Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 061526 001
Apply for ED GRANTS 061526 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE):Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.021C" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.021.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program (Assistance Listing 84.021C) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, administered in coordination with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The overall aim is to strengthen modern foreign language instruction and area studies in the United States by supporting international educational exchange activities tied directly to teacher preparation and professional development. In practice, the program is built around the idea that language proficiency and genuine cultural understanding improve most when educators have meaningful, structured opportunities to study abroad and engage with the societies connected to the languages they teach.
The purpose of the MECE program is to promote, improve, and expand modern foreign language training and area studies across U.S. schools, colleges, and universities by funding visits and study in foreign countries for teachers and prospective teachers. These overseas experiences are intended to help participants deepen their language skills and build stronger knowledge of the history, society, and culture of the countries and regions they study. The program also supports the reciprocal exchange dimension by financing visits to the United States by teachers from other countries, enabling them to participate in foreign language training and area studies at U.S. institutions. In other words, the program is not only about sending U.S. educators abroad; it also brings international educators to U.S. campuses and programs to enhance instructional capacity and cross-cultural learning on both sides.
Eligibility is grounded in the Fulbright-Hays Act (specifically Sec. 104(e)(1)), and applicants must be public or private nonprofit foundations, educational institutions, or other nonprofit institutions. The opportunity clarifies that this includes public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education, State departments of education (including State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies), public or private nonprofit educational organizations, and consortia made up of these eligible entities. Because the program is limited to nonprofit applicants, any nonprofit organization applying must be prepared to document its nonprofit status in line with federal requirements under 34 CFR 75.51. Acceptable documentation includes proof of current IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), certification from a state taxing body or the State attorney general, incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status, or documentation from a parent organization paired with a statement confirming the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
Applicants are required to follow the Department of Education's "2025 Common Instructions and Information for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs," published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234). Those common instructions typically govern core application expectations such as formatting, required federal forms and assurances, how narrative sections should be organized, and general submission rules that apply across ED discretionary grant competitions. For this specific competition, the funding opportunity is identified as ED GRANTS 061526 001, and it is categorized as a discretionary grant within the education activity area.
From a timing and scale standpoint, the opportunity was created on June 15, 2026, with an original application closing date of July 15, 2026. The notice indicates an expectation of four awards, though the award ceiling is not specified in the provided source information. Overall, the MECE competition is designed for organizations that can credibly administer and support international exchange activities for educators, with a clear focus on improving foreign language teaching and area studies capacity in U.S. education through structured overseas experience and reciprocal international participation in U.S.-based training.
MECE Program (Assistance Listing 84.021C) FAQs
What is the MECE Program (Assistance Listing 84.021C)?
The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), administered in coordination with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
What is the main goal of the MECE Program?
The overall aim is to strengthen modern foreign language instruction and area studies in the United States by supporting international educational exchange activities that are tied directly to teacher preparation and professional development.
What types of activities does the program support?
The program supports international educational exchange activities focused on teacher preparation and professional development. In practice, this includes structured opportunities for educators to study abroad and engage with the societies connected to the languages they teach, as well as reciprocal exchanges that bring teachers from other countries to the United States for training in foreign language instruction and area studies.
Is the program only about sending U.S. educators abroad?
No. The program includes a reciprocal exchange dimension. It funds visits and study in foreign countries for U.S. teachers and prospective teachers, and it also finances visits to the United States by teachers from other countries to participate in foreign language training and area studies at U.S. institutions.
Who is the target population for the overseas portion of the program?
The overseas experiences are intended for teachers and prospective teachers, with the purpose of deepening language skills and strengthening knowledge of the history, society, and culture of the countries and regions they study.
What outcomes is the program trying to improve through study abroad experiences?
The overseas experiences are intended to help participants (1) deepen their language skills and (2) build stronger knowledge of the history, society, and culture of the countries and regions they study, in order to improve modern foreign language instruction and area studies in the United States.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve through bringing international teachers to the United States?
By financing visits to the United States by teachers from other countries for foreign language training and area studies at U.S. institutions, the program aims to enhance instructional capacity and support cross-cultural learning through reciprocal participation.
Which federal law governs eligibility for this program?
Eligibility is grounded in the Fulbright-Hays Act, specifically Section 104(e)(1).
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit foundations, educational institutions, or other nonprofit institutions. The opportunity clarifies that eligible applicants include:
- Public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education
- State departments of education (including State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies)
- Public or private nonprofit educational organizations
- Consortia made up of these eligible entities
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No. The opportunity is limited to nonprofit applicants.
If a nonprofit applies, what documentation is required to prove nonprofit status?
A nonprofit organization must be prepared to document its nonprofit status in line with federal requirements under 34 CFR 75.51. Acceptable documentation includes:
- Proof of current IRS recognition under 501(c)(3)
- Certification from a state taxing body or the State attorney general
- Incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status
- Documentation from a parent organization, paired with a statement confirming the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate
What federal application instructions must applicants follow?
