Skip to main content

Open

FY 2026 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI Fellowship)

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the PSI document.

Executive Summary 
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch invites proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the FY 2026 YALI Fellowship. Established in 2014 the YALI Fellowship has built and maintained a network of approximately 7,800 young African leaders across sectors crit cal to U.S. interests and foreign policy priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components and aspects of the YALI Fellowship including short-term academic residencies (“institutes”) on U.S. college and university campuses for approximately 550 Fellows, Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) for approximately 50 Fellows, a Reciprocal Exchange component that includes approximately 80 U.S. participants, and follow-on alumni activities. Under this award, the first group of
Fellows would travel to the United States for the institutes in summer 2027. The award recipient will design the Fellowship application materials, develop an outreach and recruitment plan, receive and screen applications in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and oversee the final Fellow selection and placement process. The recipient will recruit, select, and oversee subawards to approximately 22 U.S. educational institutions that will each implement a six-week long institute in one of three tracks: Business and Trade, Emerging Technologies, or Governance and Security.

Each institute should take place on an accredited U.S. college or university campus and provide a group of approximately 25 accomplished African innovators and professionals aged 25 to 35 with rigorous academic and practical coursework, showcasing American excellence in relevant fields. Institutes should also provide structured networking and professional opportunities for Fellows to build relationships with American businesses and industry leaders.

The PDEs are professional placements for a subset of Fellows at relevant U.S. public, private, and non-profit organizations and should take place immediately following the institutes.

The Reciprocal Exchange component should support approximately 80 U.S. citizens to travel to Sub-Saharan Africa to build upon strategic partnerships and business connections developed through the YALI Fellowship. 

ECA will award one cooperative agreement to administer all program components. The anticipated total amount of funding available for this cooperative agreement will be approximately $15,000,000, pending the availability of FY 2026 funds. Of this total amount, the recipient should be prepared to transfer approximately $250,000 to each U.S. college, university, or non-governmental organization selected to administer an Institute under sub-award agreements.

ECA welcomes applications from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, consortia of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S. education institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).

Please see the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) for more information.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
5/26/2026
Solicitation Type

FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary 
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the administration of the FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD). The total amount of funding for this award will be up to $4,800,000, pending the availability of FY 2026 funds.

The Global UGRAD Program places small cohorts of participants at a broad range of colleges and universities, including community colleges, land-grant institutions, rural campuses, and Senior Military Institutions, giving participants a “real American” experience in small towns and rural communities. Participants build skills in strategic U.S. priority fields such as business, entrepreneurship, semiconductors, AI, engineering, critical minerals, manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. All participants are required to study U.S. history, civic engagement, and American culture, deepening their understanding of American excellence, innovation, and culture. Funding should support approximately 160 participants, pending the availability of FY 2026 funds. Every effort should be made to maximize the number of scholarships awarded; staffing levels should be adequate to ensure that participant health and safety are prioritized.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
6/2/2026
Solicitation Type

FY 2027 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State is announcing an open competition for the FY 2027 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (Humphrey Fellowship). ECA is seeking proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the Humphrey Fellowship.

The Humphrey Fellowship, a Fulbright exchange, advances American interests by bringing influential professionals from priority countries to the United States to build strategic partnerships that advance shared interests and support U.S. foreign policy goals. Through graduate-level study and professional experiences at U.S. host universities and organizations, Humphrey Fellows gain practical insight into howAmerican policies are developed and implemented, working alongside U.S. experts in their fields. Fellows are placed in multi-national thematic cohorts at U.S. host universities, where they gain skills to promote stability and economic growth, foster long-term cooperation with the United States on shared global challenges, and advance U.S. foreign policy interests.

The program offers two components: a longer-term fellowship of up to one academic year and a shorter-term, thematic Distinguished Humphrey FellowshipProgram (DHFP). During the academic year program, Fellows participate in non-degree study in multi-national cohorts at approximately eight host campuses across the United States. They also complete at least six weeks of a professional affiliation at a U.S.-based private sector, governmental, non-governmental, or international organization. The shorter-term DHFP program places Fellows in thematic multinational cohorts at selected host institutions and includes approximately one-week of professional experiences at U.S.-based organizations.

Through their academic and professional experiences, Fellows deepen their understanding of the United States, strengthen their expertise in fields of strategic importance, and build networks with U.S. counterparts. Upon returning home, alumni apply their experience to shape national policy, promote stability and economic growth, and foster long-term cooperation with the United States on shared global challenges, such as border security, freedom of speech, and fair trade. Humphrey Fellows and alumni serve as critical interlocutors for U.S. Missions, helping to advance bilateral relationships and achieve foreign policy goals.

Funding Type
External Deadline
5/18/2026
Solicitation Type

2026 Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Awards Program for Coronary Heart Disease Research

Awaiting RFA // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Please note, the selection process is being run on an anticipated deadline based on prior cycles. We are monitoring the funder's website for details on the upcoming cycle and will update the limited submissions table once additional information on the 2026 cycle is available.

