FY 2026 America First U.S. Speaker Program

The America First U.S. Speaker Program is a public diplomacy initiative administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It is structured as a cooperative agreement under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act). For more than four decades, this program has played a vital role in strengthening international understanding by deploying U.S. citizen experts to engage professional audiences worldwide on priority policy issues. The FY 2026 cycle of the program continues this mission with a renewed focus on America First priorities such as energy security, critical minerals, commercial diplomacy, digital freedom, freedom of expression, and artificial intelligence. Through approximately 580 programs (360 in-person and 220 virtual), the program will connect experienced American professionals with influential foreign audiences to bolster U.S. strategic interests abroad. The funding opportunity supports one cooperative agreement award totaling $2,736,259, with an anticipated start date of August 3, 2026, and a performance period of 12 months. There is potential for two consecutive renewals subject to performance and funding availability. The selected awardee will be responsible for program logistics, including international travel, disbursement of participant funding, and provision of visa/passport services. Programs vary in length and format, with in-person engagements typically lasting from three days to three weeks and virtual events occurring on a specific date or as part of a series. Programmatic formats include lectures, workshops, seminars, podcasts, and training sessions. All activities are developed in coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates. Applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit organizations or educational institutions with at least four years of experience conducting international exchange programs. They must also demonstrate the logistical and technical capacity to manage travel, disburse funds within 24 hours, and facilitate communication with overseas missions. Required application components include a completed SF-424, executive summary, proposal narrative, line-item budget, budget narrative, and SF-424A. Only one application will be accepted per organization. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The deadline for submission is May 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Evaluation criteria include the originality and quality of the proposed program idea, program planning, ability to meet stated objectives, institutional capacity, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan, and cost-effectiveness. ECA expects proposals to include a robust performance monitoring framework using the Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) system, with required indicators covering participant engagement, job skills development, cross-cultural understanding, and survey responsiveness. Award recipients must report outcomes quarterly and submit a final program and financial report no later than 120 days after the award's conclusion. Survey data must be submitted using MyGrants RPM. The recipient organization will manage travel arrangements (including emergency adjustments), financial disbursements (e.g., honoraria, per diem), visa/passport procurement, and post-program evaluations. Approximately 155 passport/visa arrangements and 60 passport page requests are anticipated during the performance period. All travel must comply with the Fly America Act and U.S. Government regulations. Additionally, the recipient is required to maintain data records, engage in quarterly reporting, and coordinate closely with the U.S. Speaker Program on programmatic logistics. Communication with awardees will occur through official Department of State channels, and branding requirements apply to all program materials. For questions about the opportunity, applicants may contact Imani Pitman at the U.S. Speaker Program (ECA/PE/V/S) via phone at 202-632-9245 or email at [email protected]. All communication should reference the funding opportunity number DFOP0017995. The NOFO and related materials are available for download from Grants.gov and the Department of State's ECA website. Proposals must adhere to federal rules and regulations, and successful applicants will be notified following a comprehensive review and risk assessment process.

Include strong M&E plan using MODE; emphasize institutional capacity; budget conservatively with required disbursement capabilities.