Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK800 26 PAS001
Apply for SMK800 26 PAS001
- The U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the affordable care act, agriculture, arts, business and commerce, community development, consumer protection, disaster prevention and relief, education, eic, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, humanities, iij, information and statistics, income security and social services, law, justice and legal services, natural resources, other, oz, recovery act, regional development, science and technology and other research and development, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Program FY 2026" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program FY 2026 is a competitive small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia that funds alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to turn the skills and networks they gained during their exchange into practical, community-focused projects. AEIF has operated globally since 2011 and has supported nearly 500 alumni-led projects worldwide, with the core idea being that alumni are well-positioned to design and deliver locally relevant solutions to shared challenges. For this funding cycle, the Embassy is looking for public service projects that clearly support U.S. Embassy goals and foreign policy objectives, promote shared interests, and deliver concrete benefits to local communities in North Macedonia. All funded activities must take place outside the United States and its territories.
A central requirement this year is that every proposal must explicitly celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (America250). In addition to tying activities to America250, projects must align with administration policy goals focused on making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, or on defending freedom of speech. This theme requirement is not optional: proposals that do not directly address the theme as described in the program objectives will be considered ineligible, regardless of how strong the rest of the design may be.
Applicants are expected to define a specific, realistic target audience rather than using broad labels like "the general public" or "everyone." The notice highlights priority audiences that are especially encouraged: youth and young adult leaders ages 13 to 30, community leaders and local officials, teachers and academic professionals, and local communities. Projects aimed at other audiences can still qualify, but the application needs to make a clear case for why that audience is essential to accomplishing the program goals.
This opportunity is issued as a discretionary grant competition (Funding Opportunity Number SMK800 26 PAS001) under CFDA 19.022, with an award ceiling of $35,000. The Mission anticipates making up to two awards. While the instrument type listed is a grant, the notice explains that if an award is structured as a cooperative agreement, the U.S. government will have substantial involvement during implementation. Examples of that involvement include active collaboration with the recipient on planning and key decisions, written approvals to move between phases or deliverables, joint preparation or presentation of results (such as co-authored reports or presentations), participation in selecting participants and/or venues, and a higher level of programmatic oversight than standard monitoring, including review and approval of significant changes and participation in quality assurance.
Eligibility is limited to North Macedonia-based non-profit organizations that meet the program conditions. Applications must be submitted either by a local alumni association of U.S. government exchange alumni or by a team of at least two exchange alumni working through a local non-profit NGO, think tank, or academic institution that will serve as the implementing partner. Key staff and project team members must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program (as listed on the State Department alumni site) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program such as those under the J-1 umbrella. Teams must include at least two alumni, and while U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members, they cannot serve as primary applicants. The program also allows teams to be mixed across different exchange programs and even different countries, as long as the application meets the local organizational and team composition requirements.
The application deadline listed for this opportunity is April 24, 2026, and the opportunity was posted on March 13, 2026.
Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program FY 2026 (U.S. Mission to North Macedonia) - FAQs
What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program?
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program FY 2026 is a competitive small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia. It funds alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to turn the skills, experience, and networks they gained during their exchange into practical, community-focused projects in North Macedonia.
Who runs this funding opportunity?
The program is run by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia (the U.S. Embassy).
Is AEIF a new program?
No. AEIF has operated globally since 2011 and has supported nearly 500 alumni-led projects worldwide.
What is the main purpose of the FY 2026 competition in North Macedonia?
For this funding cycle, the Embassy is looking for public service projects that clearly support U.S. Embassy goals and foreign policy objectives, promote shared interests, and deliver concrete benefits to local communities in North Macedonia.
Where must project activities take place?
All funded activities must take place outside the United States and its territories.
What is the required theme for this year?
Every proposal must explicitly celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (America250).
Is the America250 theme optional?
No. The theme requirement is not optional. Proposals that do not directly address the theme as described in the program objectives will be considered ineligible, even if the rest of the project design is strong.
Besides America250, what other policy goals must projects align with?
Projects must align with administration policy goals focused on making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, or on defending freedom of speech, in addition to tying activities to America250.
What kinds of audiences should projects focus on?
Applicants are expected to define a specific, realistic target audience rather than using broad labels like "the general public" or "everyone."
Are there priority audiences that are especially encouraged?
Yes. The notice highlights priority audiences that are especially encouraged: youth and young adult leaders ages 13 to 30, community leaders and local officials, teachers and academic professionals, and local communities.
Can a project target an audience that is not on the priority list?
Yes. Projects aimed at other audiences can still qualify, but the application needs to clearly explain why that audience is essential to accomplishing the program goals.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SMK800 26 PAS001.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
This opportunity is issued under CFDA 19.022.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $35,000.
How many awards does the Mission expect to make?
The Mission anticipates making up to two awards.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The instrument type is listed as a grant. However, the notice explains that an award may be structured as a cooperative agreement, which would involve substantial U.S. government involvement during implementation.
What does "substantial involvement" mean if the award is a cooperative agreement?
The notice provides examples of substantial involvement, which can include active collaboration with the recipient on planning and key decisions; written approvals to move between phases or deliverables; joint preparation or presentation of results (such as co-authored reports or presentations); participation in selecting participants and/or venues; and a higher level of programmatic oversight than standard monitoring, including review and approval of significant changes and participation in quality assurance.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to North Macedonia-based non-profit organizations that meet the program conditions.
What types of organizations can submit an application?
Applications must be submitted either by a local alumni association of U.S. government exchange alumni, or by a team of at least two exchange alumni working through a local non-profit NGO, think tank, or academic institution that will serve as the implementing partner.
Do project staff and team members need to be exchange alumni?
Yes. Key staff and project team members must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program (as listed on the State Department alumni site) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program such as those under the J-1 umbrella.
How many alumni are required on a project team?
Teams must include at least two alumni.
Can U.S. citizen alumni be part of the team?
Yes. U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members, but they cannot serve as primary applicants.
Can alumni from different exchange programs work together?
Yes. The program allows teams to be mixed across different exchange programs.
Can teams include alumni from different countries?
Yes. Teams can be mixed across different countries, as long as the application meets the local organizational and team composition requirements.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is April 24, 2026.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 13, 2026.
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