Limiting Language 
Each invited institution may submit a single application from a full-time faculty member. The candidate must be from the Colleges of Medicine (Tucson or Phoenix). 

Program Description

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

The Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Awards Program for Coronary Heart Disease Research supports research in the prevention of coronary heart disease or circulatory failure and improving care for patients with these medical conditions. The program focuses on basic and translational scientific research. Clinical studies are currently ineligible. 

In accordance with Mr. Geneen’s directives, the program seeks to establish “…a more direct and personalized relationship with grant recipients than is normally possible in dealing with the diffuse and bureaucratic administrations through which large organizations are managed…and to support smaller institutions rather than major universities or medical complexes which have a demonstrated capacity to raise funds from the public generally.” Thus, eligible institutions represent mid-size institutions conducting relevant and innovative cardiovascular research. 

Each invited institution may only submit one application to the program which meets the eligibility requirements for the 2026 Grant Cycle. Applicants must be full-time faculty at an invited non-profit academic, medical, non-governmental or research institutions. United States citizenship is not required. Junior faculty are encouraged to apply. 

The Co-Trustees of the Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust (Funder) have retained Health Resources in Action (HRiA - Administrator) to manage the administrative aspects of the Harold S. Geneen Charitable Trust Awards Program for Coronary Heart Disease Research. Health Resources in Action (HRiA) is a non-profit organization that partners with individuals, organizations, and communities to transform the practices, policies, and systems that improve health and advance equity. 

Eligibility 
Each invited institution may submit a single application from a full-time faculty member. United States citizenship is not required. To encourage the support of junior faculty, applicants are ineligible if at the time of application, they have combined federal and nonfederal funding totaling $500,000 or more in direct costs during the first year of the Geneen Award. This figure refers to external funding only and not an applicant’s start-up package, other intramural support, or the Geneen Award itself. Applicants may hold a K Award or be in the R00 phase of a K99/R00 as long as those award amounts, combined with other funding, do not exceed these specified limits. 

Pending Federal and Non-Federal Support 
Applicants who have pending R01s or other large applications to the NIH and other agencies are encouraged to submit proposals to the Geneen Trust. Notification of funding after the application date will not impact eligibility for a Geneen Award. However, it is the responsibility of applicants to contact GeneenAwards@hria.org as soon as they are notified of any new funding. 

Funding Type
External Deadline
7/8/2026 (Anticipated)
Solicitation Type

Translational Medicine Program (Faculty Starter Grant or Predoctoral Fellowships)

Request Ticket (include lab and approval message from lab's PI) // Limit: 1 predoc, postdoc, or faculty member per lab

A. Cruickshank-Taylor (Cherrington Lab)

Limiting Language
Only one applicant per lab may apply in the Translational Medicine Program. Labs must select either a predoc, a postdoc, or a faculty member.

Program Overview
The PhRMA Foundation Faculty Starter Grant in Translational Medicine offers financial support to individuals beginning independent research careers at the faculty level at an accredited U.S. university. The funding amount is $100,000 for one year. 

Funding Type
External Deadline
5/27/2026 (LOI); 11/18/2026 (Full Application - by invitation)

FY 2026 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
Priority Region: Participants will represent priority countries from all six world regions.

The Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA, invites proposal submissions for the design and implementation of the John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service (McCain SUSI). The SUSI will take place over five weeks in summer 2027. See details in section C. Program Description.

The McCain SUSI is an intensive academic exchange program that provides a group of approximately 20 foreign undergraduate students and recent graduates from military and law enforcement colleges and universities with a deeper understanding of American leadership and how it has shaped global stability and security.

The McCain SUSI will include an approximately four-week academic residency at a U.S. educational institution and an approximately one-week integrated academic field experiencethat will bring participants to a U.S. region distinct from their residency location. The program should include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement once participants return home.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning, overseeing, and implementing the program. Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization.



 

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
5/11/2026
Solicitation Type

FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), invites proposal submissions from U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and public and private universities, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) (see section B. Eligibility) for the design and implementation of three (3) programs under the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs for Scholars). Three SUSIs for Scholars will take place over five weeks in summer 2027. Each SUSI will focus on a specific theme: 1) Critical Minerals, 2) Digital Transformation, and 3) Economics and Business. See details in Section C. Program Description.

SUSIs for Scholars are post-graduate level seminars held at U.S. academic institutions for groups of approximately 18 foreign university faculty, researchers, and practitioners, who serve as “multipliers” for students and colleagues abroad. The program goal is to provide influential scholars and experts with content and resources that enhance teaching and research about the United States in other countries. SUSIs for Scholars also promote collaboration in research, teaching, and other activities between foreign and American scholars and practitioners.

