FY 2026 American Music Mentorship Program

The American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP), administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), offers a unique opportunity to strengthen international music industry infrastructure and promote American cultural influence abroad. The program supports peer-to-peer mentorship between international mid-career music industry professionals and U.S.-based mentors. Rather than centering solely on artists or performers, AMMP emphasizes the broader commercial and technical ecosystem that supports music production, licensing, management, and distribution. With the FY26 theme, "Made in America: Influence and Innovation of the American Music Industry," AMMP fosters global engagement in creative sectors by enhancing the capacity of international participants to collaborate with American music professionals. This cooperative agreement provides approximately $700,000 for a single award to fund an 18-month program cycle. Participants, known as mentees, will travel from three to five countries to participate in a two-week immersive U.S. residency. This residency will include mentorship, hands-on training, workshops, and site visits at various music industry institutions. Following this, mentees will engage in monthly virtual sessions with their U.S. mentors for about a year to support ongoing learning and collaboration. The program also includes a one-week outbound exchange in which up to ten American music industry professionals travel overseas to provide workshops, consultations, and participate in networking events. Through this structure, the program advances economic diplomacy and cultural exchange while expanding professional networks and global market access for American music professionals. The funding opportunity supports a public-private partnership structure. ECA will collaborate with a selected U.S.-based private sector organization from the music industry, which will assist in mentor recruitment and programming. The recipient of the cooperative agreement will coordinate logistics, manage the application and selection process, facilitate all exchanges, and ensure smooth implementation aligned with U.S. foreign policy goals. Responsibilities also include designing and implementing performance monitoring systems, conducting needs assessments, managing mentor-mentee matching, and organizing both in-person and virtual programming components. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and public or private educational institutions with at least four years of experience in conducting international exchanges. Organizations must possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), be registered with SAM.gov, and submit all required documentation including SF-424, proposal narrative, detailed budget, and narrative. While cost sharing is not required, it is encouraged. All applicants must ensure compliance with ECA’s branding, health insurance, and travel requirements as specified in the NOFO. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov no later than May 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Submissions must include all required documentation, and incomplete or late applications will be deemed ineligible. The anticipated award date is September 1, 2026. Proposals will be evaluated based on quality of program design, organizational capacity, cost-effectiveness, and monitoring and evaluation plans. The performance period for the award is 18 months. Subject to availability of funds and satisfactory implementation, ECA may renew the award for two additional consecutive fiscal years. The AMMP serves as a strategic tool for promoting American cultural capital, supporting creative entrepreneurship, and advancing bilateral relationships through music. By investing in mid-career professionals from selected international markets and strengthening ties with U.S. mentors, the program bolsters global leadership in creative industries. Applicants are encouraged to consider virtual programming components as supplements or alternatives, and innovative designs that align with AMMP’s goals are strongly encouraged.

Proposals should emphasize experience with international exchanges and demonstrate strong M&E capacity using the MODE framework.