At a glance
The FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors Program funds three-week youth leadership exchanges in select regions, with some programs including adult mentors and U.S. participants. Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations and U.S. not-for-profit educational institutions; applicants must have a UEI, valid SAM.gov registration, and at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. ECA anticipates eight awards ranging from $300,000 to $2,100,000, with no required cost share. The program has regional options for Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Near East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere, plus a U.S. program and an on-demand program, with country participation selected by ECA and some country-specific restrictions noted in the announcement.
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for the FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors program. Proposals may be submitted to implement one, or more, of eight program options outlined in this solicitation. A different proposal must be submitted for each program option, if applying for more than one. You must clearly identify which program option a proposal is for, early in the Executive Summary of the proposal. The Youth Ambassadors program provides groups of youth and adult mentor (select programs) participants from select countries in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (AF), East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), Middle East and North Africa (NEA), South Central Asia (SCA), the Western Hemisphere (WHA), and the United States of America (USA) , with a three-week exchange focusing on youth leadership. In addition to participants travelling internationally, exchanges will include U.S. youth and adult mentors participating as peers in U.S. based exchanges. As applicants explore the main theme of leadership, they are encouraged to showcase creative and transformative application of AI concepts, resources, strategies, and tools. Program participants will apply knowledge gained on the program to implement follow-on projects in their home communities. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Who can apply
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
- Others
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education