ECA U.S. Speaker Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.440
- Agency
-
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 165 $41,557,543 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- ECA - U.S. Speaker Program
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 19-0113-0-1-154
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the U.S. Speaker Program (CFDA 19.440), which funds international exchange activities through cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations that recruit U.S. experts to engage foreign audiences on topics of strategic importance to U.S. foreign policy, with the most recent grant award dated September 29, 2026.
The program has sustained activity across its 15-year funding history. Over the past five years, award volume has ranged from 5 to 19 awards annually, with 9 awards in 2025 and 5 awards to date in 2026. A total of 165 grants have been obligated since 2011, combining $41.6 million in federal dollars and $41.8 million in total obligated funds including non-federal cost-share.
The program funds in-person and virtual programs that connect American experts—who must be U.S. citizens—with foreign decision-makers, professional interlocutors, and other international audiences through lectures, workshops, seminars, and training series. Recent examples include World Learning's Cooperative Agreement SECAGD23CA0089 (September 1, 2023, $6.127 million) to implement the FY 2023 U.S. Speaker Program with approximately 600–700 traveling and virtual programs annually, and Cooperative Agreement SECAGD25CA0052 (September 30, 2025, $2.246 million) for the America250 U.S. Speaker Program supporting approximately 530 American participants from all 50 states. At the project level, grants range from less than $1,000 to several tens of thousands; most individual project grants fall below $35,000.
The assistance-type mix is predominantly Project Grants (156 awards, 95%) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (9 awards, 5%). Funding is concentrated heavily in two bureaus: the Bureau of International Information Programs ($21.6 million federal dollars across 34 awards) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs ($19.6 million across 40 awards), together representing the vast majority of federal obligated funds. The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (45 awards, $95 thousand), Bureau of African Affairs (12 awards, $116 thousand), and Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (11 awards, $60 thousand) account for the remainder.
Two cooperative agreement opportunities are currently open or recently posted. The FY 2026 America First U.S. Speaker Program (Solicitation DFOP0017995, posted March 26, 2026, with a passed due date of May 26, 2026) solicits support for approximately 580 programs (360 in-person, 220 virtual) focused on energy security, critical minerals, commercial diplomacy, freedom of expression, digital freedom, and AI. The FY 2025 America250 U.S. Speaker Program (Solicitation DFOP0017496, posted July 28, 2025, due date August 26, 2025) supported approximately 530 programs (310 in-person, 220 virtual). Eligible applicants are public and private nonprofit organizations meeting Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) provisions, and higher education institutions. Award announcements are posted on Grants.gov and the Department of State's MyGrants portal.
Objective and description
- Objective
As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the U.S. Speaker Program of the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs awards a cooperative agreement to an organization with experience in international exchanges for the administra
- Description
As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Office of the U.S. Speaker Program of the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs awards a cooperative agreement to an organization with experience in international exchanges for the administration of projects that enable U.S. experts to engage international audiences on topics of strategic importance to the United States. The participating U.S. experts represent a broad range of knowledge and responsible and informed opinion. Experts participate in traveling and/or virtual programs in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives. The grantee organization is to be responsible for handling all administrative aspects of the program, including arrangements for participant travel, visas, funding disbursement, mailing of materials, and speaker evaluation reporting.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Uses of assistance
Cooperative Agreements are only available to non-profit U.S. organizations with significant experience with implementing international exchange programs.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcements. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Assistance is awarded/released through the Department's central financial management database.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
A proposal is selected based on the responsiveness of the proposals to the review criteria outlined in the solicitation.
- Award procedure
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed/validated by an authorized Grants Officer, and sent via the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
- Deadlines
See Grants.gov and ECA's website and the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) for deadline dates.
- Renewals
As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcements.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 America First U.S. Speaker Program | Closed | ||
| FY 2025 America250 U.S. Speaker Program | Closed | ||
| U.S. Speaker and specialist grants program | Closed | ||
| FY 2023 U.S. Speaker Program | Closed | ||
| FY 2020 Office of the U.S. Speaker Program | Closed |
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Grant SMO55026IN0006 | — | $57,000 | |
| Project Grant STI40026IN0018 | — | $4,000 | |
| Project Grant SSP50026IN0010 | — | $600 | |
| Project Grant STI40026IN0016 | — | $8,000 | |
| Project Grant SECAAE26IN0027 | — | $3,043 | |
| Project Grant SMA10025IN0026 | — | $18,252 | |
| Project Grant SMA10025IN0025 | — | $3,500 | |
| Project Grant SMA10025IN0024 | — | $1,500 | |
| Project Grant SMA10025IN0023 | — | $2,000 | |
| Project Grant SMA10025IN0022 | — | $1,500 |
Latest 10 of 165 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | World Learning Inc. | $38,902,541 | 94% |
| 2 | Project Harmony Inc. | $1,449,505 | 3% |
| 3 | International Republican Institute | $21,198 | <1% |
| 4 | Museo De Arte Contemporaneo De Monterrey, A.C. | $20,127 | <1% |
| 5 | Apdtm - Associacao Para A Promocao E Desenvolvimento Do Teatro Musical | $20,096 | <1% |
| 6 | Instituto De Cultura Del Municipio De Chihuahua | $19,400 | <1% |
| 7 | Family Health International | $18,444 | <1% |
| 8 | Street To School Initiative | $9,088 | <1% |
| 9 | Fncci-American Corner Kathmandu | $7,000 | <1% |
9 of 12 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$475,998 |
| FY2025 | $2,312,489 |
| FY2024 | $2,277,998 |
| FY2023 | $3,875,281 |
| FY2022 | $977,041 |
| FY2021 | $3,505,049 |
| FY2020 | $3,961,168 |
| FY2019 | $4,318,550 |
| FY2018 | $4,362,671 |
| FY2017 | $5,125,299 |
| FY2016 | $4,089,280 |
| FY2015 | $4,166,754 |
| FY2014 | $1,203,147 |
| FY2013 | $608,121 |
| FY2012 | $278,726 |
| FY2011 | $982,850 |
Show all 16
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.440?
Assistance Listing 19.440 is ECA U.S. Speaker Program, a federal grant program run by Department of State.
What is the CFDA number for ECA U.S. Speaker Program?
Its CFDA number is 19.440: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.440 awarded?
165 grant awards under 19.440 have obligated $41,557,543 in federal funds to 12 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.440?
The recipients obligated the most under ECA U.S. Speaker Program are World Learning Inc. ($38,902,541), Project Harmony Inc. ($1,449,505) and International Republican Institute ($21,198).
How much did 19.440 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 19.440 obligated $2,312,489 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.440?
No opportunity listed under 19.440 is open now. The latest, FY 2026 America First U.S. Speaker Program, was posted on March 26, 2026.
On GovTribe
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