Public Diplomacy Programs

The Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs administers Public Diplomacy Programs (CFDA 19.040) to support U.S. foreign policy goals by informing and influencing foreign publics and strengthening bilateral relationships, with the most recent grant award on October 1, 2026.

The program funds a broad portfolio of public diplomacy and cultural engagement activities executed by U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Recent awards document funding for English-language instruction and youth development programs (including an "Ingles, Yes!" program in El Alto, Bolivia for $44 thousand), immersive cultural technology projects (a digital recreation of Registan Square in extended reality for $245 thousand), youth debate and speech competitions, heritage site conservation and restoration, STEM and media literacy training, sports diplomacy initiatives, investigative journalism capacity building, academic exchange alumni engagement, and workforce development in strategic sectors including artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and semiconductor technology. The program also funds Freedom 250 commemorative initiatives celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Activity has declined sharply in 2025 and 2026: awards per year dropped from 3,620 in 2022 to 234 in 2025 and 149 through October 2026, though grants continued to be awarded as recently as two weeks ago. Combined federal dollars obligated total $927.8 million across 35,793 awards since the program's inception in 2011.

Project Grants comprise 94 percent of awards (33,604 awards) with Cooperative Agreements making up the remaining 6 percent (2,189 awards). Five regional State Department bureaus dominate by award count and by federal dollars obligated. The Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs leads by federal dollars, obligating $295.8 million across 7,554 awards. The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs follows with 9,058 awards and $117.6 million obligated, followed by the Bureaus of Western Hemisphere Affairs, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and African Affairs. These five bureaus account for 85 percent of all awards and 78 percent of federal dollars obligated.

Individual award magnitudes range widely: recent visible awards span from under $700 to $499 thousand (Japan-focused Freedom 250 outreach), with typical small grants in the $2,000–$45,000 range and mid-size awards in the $75,000–$245,000 range. One larger award supported English language and specialist programming in China at $490 thousand.

Multiple grant opportunities opened in recent weeks with September and August deadlines now passed or closing imminently. Current open solicitations include the U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Accelerator Program (due September 14, 2026) seeking a Cooperative Agreement to source and commercialize Saudi AI technologies in partnership with U.S. innovation networks; MENA Freedom 250 NFL Flag Football Launch and Championship (due September 14, 2026) as a Cooperative Agreement under a State Department–NFL partnership; Countering CCP Influence in Panama's Universities (due September 13, 2026) supporting English language, AI, entrepreneurship, and academic freedom programming at Panamanian higher education institutions; Equipping Journalists to Counter Anti-American Propaganda in Panama (due September 13, 2026) combining English instruction with AI skills and media literacy for journalists; and programs in Zimbabwe, Australia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Argentina, Oman, and Mexico with September deadlines. Annual Program Statements from multiple embassies remain open, soliciting projects addressing strategic priorities including technology innovation, youth engagement, sports diplomacy, and media resilience.