Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA ECAPE 15 001
Apply for ECA ECAPE 15 001
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (Stevens Initiative)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs Citizen Exchanges.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 18, 2015 and posted on Feb 18, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2015 No Explanation. (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.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- none
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (Stevens Initiative) was a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity issued by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to expand educational and cultural engagement between young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through technology-enabled exchange programs. Designed as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the initiative was developed in partnership with the Stevens Family and included significant involvement from the MacArthur Foundation. The central idea was to use online tools and virtual collaboration to dramatically scale up "people-to-people" connections, aiming for what the announcement described as the largest-ever increase in educational exchanges between the United States and the MENA region.
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary funding program under a cooperative agreement, meaning awardees would be expected to work in close coordination with the federal agency rather than operating with minimal government involvement. The funding was tied to CFDA number 19.415, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs (Citizen Exchanges), which aligns with ECA's broader mission of strengthening mutual understanding and relationships through exchange activities. No cost sharing or matching funds were required, lowering the barrier for eligible organizations to apply and potentially making it easier for nonprofits and educational institutions to propose scalable virtual exchange models.
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was listed as $4,000,000, with an award floor of $0, indicating that proposals could vary widely in size and scope as long as they met the program goals and were judged competitive. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The eligibility section also referenced an "Others" category, though the provided source text does not include additional detail in the eligibility information field.
Key timing details show the notice was posted and created on February 18, 2015, with an original and current closing date of April 17, 2015, and an archive date of May 17, 2015. Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for submission and support, with the Grants.gov Contact Center listed for technical assistance. Overall, the grant sought to build and expand virtual exchange programming at scale, leveraging digital platforms to connect U.S. and MENA youth in structured educational experiences that could complement or extend traditional in-person exchanges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY15 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (Stevens Initiative)?
The FY15 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (Stevens Initiative) was a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity issued by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Its purpose was to expand educational and cultural engagement between young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through technology-enabled exchange programs (virtual exchange).
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal was to use online tools and virtual collaboration to significantly scale "people-to-people" connections between the United States and the MENA region. The announcement described the ambition as achieving the largest-ever increase in educational exchanges between these regions by leveraging virtual exchange models.
Which federal agency and bureau offered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
What regions and participants were the focus of the program?
The program focused on young people in the United States and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), connecting them through structured, technology-enabled educational and cultural exchange experiences.
How did the program plan to scale exchanges?
The program emphasized virtual exchange: using online platforms, digital tools, and virtual collaboration methods to expand participation beyond what traditional in-person exchanges typically support.
Was this opportunity connected to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens?
Yes. The initiative was designed as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.
Who were the partners involved in developing the initiative?
The initiative was developed in partnership with the Stevens Family and included significant involvement from the MacArthur Foundation.
What type of award instrument was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity was offered under a cooperative agreement as a discretionary funding program. This structure indicated that awardees would be expected to work in close coordination with the federal agency, rather than operating with minimal government involvement.
What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?
Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement meant the awardee would coordinate closely with the federal agency during implementation, reflecting more direct federal involvement than is typical with some other award types.
What is the CFDA number for this funding opportunity?
The funding was tied to CFDA number 19.415, titled Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs (Citizen Exchanges).
How does CFDA 19.415 relate to the program's mission?
CFDA 19.415 aligns with ECA's broader mission of strengthening mutual understanding and relationships through exchange activities, which is consistent with the virtual exchange focus of this initiative.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated that no cost sharing or matching funds were required.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum award amount) was listed as $4,000,000.
What was the minimum award amount?
The award floor was listed as $0, indicating proposals could vary widely in size and scope as long as they met program goals and were competitive.
Does an award floor of $0 mean small proposals could be considered?
The $0 floor indicated flexibility in proposal size and scope. Proposals could be smaller or larger, provided they aligned with the program goals and were judged competitive.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included (1) public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, (2) private institutions of higher education, and (3) U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Were any other applicant types mentioned?
An "Others" category was referenced in the eligibility section, but the provided information does not include further detail about what "Others" encompassed.
When was the opportunity posted?
The notice was posted (and created) on February 18, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The original closing date and the current closing date were both April 17, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was May 17, 2015.
Where were applications submitted?
Applicants were directed to submit through Grants.gov.
