International Exchange Alumni Programs

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) designs and implements educational, professional, and cultural exchange and other programs that create and sustain the mutual understanding with other count

There are over two million alumni of U.S. Government-funded or sponsored exchange programs worldwide, over one-quarter of whom are Americans. ECA is committed to providing resources to sustain engagement with and harness the energy, enthusiasm, and expertise of these current and emerging leaders. Working closely with Department of State regional bureaus and U.S. embassies worldwide, ECA supports exchange alumni programs that are strategic, responsive to U.S. embassy priorities, and designed to reinforce U.S. foreign policy objectives. To best address those objectives, ECA focuses exchange alumni programs on policy priority topics including increasing America's global competitiveness, protecting freedom of speech, and advancing economic prosperity through innovation. ECA does this through professional development for U.S. citizen alumni and by providing expertise and training for on-the-ground foreign alumni activities led by U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. ECA also maintains a robust contact engagement system which includes the Exchange Alumni website (exchangealumni.state.gov). The site offers alumni a secure place to network and connect with other alumni, share news, and access resources such as grants and research databases. The funding provided to non-profit organizations supports U.S. citizen alumni via cooperative agreements for professional development programs and small grants on thematic topics that support U.S. foreign policy priorities and foster a sense of shared identity, networking, and dialogue among participating alumni.

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcement for further eligibility criteria.

Beneficiaries include recipient organizations, educational institutions, other non-government organizations (NGOs) that meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), as well as sponsored participants, and the American people and the people of participating countries who interact with the international participants.

There are close to 2,000,000 alumni of U.S. Government-funded or sponsored exchange programs worldwide, nearly one-quarter of whom are Americans, and approximately 300,000 alumni annually of the U.S. Government-facilitated Exchange Visitor Program. ECA is committed to providing resources to sustain engagement with and harness the energy, enthusiasm, and expertise of these current and emerging leaders. Working closely with Department of State regional bureaus and U.S. embassies worldwide, ECA supports exchange alumni programs that are strategic, responsive to U.S. embassy priorities, and designed to reinforce U.S. foreign policy objectives. To best address those objectives, ECA focuses exchange alumni programs on policy priority topics including increasing America's global competitiveness, countering disinformation , support for STEM education, protecting the environment, empowering women and girls, advancing economic prosperity, promoting inclusion and access to education and encouraging strong civil society institutions and good governance. ECA does this through professional development for U.S. citizen alumni and by providing expertise, training, and support for on-the-ground foreign alumni activities led by U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. ECA also maintains a robust, targeted virtual engagement system including the Exchange Alumni website (alumni.state.gov), an exclusive, password-protected on-line global community , which serves as the U.S. Department of State's official website for U.S. government-sponsored exchange alumni. The site offers alumni a place to network and connect with other alumni, share news, and access resources such as grants and research databases. ECA also virtually connects U.S. leaders with the global alumni community through online mentoring sessions hosted on social media. The funding provided to non-profit organizations supports U.S. citizen alumni and foreign alumni. These cooperative agreements support professional development programs for U.S. citizen alumni and regional enrichment seminars and small grants on thematic topics that support U.S. foreign policy priorities and foster a sense of shared identity, networking and dialogue among participating alumni.

As stated in Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcements.

As stated in Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcements.

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.

As stated in Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcements.