Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017864
Apply for DFOP0017864
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.012.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-01. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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 Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program is a U.S. Department of State exchange initiative run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically the Global Leaders Division within the Office of Citizen Exchanges. Through this funding opportunity, ECA is looking for one or two organizations to take on cooperative agreements to design, implement, and manage the full program cycle. The program, established in 1997, focuses on economic exchange and leadership development, with the goal of strengthening professional skills and building durable partnerships between emerging entrepreneurs from Tibetan communities (in China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan) and counterparts in the United States.
At the center of the program is an in-person exchange in the United States that lasts at least four weeks. That U.S.-based segment is meant to give participants structured, practical exposure to how American professionals and communities launch, grow, and sustain business and community-focused initiatives. The implementing organization is expected to build a schedule that mixes skill-building and relationship-building, creating space for fellows to compare approaches, discuss real challenges, and share best practices that can translate into actionable projects after the exchange ends.
The program has two main participant tracks. The first is for non-U.S. fellows: up to 25 participants from Tibetan communities in the identified countries. This component begins before travel with a set of virtual engagements, then transitions into the minimum four-week U.S. program. Activities are expected to be hands-on and professionally relevant, and can include trainings and workshops, site visits, job shadowing, team-building sessions, panel discussions, case studies, resource-sharing, and networking events. The overall design is intended to support leadership growth, strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities, and help participants develop partnerships that last beyond the exchange.
The second track is for U.S. fellows: up to 10 U.S. professionals who have already engaged with the non-U.S. fellows during the program. These U.S. participants would travel for about two weeks to India, Nepal, or Bhutan. Their role is to support the non-U.S. fellows with follow-on plans (meaning the projects or initiatives fellows pursue after the U.S. exchange) and to contribute to alumni engagement activities that keep the network active and productive over time. This two-way structure is a defining feature of the program, since it is designed not only to bring non-U.S. entrepreneurs to the United States, but also to send U.S. professionals into the region to reinforce collaboration and help sustain momentum.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement in the program’s direction and oversight compared with a standard grant. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0017864, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number is 19.012. The anticipated maximum award amount (ceiling) is $750,000, and ECA expects to make up to two awards. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as certain other eligible entities as specified in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Key timeline details included in the announcement show the opportunity was created on March 3, 2026, with an original application closing date of May 1, 2026. Organizations applying should be prepared to demonstrate they can recruit and support participants, design a coherent curriculum and itinerary across both virtual and in-person phases, coordinate travel and logistics for exchanges in the U.S. and South Asia, and manage alumni and follow-on engagement in a way that clearly advances leadership, entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural partnership outcomes consistent with the program’s mission.
FY 2026 Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program (DFOP0017864) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the FY 2026 Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program?
The FY 2026 Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program is a U.S. Department of State exchange initiative that supports economic exchange and leadership development. The program aims to strengthen professional skills and build durable partnerships between emerging entrepreneurs from Tibetan communities (in China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan) and counterparts in the United States.
2) Which U.S. government office is running this opportunity?
The program is run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It sits within ECA's Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges.
3) What is ECA funding through this opportunity?
ECA is seeking one or two organizations to enter into cooperative agreements to design, implement, and manage the full program cycle for the Ngawang Choephel Fellows Program.
4) What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement. Based on the description provided, that generally means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement in the program's direction and oversight compared with a standard grant.
5) What are the funding opportunity and assistance listing numbers?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0017864, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number is 19.012.
6) What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The anticipated maximum award amount (the ceiling) is $750,000.
7) How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA expects to make up to two awards.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as certain other eligible entities as specified in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
9) When was the opportunity created, and what is the application deadline?
The opportunity was created on March 3, 2026. The original application closing date is May 1, 2026.
10) What is the core purpose of the program?
The program focuses on economic exchange and leadership development. Its stated aim is to strengthen professional skills and create durable partnerships between emerging entrepreneurs from Tibetan communities and U.S. counterparts.
11) What is the central program activity?
At the center of the program is an in-person exchange in the United States lasting at least four weeks. This U.S.-based segment is intended to provide structured, practical exposure to how American professionals and communities launch, grow, and sustain business and community-focused initiatives.
12) How long must the U.S. exchange portion be?
The in-person exchange in the United States must last at least four weeks.
13) How is the program structured overall?
The program includes both virtual and in-person elements and is organized into two participant tracks: a non-U.S. fellow track (with virtual engagement leading into a U.S. exchange) and a U.S. fellow track (with travel to South Asia to support follow-on and alumni engagement).
14) What are the two participant tracks?
The first track is for non-U.S. fellows: up to 25 participants from Tibetan communities in China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The second track is for U.S. fellows: up to 10 U.S. professionals who have engaged with the non-U.S. fellows and then travel to India, Nepal, or Bhutan for follow-on support and alumni engagement.
15) How many non-U.S. fellows may participate, and where are they from?
The program includes up to 25 non-U.S. participants from Tibetan communities in China, India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
16) What is the sequence for the non-U.S. fellow component?
The non-U.S. fellow component begins with a set of virtual engagements before travel. It then transitions into the in-person U.S. program of at least four weeks.
17) What kinds of activities are expected during the U.S.-based program?
Activities are expected to be hands-on and professionally relevant. Examples listed include trainings and workshops, site visits, job shadowing, team-building sessions, panel discussions, case studies, resource-sharing, and networking events.
18) What is the implementing organization expected to design for the U.S. exchange?
The implementing organization is expected to build a schedule that mixes skill-building and relationship-building. The schedule should create room for fellows to compare approaches, discuss real challenges, and share best practices that can translate into actionable projects after the exchange ends.
19) How many U.S. fellows may participate, and who are they?
The program includes up to 10 U.S. professionals. The description indicates these U.S. participants are individuals who have already engaged with the non-U.S. fellows during the program.
20) How long is the U.S. fellows' travel component, and where does it take place?
The U.S. fellows would travel for about two weeks to India, Nepal, or Bhutan.
21) What is the role of the U.S. fellows during the travel component?
U.S. fellows are expected to support the non-U.S. fellows with follow-on plans (projects or initiatives pursued after the U.S. exchange) and contribute to alumni engagement activities that keep the network active and productive over time.
22) Why is the program described as a two-way exchange?
The program is designed not only to bring non-U.S. entrepreneurs to the United States, but also to send U.S. professionals into the region. This structure is intended to reinforce collaboration and help sustain momentum through follow-on and alumni engagement.
23) What are "follow-on plans" in the context of this program?
Follow-on plans are described as the projects or initiatives that fellows pursue after the U.S. exchange ends. U.S. fellows traveling to the region are expected to support these plans.
24) What is expected of the implementing organization from an operations and management standpoint?
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the ability to recruit and support participants, design a coherent curriculum and itinerary across both virtual and in-person phases, coordinate travel and logistics for exchanges in the U.S. and South Asia, and manage alumni and follow-on engagement to advance leadership, entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural partnership outcomes consistent with the program's mission.
25) What outcomes should the program design support?
The program design is intended to support leadership growth, strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities, and help participants develop partnerships that last beyond the exchange.
26) When was the program established?
The program was established in 1997.
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