Each of the three SUSIs for Scholars focuses on a theme or topic in U.S. studies and will include an approximately four-week intensive summer residency at a U.S. educational institution and an approximately one-week integrated academic field experience that will bring participants to a U.S. region distinct from their residency location. Each SUSI must highlight American success and innovation with regard to the SUSIs for Scholars themes. The academic residency should take place on a U.S. university or college campus and should include coursework, time for independent research, and interaction with American peers. The SUSIs for Scholars should include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement once the participants return home.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning, overseeing, and implementing the program, including administering the three SUSIs for Scholars and overseeing all subaward recipients.

Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. It is ECA’s intent to award a cooperative agreement of one base year plus two renewals. Please see Section A. Basic Information above for additional details.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
5/11/2026
Solicitation Type

2026 William T. Grant Scholars Program

Request Ticket (must include approval from your Department Head and Dean) // Limit: 1 nomination per major division 

Limiting Language
Each year, only one applicant may be nominated from a major division (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences, Medical School) of an institution.

Program Overview
The William T. Grant Scholars Program supports career development for promising early-career researchers. The program funds five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers’ expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas. 

Applicants should have a track record of conducting high-quality research and an interest in pursuing a significant shift in their trajectories as researchers. We recognize that early-career researchers are rarely given incentives or support to take measured risks in their work, so this award includes a mentoring component, as well as a supportive academic community.

The Foundation supports research in two distinct focus areas: 1) Reducing inequality in youth outcomes, and 2) Improving the use of research evidence in policy and practice. Proposed research must address questions that align with one of these areas.

Focus Areas:

  • Reducing Inequality
    • In this focus area, we fund research studies that aim to build, test, or increase understanding of programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5–25 in the United States, along dimensions of race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status, language minority status, or immigrant origins.
  • Improving the Use of Research Evidence
    • In this focus area, we support research on strategies focused on improving the use of research evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States. We want to know what it takes to get research used by decision-makers and what happens when research is used. We welcome letters of inquiry for studies that pursue one of these broad aims.

      While an extensive body of knowledge provides a rich understanding of specific conditions that foster the use of research evidence, we lack robust, validated strategies for cultivating them. What is required to create structural and social conditions that support research use? What infrastructure is needed, and what will it look like? What supports and incentives foster research use? And, ultimately, how do youth outcomes fare when research evidence is used? This is where new research can make a difference.

Nomination Statement Requirements
This statement from the Dean or chairperson of the nominating division should describe why the applicant was selected; an assessment of the applicant’s plan; the applicant’s current and expected future roles in the division; the supporting resources available; the applicant’s current source and amount of salary; and the appointment, promotion, and institutional support plans for the applicant, including a guarantee that 50 percent of the applicant’s paid time will be devoted to research. (Successful examples of nominating statements can be found on the Foundation’s website.)

Eligible Applicants 

• Applicants must be nominated by their institutions. Major divisions of an institution (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences, Medical School) may nominate only one applicant each year.  In addition to the eligibility criteria below, deans and directors of those divisions should refer to the Review Criteria to aid them in choosing their nominees. Applicants of any discipline are eligible. 

• Applicants must have received their doctorate within seven years of submitting their application. We calculate this by adding seven to the year the doctorate was conferred. In medicine, the seven-year maximum is dated from the completion of the first residency. The month in which the degree was conferred or residency completed  does not matter for this calculation. 

• Applicants must be employed in career-ladder positions. For many applicants, this means holding a tenure-track position in a university. Applicants in other types of organizations should be in positions in which there is a pathway to advancement in a research career at the organization and the organization is fiscally responsible for the applicant’s position. The award may not be used as a post-doctoral fellowship. 

• Applicants outside the United States are eligible. As with U.S. applicants, they must pursue research that has compelling policy or practice implications for youth in the United States. 

• We strive to support a diverse group of researchers in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and seniority, and we encourage research projects led by Black or African American, Indigenous, Latinx, and/or Asian or Pacific Islander American  researchers.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
6/10/2026 (Mentor and Reference Letter Deadline); 6/30/2026 (Application Deadline)
Solicitation Type

FY 2026 American Film Showcase

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs announces the FY2026 American Film Showcase open competition for one cooperative agreement to support thematic projects in film, television, gaming, and other media arts-based, international cultural and commercial diplomacy exchanges that create partnerships through artistic collaboration and professional development activities, promote economic opportunities, demonstrate the power of free expression, and support Administration foreign policy and America First priorities.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
6/1/2026
Solicitation Type

FY 2026 English Access Scholarship Program

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The English Access Scholarship Program (Access) leverages American English to build English language capacity with strategic audiences through in-person programming and exchanges in the United States. The program promotes economic self-reliance which strengthens American national security and economic prosperity. Access showcases U.S. educational excellence, demonstrates U.S. educational technology, and promotes opportunities for American business partnerships.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
5/1/2026
Solicitation Type