Where could applicants get technical help with submission?
Technical assistance for submission was directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center.
What kinds of programs was the grant trying to build or expand?
The grant sought to build and expand virtual exchange programming at scale, using digital platforms to connect U.S. and MENA youth in structured educational experiences that could complement or extend traditional in-person exchanges.
Was this opportunity intended to replace in-person exchange programs?
The description emphasized virtual exchange and noted it could complement or extend traditional in-person exchanges, indicating the virtual model was positioned as an expansion mechanism rather than being described solely as a replacement.
What was the overall purpose of the initiative in simple terms?
The initiative aimed to dramatically increase direct educational and cultural connections between young people in the United States and MENA by using technology to enable large-scale, structured virtual collaboration and exchange.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Next opportunity: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area
Previous opportunity: New and Innovative Ideas for Technology Focused Areas of Interest
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for ECA ECAPE 15 001
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ECA ECAPE 15 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Habitat Enhancement and Invasive Species Management by Youth Crews Apply for F15AS00106 Funding Number: F15AS00106 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Determining the densities of breeding birds within the upland and wet meadow habitats of Lacreek NWR Apply for F15AS00110 Funding Number: F15AS00110 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $5,359 |
| FY2015 TechWomen Program Apply for ECA ECAPEC 15 020 Funding Number: ECA ECAPEC 15 020 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| FWS Mountain Prairie Region Tribal Conservation Priority Support Apply for F15AS00111 Funding Number: F15AS00111 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Operations and Management Apply for NPS 15 NERO 0017 Funding Number: NPS 15 NERO 0017 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $284,000 |
| East Asia Pacific Regional Administrative Support Apply for EAP EAPAQM 15 004 Funding Number: EAP EAPAQM 15 004 Agency: Bureau of East Asian Pacific Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $730,000 |
| Sampling Selenium Contamination Following Wetland Restructure Apply for F15AS00112 Funding Number: F15AS00112 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $24,600 |
| Media Operations Center Equipment Apply for SCAKAB 15 GR 019 SCA 02252015 Funding Number: SCAKAB 15 GR 019 SCA 02252015 Agency: U.S. Mission to Afghanistan Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| OVW FY 2015 Technical Assistance Program Apply for OVW 2015 4042 Funding Number: OVW 2015 4042 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| FY 2016 Notice of Funding Opportunity for proposals for the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Latin America Apply for PRM PRMOPERR 16 001 Funding Number: PRM PRMOPERR 16 001 Agency: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cambodia Countering Trafficking In Persons (CTIP) Program Apply for RFA 442 15 000002 Funding Number: RFA 442 15 000002 Agency: Cambodia USAID Phnom Penh Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $8,500,000 |
| FY 2015 Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation Programs and Activities Apply for RFA OAA 15 000007 Funding Number: RFA OAA 15 000007 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| FY 2016 Notice of Funding Opportunity for proposals for the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Austria in Vienna, Austria Apply for PRM PRMOPERR 16 002 Funding Number: PRM PRMOPERR 16 002 Agency: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law in Pakistan. Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 15 051 Funding Number: DRLA DRLAQM 15 051 Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Department of Defence Legacy Resource Management Program Apply for DOD LEGACY 2016 Funding Number: DOD LEGACY 2016 Agency: Engineer Research and Development Center Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| FY 2015 Notice of Funding Opportunity for NGO programs benefiting refugees in Chad and Cameroon Apply for PRM PRMOAPAF 15 007 Funding Number: PRM PRMOAPAF 15 007 Agency: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| FY 2015 Ngwang Choephel Fellows Program Apply for ECA ECAPEC 15 021 Funding Number: ECA ECAPEC 15 021 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $287,500 |
| Toolkit for Identifying Best Practices on Human Rights Documentation Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 15 050 Funding Number: DRLA DRLAQM 15 050 Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| FY 2016 Notice of Funding Opportunity for proposals for the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) East Asia in Bangkok, Thailand Apply for PRM PRMOPERR 16 003 Funding Number: PRM PRMOPERR 16 003 Agency: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) Apply for NEAAC ACMEPI 15 007 Funding Number: NEAAC ACMEPI 15 007 Agency: Near East Affairs Assistance Coordination Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "ECA ECAPE 15 001", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.