Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026: Exchange Alumni Advancing Freedom250 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026: Exchange Alumni Advancing Freedom250 opportunity?

This is a discretionary U.S. government grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Mission to Niger to support an Alumni Summit in Niamey during Fiscal Year 2026. The summit is centered on bringing together U.S. government exchange program alumni to celebrate and promote "Freedom250," the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, while also producing practical collaboration and initiatives that continue after the event.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is OFOP0002583.

3) Who is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the U.S. Mission to Niger (U.S. Embassy/Embassy-affiliated public diplomacy programming as described in the opportunity summary).

4) What is the main goal of the project being funded?

The core goal is to convene U.S. government exchange alumni in Niamey for an Alumni Summit that (a) highlights Freedom250 and (b) strengthens alumni connections across programs and professional fields, resulting in concrete, practical initiatives and ongoing collaboration after the summit ends.

5) Is this only a commemorative event, or does it require longer-term results?

It is not intended to be only a one-time commemorative event. The summit is expected to translate dialogue into tangible follow-on actions and measurable outcomes that extend beyond a single event tied to the Freedom250 commemoration.

6) Where will the summit take place?

The opportunity is designed to support an Alumni Summit in Niamey, Niger.

7) When is the project expected to occur?

The opportunity is intended to support an Alumni Summit during Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026). The specific summit dates are not provided in the summary and would be defined in the proposal in coordination with the Embassy under the cooperative agreement model.

8) What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is April 30, 2026.

9) When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 27, 2026.

10) What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The program is funded through a cooperative agreement. This generally means the awardee should expect a more hands-on partnership with the U.S. Embassy than with a typical grant, including closer coordination during planning and implementation.

11) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?

The Embassy anticipates making up to two awards.

12) What is the maximum funding amount per project?

The award ceiling is $40,000 per project.

13) What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.022.

14) What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as "Other."

15) Who is eligible to apply as the primary applicant?

Eligibility is focused on exchange alumni. The primary applicant and project lead must be a non-U.S. citizen alumnus or alumna of a U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange program.

16) What counts as an eligible exchange program for applicant eligibility?

The opportunity references U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs commonly associated with the Exchange Visitor Program and referenced through the J-1 program website. The summary does not provide a full list of specific programs, but it frames eligibility around official U.S. government exchange alumni.

17) Can U.S. citizens apply as the primary applicant or project lead?

No. U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members, but they cannot serve as the primary applicant or the project lead.

18) Is this opportunity open to organizations that are not alumni associations?

No. Applications may only be submitted by eligible exchange alumni (as individuals or as teams) or by alumni associations connected to U.S. government exchange programs. Other types of organizations are not eligible to apply directly, even if they could potentially serve as implementation partners.

19) Can an individual exchange alumnus/alumna apply, or is a team required?

A team is required. Project teams must include at least two eligible exchange alumni in total. The primary applicant/project lead must meet the non-U.S. citizen alumni requirement, and the overall team must meet the composition requirements described in the announcement.

20) Does the team have to include someone based in Niger?

Yes. Teams must include at least one alumnus or alumna who is based in Niger, reflecting the Embassy's intent to ground the work locally.

21) Can the team include alumni from different exchange programs?

Yes. Teams can be made up of alumni from different exchange programs and different professional fields, consistent with the summit goal of connecting alumni across multiple programs and sectors.

22) Can the team include alumni from different countries?

Yes. Teams can include alumni from different countries, as long as the team includes at least one alumnus or alumna based in Niger and meets the other eligibility requirements (including the non-U.S. citizen requirement for the primary applicant/project lead).

23) What is "Freedom250" in the context of this opportunity?

"Freedom250" refers to the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The summit is intended to celebrate and promote this milestone while reinforcing democratic values and alumni collaboration.

24) What policy objectives is the project expected to align with?

The project is framed to align with U.S. policy objectives, including contributing to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous United States and reinforcing democratic values such as freedom of expression.

25) What kinds of summit content or design elements are encouraged?

The Embassy is looking for a summit design that brings together alumni from varied sectors to reinforce shared values, build durable professional networks, and convert discussion into concrete follow-on actions. A competitive proposal would typically explain how the summit will be organized, who will be convened and why, what collaborative sessions or outputs will be produced, and how the project will generate measurable outcomes beyond the event itself.

26) What does "measurable outcomes" mean in this opportunity summary?

The summary indicates the Embassy wants practical initiatives and results that continue after the summit ends. While the announcement summary does not define specific metrics, it emphasizes outcomes that can be tracked and demonstrated over time, not just participation in a one-time event.

27) Is the opportunity specifically focused on Niger?

Yes, the awarding entity is the U.S. Mission to Niger and the proposed activity is an Alumni Summit in Niamey. Additionally, the team must include at least one alumnus or alumna based in Niger, reinforcing a locally grounded approach.

28) Can non-eligible organizations still participate in some way?

The summary states that other types of organizations are not eligible to apply directly, even if they could potentially be partners in implementation. This implies external organizations could potentially be involved as partners, but only eligible exchange alumni or alumni associations may submit the application.

29) What should applicants expect from the U.S. Embassy due to the cooperative agreement structure?

Applicants should expect a more hands-on partnership model than a typical grant. The summary indicates closer involvement and coordination with the U.S. Embassy during planning and implementation.

30) What is the intended audience for the summit?

The summit is intended for U.S. government exchange program alumni, with an emphasis on convening alumni across multiple exchange programs and professional fields to strengthen networks, collaboration, and shared values.