Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017999
Apply for DFOP0017999
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program" 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 2026-03-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-26. (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 $2,000,000.00 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 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically the Office of Sports Diplomacy. It is set up as an open competition for one organization to manage and deliver a fast-moving portfolio of short-term sports exchange projects that align with current U.S. foreign policy and cultural priorities. The central idea is flexibility: the program is meant to be "on demand," giving the Department the ability to launch sports diplomacy engagements quickly when new policy needs, geopolitical openings, or urgent diplomatic priorities arise.
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects substantial involvement in shaping and approving programming as it develops, rather than simply funding a fixed, pre-planned set of activities. The funding opportunity is discretionary, listed under CFDA 19.415, and it anticipates making a single award with a funding ceiling of up to $2,000,000. The application deadline listed is May 26, 2026, and the opportunity number is DFOP0017999.
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that qualify under IRS 501(c)(3), along with public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. In practical terms, the program is looking for an experienced U.S.-based organization that can design, coordinate, and execute exchanges on short timelines, manage logistics and duty of care, and maintain enough programmatic bandwidth to run multiple projects in parallel or in quick succession as priorities change.
Programmatically, Sports Diplomacy On Demand is designed to use sports as a tool of public diplomacy and relationship-building. It emphasizes near-term and high-visibility U.S. sports milestones and narratives, including leveraging the "Decade of Sport in America," reinforcing the legacy and diplomatic value of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and building momentum toward the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The exchanges are meant to support broader U.S. foreign policy objectives by connecting people and institutions through sports-based engagement, leadership, training, and cultural exchange.
The selected recipient will implement a series of customized, short-term exchange projects for a range of participants. The opportunity explicitly notes that projects may involve high-profile athletes, leaders in foreign sports federations or ministries, and also non-elite athletes, coaches, and sports administrators. The expectation is a sizable throughput over the performance period: approximately 40 exchange projects serving a total of about 120 to 140 participants. The projected participant mix includes roughly 40 to 50 international participants and 80 to 90 participants from the United States, indicating that many activities will likely be structured as two-way exchanges or engagements that meaningfully involve U.S.-based counterparts, experts, or hosts.
Overall, this grant is essentially a standing capability contract in grant form: one implementing partner is funded to keep a ready-to-deploy platform for sports diplomacy programming, capable of producing well-designed exchanges quickly and repeatedly as the State Department identifies needs. Applicants are expected to propose an approach that demonstrates operational agility, strong networks in the sports ecosystem, credible exchange design, and the ability to deliver rapid, policy-aligned projects that advance U.S. diplomatic goals through sports.
FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program (DFOP0017999) - FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program?
The FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program is a U.S. Department of State initiative that uses sports as a public diplomacy tool. It is designed to support U.S. foreign policy and cultural priorities by rapidly launching short-term sports exchange projects that connect people and institutions through sports-based engagement, leadership, training, and cultural exchange.
Which U.S. government office is running this opportunity?
The program is run through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically the Office of Sports Diplomacy.
What does "On Demand" mean in this grant program?
"On demand" means the program is built for flexibility and speed. The Department of State wants the ability to quickly initiate sports diplomacy engagements when new policy needs, geopolitical openings, or urgent diplomatic priorities arise, rather than being limited to a fixed schedule of pre-planned activities.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as an open competition, with the Department anticipating one organization will be selected to manage and deliver the overall portfolio of projects.
How many awards will be made?
The opportunity anticipates making a single award.
What type of award is it?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates substantial involvement by the Department of State in shaping, approving, or overseeing programming as it develops, rather than simply providing funding for a fully predetermined plan.
What is the funding amount available?
The funding ceiling is up to $2,000,000.
Is this funding opportunity discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is described as discretionary.
What is the assistance listing or CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.415.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is DFOP0017999.
What is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is May 26, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that qualify under IRS 501(c)(3)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Does the program require a U.S.-based organization?
The opportunity describes eligible applicants as U.S. organizations and institutions (including U.S. nonprofits and U.S. higher education institutions). It also emphasizes the need for a U.S.-based organization capable of implementing exchanges on short timelines.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to advance U.S. diplomatic objectives through sports by building relationships and strengthening connections among people and institutions. The program emphasizes public diplomacy, relationship-building, and exchanges that align with current U.S. foreign policy and cultural priorities.
What kinds of activities will be supported?
The program will implement a series of customized, short-term exchange projects. These exchanges may include sports-based engagement, leadership programming, training activities, and cultural exchange components that connect international and U.S. participants.
What makes this program different from a typical pre-planned exchange grant?
This program is structured as a standing, ready-to-deploy capability. The recipient is expected to maintain the operational ability to design and execute multiple short-term projects quickly and repeatedly as priorities shift, rather than delivering one fixed, pre-set project plan.
How many exchange projects are expected?
The expectation described is approximately 40 exchange projects over the performance period.
How many participants are expected to be served?
The program anticipates serving a total of about 120 to 140 participants across the portfolio of exchanges.
What is the expected mix of U.S. and international participants?
The projected participant mix includes roughly 40 to 50 international participants and 80 to 90 participants from the United States. This suggests many activities will involve two-way exchanges or engagements with meaningful participation by U.S.-based counterparts, experts, or hosts.
Who might participate in these exchanges?
The opportunity explicitly notes that projects may involve a range of participant types, including:
- High-profile athletes
- Leaders in foreign sports federations or ministries
- Non-elite athletes
- Coaches
- Sports administrators
What kinds of themes or milestones does the program emphasize?
The program highlights near-term and high-visibility U.S. sports milestones and narratives, including:
- Leveraging the "Decade of Sport in America"
- Reinforcing the legacy and diplomatic value of the FIFA World Cup 2026
- Building momentum toward the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles
What is the implementing organization expected to do?
The selected recipient is expected to manage and deliver a fast-moving portfolio of short-term sports exchange projects. This includes designing and coordinating exchanges on short timelines, managing logistics and duty of care, maintaining sufficient capacity to run multiple projects in parallel or in quick succession, and ensuring projects remain aligned with current U.S. foreign policy and cultural priorities.
What operational capabilities are emphasized for applicants?
Based on the description, applicants are expected to demonstrate operational agility, strong networks in the sports ecosystem, credible exchange design, and the ability to deliver rapid, policy-aligned projects that advance U.S. diplomatic goals through sports.
How involved will the Department of State be during implementation?
Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the Department of State is expected to have substantial involvement in shaping and approving programming as it develops, rather than simply funding a fixed plan.
Is the program focused only on elite or professional sports?
No. While projects may involve high-profile athletes and senior sports leaders, the opportunity also explicitly includes non-elite athletes, coaches, and sports administrators as potential participants.
Are exchanges expected to be short-term or long-term?
The opportunity describes the program as a portfolio of short-term exchange projects designed to be launched quickly in response to evolving diplomatic needs.
What is the overarching concept behind this award?
The award functions like a standing, ready-to-activate platform for sports diplomacy programming. One implementing partner is funded to maintain the capability to rapidly produce well-designed exchanges on an ongoing basis as the State Department identifies needs.
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