Applicants are required to follow the Department of Education's "2025 Common Instructions and Information for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs," published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234).
What do the 2025 Common Instructions typically cover?
The common instructions typically govern core application expectations such as formatting, required federal forms and assurances, how narrative sections should be organized, and general submission rules that apply across Department of Education discretionary grant competitions.
What is the identifier for this specific competition?
The funding opportunity is identified as ED GRANTS 061526 001.
What type of grant is this?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant within the education activity area.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 15, 2026.
What is the application closing date listed in the notice?
The original application closing date is July 15, 2026.
How many awards does the notice say are expected?
The notice indicates an expectation of four awards.
Is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) provided?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided information.
What kinds of organizations is this competition designed for?
The competition is designed for organizations that can credibly administer and support international exchange activities for educators, with a clear focus on improving foreign language teaching and area studies capacity in U.S. education through structured overseas experience and reciprocal international participation in U.S.-based training.
Which agencies are involved in administering the program?
The program is a U.S. Department of Education opportunity (through OPE) and is administered in coordination with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
What subject areas does the program focus on?
The focus is on modern foreign language training and area studies, including strengthening both language proficiency and cultural understanding connected to the languages being taught.
Browse more business programs for Postsecondary Education
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of Education
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health
Previous opportunity: Fiscal Year 2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program
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 ED GRANTS 061526 001
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ED GRANTS 061526 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| OSERS-OSEP: National Center on Academic Interventions Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.326Q Apply for ED GRANTS 061526 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 061526 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $3,700,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Bridgetown: EducationUSA Eastern Caribbean Regional Advising Program Apply for OFOP0002992 Funding Number: OFOP0002992 Agency: U.S. Mission to Barbados Category: Education Funding Amount: $24,500 |
| EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program 2026 Apply for PDS LUSAKA EDUSA FY26 Funding Number: PDS LUSAKA EDUSA FY26 Agency: U.S. Mission to Zambia Category: Education Funding Amount: $28,000 |
| Fair Housing Initiatives Program - Education and Outreach Initiative Apply for OFH 2600 DC 021A Funding Number: OFH 2600 DC 021A Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development Category: Education Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security National Training Program National Domestic Preparedness Consortium Apply for DHS 26 NPD 005 00 98 Funding Number: DHS 26 NPD 005 00 98 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Education Funding Amount: $74,784,506 |
| National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Apply for DHS 26 NPD 148 00 97 Funding Number: DHS 26 NPD 148 00 97 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Education Funding Amount: $7,600,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security National Training Program Apply for DHS 26 NPD 005 00 96 Funding Number: DHS 26 NPD 005 00 96 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Education Funding Amount: $5,700,000 |
| Alliance for System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE) Apply for DHS 26 NPD 146 00 99 Funding Number: DHS 26 NPD 146 00 99 Agency: Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,900,000 |
| Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants Apply for FOA BS 2026 1 Funding Number: FOA BS 2026 1 Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration Category: Education Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Voices for the Future Apply for PAS JAKARTA FY26 06 Funding Number: PAS JAKARTA FY26 06 Agency: U.S. Mission to Indonesia Category: Education Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| AI Pathways To The Future Apply for PAS JAKARTA FY26 07 Funding Number: PAS JAKARTA FY26 07 Agency: U.S. Mission to Indonesia Category: Education Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Empowering English Educators Apply for PDS CAIRO 003 FY26 Funding Number: PDS CAIRO 003 FY26 Agency: U.S. Mission to Egypt Category: Education Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| English Language Fellows Program Apply for PDS CAIRO 002 FY26 Funding Number: PDS CAIRO 002 FY26 Agency: U.S. Mission to Egypt Category: Education Funding Amount: $480,000 |
| Mentor Program for English Educators Apply for PDS CAIRO 004 FY26 Funding Number: PDS CAIRO 004 FY26 Agency: U.S. Mission to Egypt Category: Education Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Public Diplomacy Small Grants Competition Apply for 26 MMR NOFO 001 Funding Number: 26 MMR NOFO 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Myanmar Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| English Language Teaching Services Program Apply for PAS DJI FY2026 ELT Funding Number: PAS DJI FY2026 ELT Agency: U.S. Mission to Djibouti Category: Education Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| English Language Exchange Programs: AI and Educational Technology Integration Apply for OFOP0003244 Funding Number: OFOP0003244 Agency: U.S. Mission to the Philippines Category: Education Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy Section Fiscal Year 2026 Apply for PDS CB 600 26 0003 Funding Number: PDS CB 600 26 0003 Agency: U.S. Mission to Cambodia Category: Education Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Jefferson Center Mandalay (JCM) Small Grants Competition Apply for 26 MMR NOFO 003 Funding Number: 26 MMR NOFO 003 Agency: U.S. Mission to Myanmar Category: Education Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| American Center Yangon (ACY) Small Grants Competition Apply for 26 MMR NOFO 002 Funding Number: 26 MMR NOFO 002 Agency: U.S. Mission to Myanmar Category: Education Funding Amount: $20,000 |
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 "ED GRANTS 061526 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.