Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018606
Apply for DFOP0018606
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-09. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to support a single organization in designing and running a two-way, cohort-based international exchange focused on practical free speech and civic engagement skills. Managed through ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division, the program targets emerging civic leaders from Europe and Eurasia and is built around applied learning tied to the First Amendment, especially freedom of speech. The overall aim is to strengthen constructive public discourse, reduce conflict, and deepen community engagement by giving participants real-world experience using free speech principles in civic settings, while also building durable professional relationships between U.S. and international participants.
CEE is structured as a substantive six- to eight-week U.S.-based exchange for roughly 30 to 40 participants ages 22 to 27 from Europe and Eurasia. The exchange includes skill-based training and hands-on activities, with a major component being a four- to five-week individually tailored professional placement at a U.S. host organization. These placements are intended to move beyond classroom discussion into practical application, so participants gain experience navigating free expression issues, engaging communities, and working in environments where open debate and civic participation are central. The design emphasis is on cultivating "practical First Amendment (1A) skills," meaning participants should leave with tools they can use in their own communities to encourage dialogue, manage disagreement, and promote participatory civic life.
A key feature of CEE is its two-way model that includes reciprocal travel by Americans. Approximately 15 to 20 American counterparts will travel abroad on visits that are co-designed with the international CEE participants. These reciprocal components are meant to highlight U.S. leadership and approaches to free speech, while also ensuring the exchange is not one-directional. The intent is sustained collaboration, so the program is expected to create avenues for continued joint work after the formal exchange ends, including ongoing partnerships between alumni and host organizations.
From a policy perspective, ECA frames CEE as advancing U.S. foreign policy interests by strengthening international partners who support free speech and community engagement, promoting constructive public discourse, and helping communities address complex challenges in ways aligned with U.S. interests. The opportunity notes that the initiative is supported by Pawel Adamowicz supplemental funding, signaling a dedicated funding stream connected to the program's focus on democratic values, civic resilience, and open societies.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement in the program's implementation (for example, coordination on program design elements, approvals, and oversight compared with a standard grant). The opportunity number is DFOP0018606, and the CFDA listing provided is 19.415. The agency anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (as well as other eligible entities as stated in the full notice). The original application deadline is July 9, 2026, and the posting date in the source data is June 10, 2026.
FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) - FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange (CEE)?
The FY 2026 Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to support one organization in designing and running a two-way, cohort-based international exchange. The exchange is focused on practical free speech and civic engagement skills, with applied learning tied to the First Amendment, especially freedom of speech.
Which office at the U.S. Department of State manages this program?
The program is managed through ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division.
What is the main purpose of CEE?
The overall purpose is to strengthen constructive public discourse, reduce conflict, and deepen community engagement. The program aims to give participants real-world experience using free speech principles in civic settings while building durable professional relationships between U.S. and international participants.
Who is the program designed for?
CEE targets emerging civic leaders from Europe and Eurasia.
What is the age range for the international participants?
The U.S.-based exchange is designed for participants ages 22 to 27.
How many international participants are expected to take part?
The program is expected to serve roughly 30 to 40 participants from Europe and Eurasia.
How long is the U.S.-based exchange portion?
The U.S.-based exchange is described as a substantive six- to eight-week program.
What are the major components of the exchange in the United States?
The exchange includes skill-based training and hands-on activities. A major component is an individually tailored professional placement at a U.S. host organization.
How long are the professional placements, and what are they for?
The professional placements are expected to be four to five weeks long. They are intended to move beyond classroom discussion into practical application so participants gain experience navigating free expression issues, engaging communities, and working in environments where open debate and civic participation are central.
What does the program mean by "practical First Amendment (1A) skills"?
In this opportunity, "practical First Amendment (1A) skills" means participants should leave with tools they can use in their own communities to encourage dialogue, manage disagreement, and promote participatory civic life, grounded in principles related to freedom of speech.
Is this a one-way exchange, or does it include a reciprocal component?
CEE is explicitly structured as a two-way model. In addition to hosting international participants in the United States, the program includes reciprocal travel by Americans.
How many American counterparts are expected to travel abroad?
Approximately 15 to 20 American counterparts are expected to travel abroad as part of the reciprocal component.
How are the reciprocal visits designed?
The reciprocal visits are co-designed with the international CEE participants, indicating that international participants help shape the content and structure of those visits.
What is the intent of including reciprocal travel by Americans?
The reciprocal component is intended to highlight U.S. leadership and approaches to free speech while ensuring the exchange is not one-directional. It also supports sustained collaboration between U.S. and international participants.
Does the program expect activities to continue after the formal exchange ends?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes sustained collaboration and expects the program to create avenues for continued joint work after the exchange, including ongoing partnerships between alumni and host organizations.
How does ECA describe the policy value of CEE?
ECA frames CEE as advancing U.S. foreign policy interests by strengthening international partners who support free speech and community engagement, promoting constructive public discourse, and helping communities address complex challenges in ways aligned with U.S. interests.
What is the Pawel Adamowicz supplemental funding mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity notes that the initiative is supported by Pawel Adamowicz supplemental funding. Based on the description provided, this signals a dedicated funding stream connected to the program's focus on democratic values, civic resilience, and open societies.
What type of federal award is this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
As described in the opportunity, a cooperative agreement typically means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement in implementation, such as coordination on program design elements, approvals, and oversight, compared with a standard grant.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making one award.
What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, as well as other eligible entities as stated in the full notice.
Which federal agency and bureau are offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number is DFOP0018606.
What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 19.415.
What is the application deadline?
The original application deadline is July 9, 2026.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date in the source data is June 10, 2026.
What geography does the program focus on for international participants?
The program focuses on participants from Europe and Eurasia.
What is the intended learning approach for participants?
The program is built around applied learning, combining skill-based training with hands-on activities and professional placements to give participants real-world experience related to free speech and civic engagement.
What kinds of outcomes does the program aim to achieve?
Based on the opportunity description, intended outcomes include stronger constructive public discourse, reduced conflict, deeper community engagement, practical tools for participants to use in their communities, and durable professional relationships and partnerships between U.S. and international participants and organizations.
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