Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018007
Apply for DFOP0018007
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Sports Envoy 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 $2,600,000.00 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 Envoy Program is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity run through the Office of Sports Diplomacy. The program is designed as an international exchange initiative that uses sport as a practical tool to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities, expand U.S. influence through people-to-people engagement, and highlight American leadership and excellence in athletics and coaching. It operates under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act), which frames the work around building mutual understanding and strengthening relationships between people in the United States and people in other countries.
At its core, the program sends current and former American professional athletes and coaches overseas for short, intensive exchanges. These visits are generally structured as weeklong engagements: about 4 to 7 days of in-country programming (not counting travel), and about 7 to 10 days total when travel is included. Participating countries may come from any of the Department of State's six global regions, with specific locations determined in consultation with the Department's regional bureaus. The intent is to use the credibility and reach of sports figures to connect with communities that can be difficult to engage through traditional diplomacy, while also creating visible, positive demonstrations of U.S. values, skills, and partnerships.
Sports Envoys typically conduct youth sports clinics and hands-on training sessions, with an emphasis on teamwork, leadership, and team-building activities. Beyond training, envoys also take part in broader public engagement, such as community outreach events, media interactions, and dialogue with local stakeholders. Programming can include meetings with government leaders and coordination with U.S. embassy contacts in-country, aligning sports-based outreach with U.S. mission goals and stated America First priorities. The exchanges are structured to be more than symbolic visits, aiming instead for direct interaction, relationship-building, and sustained visibility for U.S. engagement in host communities.
Funding is intended to support a sizable global portfolio of activities. ECA anticipates supporting approximately 35 international exchanges involving around 70 envoy participants in total, along with approximately eight alumni grants and the creation of a technology system developed by the award recipient. The alumni grants are meant to extend the impact after the travel portion ends, enabling former participants to deepen sports diplomacy outcomes either within the United States and/or internationally. The announcement also signals that applicants are encouraged to propose more than the baseline targets (more than 35 exchanges, more than 70 envoys, and more than eight alumni grants) if they can demonstrate cost efficiencies and the capacity to deliver additional programming effectively.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial involvement by ECA during implementation compared with a standard grant. ECA expects to make a single award, and the selected recipient would be responsible for managing the full set of organizational and administrative duties for the program, including logistics and coordination across multiple countries and exchanges, management of envoy participation, administration of alumni grants, and delivery of the required technology system.
Eligibility includes U.S. 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), with the listing also including "Others" as an eligible category as specified in the notice. Applicants must have an active registration in SAM.gov and must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). A key constraint is that only one proposal per organization will be considered, so organizations need to consolidate internal efforts into a single submission rather than submitting multiple competing applications.
The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018007 under CFDA 19.415. The application closing date is May 26, 2026. The anticipated award ceiling is $2,600,000, with one expected award total, meaning the competition is aimed at selecting one organization to serve as the centralized implementer for the entire FY 2026 Sports Envoy portfolio.
FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program (DFOP0018007) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program?
The FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity run through the Office of Sports Diplomacy. It supports international exchange activities that use sport as a practical tool to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities, expand U.S. influence through people-to-people engagement, and highlight American leadership and excellence in athletics and coaching.
What law or authority does the program operate under?
The program operates under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act), which frames the work around building mutual understanding and strengthening relationships between people in the United States and people in other countries.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to leverage the credibility and reach of sports figures to engage communities that can be difficult to connect with through traditional diplomacy, while creating visible, positive demonstrations of U.S. values, skills, and partnerships through direct interaction and relationship-building.
What types of activities do Sports Envoys carry out during exchanges?
Sports Envoys typically conduct youth sports clinics and hands-on training sessions that emphasize teamwork, leadership, and team-building. Programming can also include community outreach events, media interactions, dialogue with local stakeholders, and meetings with government leaders, often coordinated with U.S. embassy contacts in-country to align with U.S. mission goals and stated America First priorities.
Who serves as Sports Envoys?
Sports Envoys are current and former American professional athletes and coaches who travel overseas for short, intensive exchanges.
How long are Sports Envoy exchanges?
Exchanges are generally structured as weeklong engagements. In-country programming is typically about 4 to 7 days (not counting travel), and the total time commitment is usually about 7 to 10 days when travel is included.
Where do the exchanges take place?
Participating countries may come from any of the U.S. Department of State's six global regions. Specific locations are determined in consultation with the Department's regional bureaus.
How many exchanges and participants does ECA anticipate supporting?
ECA anticipates supporting approximately 35 international exchanges involving around 70 envoy participants in total.
Are applicants allowed to propose more than the anticipated number of exchanges or participants?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to propose more than the baseline targets (more than 35 exchanges, more than 70 envoys, and more than eight alumni grants) if they can demonstrate cost efficiencies and the capacity to deliver additional programming effectively.
What are the alumni grants mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity anticipates approximately eight alumni grants intended to extend impact after the travel portion ends. These alumni grants are meant to enable former participants to deepen sports diplomacy outcomes either within the United States and/or internationally.
Is a technology system required as part of the award?
Yes. The announcement anticipates the creation of a technology system developed by the award recipient as part of the overall program portfolio.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial involvement by ECA during implementation compared with a standard grant.
How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA expects to make a single award. The selected recipient would serve as the centralized implementer for the entire FY 2026 Sports Envoy portfolio.
What would the selected recipient be responsible for?
The selected recipient would be responsible for managing the full set of organizational and administrative duties for the program, including logistics and coordination across multiple countries and exchanges, management of envoy participation, administration of alumni grants, and delivery of the required technology system.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S. 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). The notice also includes an "Others" category as eligible, as specified in the opportunity listing.
Are there registration requirements to apply?
Yes. Applicants must have an active registration in SAM.gov and must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
Can an organization submit more than one proposal?
No. Only one proposal per organization will be considered, so organizations must consolidate internal efforts into a single submission rather than submitting multiple competing applications.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018007 under CFDA 19.415.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is May 26, 2026.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The anticipated award ceiling is $2,600,000.
How is the program positioned in terms of expected program scale and visibility?
The program is intended to support a sizable global portfolio of activities, combining multiple international exchanges, envoy engagement, alumni grants to extend impact, and a required technology system. The design emphasizes direct, hands-on interaction and sustained visibility for U.S. engagement in host communities.
What is the overall program approach to diplomacy?
The program uses sport as a practical, people-centered platform for diplomacy, aiming for more than symbolic visits by focusing on direct engagement, relationship-building, and alignment with U.S. embassy and mission priorities in host countries.
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