Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018011
Apply for DFOP0018011
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Sports Visitor 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 $4,000,000.00 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 Visitor Program (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018011) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) grant opportunity run through the Office of Sports Diplomacy. It funds an international exchange program that uses sports as a tool of diplomacy to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities, highlight American leadership, and support the U.S. sports economy. The program is authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (the Fulbright-Hays Act), with an emphasis on building mutual understanding and strengthening relationships between people in the United States and people in other countries. Participating countries may come from all six global regions, with final selections made in consultation with State Department regional bureaus.
The program is designed for youth and grassroots sports leadership rather than elite competition. The target participants are American and international youth ages 15 to 23, plus adult coaches or chaperones who accompany and support them. The opportunity specifically notes it is not intended for elite or professional athletes. The core aim is to bring American and international participants together in thematic, sports-based exchanges that combine athletic engagement with leadership development, cultural exchange, and community-oriented learning. A major educational element is exposing participants to the positive influence of U.S. laws and norms on sports and society, including Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and encouraging participants to think about equity, access, inclusion, and community impact through the lens of sport.
ECA expects the program to include both U.S.-based and international-based exchanges, structured around intensive peer-to-peer interaction. Key components include organizing thematic exchanges aligned with program goals; integrating exchanges into existing youth sports camps and/or creating customized camps to maximize direct interaction between American and international participants; and balancing on-the-field training with off-the-field workshops, community service, and cultural programming. The design also calls for special initiatives that tie into milestone moments such as the United States' 250th anniversary and major sporting events hosted in the United States, using those opportunities to deepen public engagement and highlight shared values through sport. Strong participant orientations, coordinated media and communications strategies, and sustained alumni engagement with follow-on activities are also central expectations, with follow-on projects intended to help participants apply and share what they learned back home.
In terms of scale, ECA anticipates supporting about five U.S.-based exchanges and about seven international-based exchanges, each lasting at least two weeks. The award is expected to support roughly 265 total participants, including approximately 130 international (foreign) participants and 135 American participants, though applicants are encouraged to exceed these numbers if they can achieve cost efficiencies without reducing quality. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State typically remains actively involved in program direction and oversight compared to a standard grant.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs and think tanks) and U.S. public or private not-for-profit educational institutions, provided they have at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Only one proposal per organization will be considered. ECA expects to make one award total (Expected Awards: 1), with an award ceiling of $4,000,000. The selected award recipient is expected to manage the full program, including the organizational and administrative workload, and to select and oversee qualified partners through sub-awards to implement the international-based exchanges. Applicants are expected to clearly explain how they will manage those sub-awards, ensure partner performance and compliance, and maintain consistent program quality and safety across multiple countries and exchange sites.
Important administrative details include the opportunity category (Discretionary), CFDA number (19.415), and the closing date of May 26, 2026 (OriginalClosingDate: 2026-05-26). The opportunity was created on March 26, 2026. The sponsoring agency is listed as the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
FY 2026 Sports Visitor Program (DFOP0018011) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2026 Sports Visitor Program?
The FY 2026 Sports Visitor Program is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity managed through the Office of Sports Diplomacy. It supports an international exchange program that uses sport as a tool of diplomacy to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities, highlight American leadership, and support the U.S. sports economy.
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0018011.
3) Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
4) What type of funding opportunity is this?
The opportunity category is Discretionary.
5) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 19.415.
6) What is the legal authorization for the program?
The program is authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (the Fulbright-Hays Act), with an emphasis on mutual understanding and strengthening relationships between people in the United States and people in other countries.
7) What does the program aim to achieve?
The program aims to bring American and international participants together through thematic, sports-based exchanges that combine athletic engagement with leadership development, cultural exchange, and community-oriented learning. It is designed to strengthen mutual understanding and relationships while using sports diplomacy to support U.S. foreign policy priorities.
8) Is this program meant for elite or professional athletes?
No. The opportunity explicitly notes it is not intended for elite or professional athletes. The focus is on youth and grassroots sports leadership rather than elite competition.
9) Who are the target participants?
The target participants are American and international youth ages 15 to 23, plus adult coaches or chaperones who accompany and support them.
10) Which countries can participate?
Participating countries may come from all six global regions, with final selections made in consultation with State Department regional bureaus.
11) What kinds of exchanges are expected (U.S.-based vs. international-based)?
ECA expects both U.S.-based and international-based exchanges. The design is centered on intensive peer-to-peer interaction between American and international participants.
12) How many exchanges does ECA anticipate supporting?
ECA anticipates supporting about five U.S.-based exchanges and about seven international-based exchanges.
13) How long is each exchange expected to last?
Each exchange is expected to last at least two weeks.
14) Approximately how many total participants are expected to be supported?
The award is expected to support roughly 265 total participants, including approximately 130 international (foreign) participants and 135 American participants.
15) Can applicants propose serving more participants than the anticipated number?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to exceed the anticipated participant numbers if they can achieve cost efficiencies without reducing quality.
16) What are the core program components ECA expects to see?
Key expected components include organizing thematic exchanges aligned with program goals; integrating exchanges into existing youth sports camps and/or creating customized camps to maximize direct interaction; and balancing on-the-field training with off-the-field workshops, community service, and cultural programming.
17) What educational themes or U.S. laws and norms are emphasized?
A major educational element is exposing participants to the positive influence of U.S. laws and norms on sports and society, including Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Participants are encouraged to think about equity, access, inclusion, and community impact through the lens of sport.
18) How should exchanges be structured in terms of participant interaction?
The program is expected to be structured around intensive peer-to-peer interaction, bringing American and international participants together through shared sports and leadership activities.
19) Are orientations and media/communications part of the expected design?
Yes. Strong participant orientations and coordinated media and communications strategies are described as central expectations.
20) Does the program require alumni engagement after exchanges end?
Yes. Sustained alumni engagement with follow-on activities is a central expectation, with follow-on projects intended to help participants apply and share what they learned back home.
21) Are there any special initiatives tied to U.S. milestones or major events?
Yes. The design calls for special initiatives tied to milestone moments such as the United States' 250th anniversary and major sporting events hosted in the United States, using these moments to deepen public engagement and highlight shared values through sport.
22) What is the funding mechanism: grant or cooperative agreement?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State remains actively involved in program direction and oversight compared to a standard grant.
23) How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA expects to make one award total (Expected Awards: 1).
24) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $4,000,000.
25) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs and think tanks) and U.S. public or private not-for-profit educational institutions, provided they have at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges.
26) Are there required registrations or identifiers for applicants?
Yes. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
27) Can an organization submit more than one proposal?
No. Only one proposal per organization will be considered.
28) What is expected of the award recipient in terms of program management?
The selected award recipient is expected to manage the full program, including the organizational and administrative workload, and to select and oversee qualified partners through sub-awards to implement the international-based exchanges.
29) What does ECA expect regarding sub-awards and international partners?
Applicants are expected to clearly explain how they will manage sub-awards, ensure partner performance and compliance, and maintain consistent program quality and safety across multiple countries and exchange sites.
30) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 26, 2026.
31) What is the application closing date?
The closing date is May 26, 2026.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other
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Previous opportunity: FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
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