsCH NOFO.pdf |
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