Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA PE C 08 01
Apply for ECA PE C 08 01
- 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 "Open Competition Seeking Professional Exchange Programs in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere" 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 Nov 27, 2007 and posted on Nov 27, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 15, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Please see full announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), through its Office of Citizen Exchanges, opened a discretionary grant competition to fund professional and cultural exchange programs that connect U.S. organizations with civil society and cultural groups across multiple world regions: Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. The overall purpose is relationship-building through people-to-people exchanges that strengthen mutual understanding, expand professional networks, and support longer-term partnerships between institutions and communities in the United States and abroad.
Funding for the competition was expected to total around $5,000,000 or more (subject to availability of funds), with ECA anticipating approximately 15 to 20 awards during FY 2008. Individual awards could be as high as $350,000, and the funding instrument is a grant. There is no stated cost-sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide matching funds as a condition of eligibility (though proposals often still benefit from showing leveraged support).
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and nonprofit organizations, particularly those recognized as tax-exempt under 26 USC 501(c)(3). Eligibility also extends to institutions of higher education, including private and public/state-controlled institutions, alongside other qualifying nonprofits. The opportunity is tied to CFDA 19.415, which covers Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs under Citizen Exchanges.
Programmatically, proposals were expected to support the goals of the Professional Exchange Program by running multi-phased exchanges lasting one to two years. ECA emphasized two-way exchange designs whenever possible, meaning roughly equal participation from U.S. professionals and international counterparts, rather than one-direction study tours. The intent is for exchanges to go beyond brief visits and instead create sustained engagement that produces tangible learning, shared problem-solving, and ongoing collaboration between participating organizations and individuals.
The competition prioritized projects that encourage citizen engagement with current issues, with special attention to youth and the adults and institutions that shape youth perspectives. In practical terms, that focus could be addressed by involving educators and education-focused organizations, youth-serving community leaders, or other groups with direct influence on young people. ECA also signaled strong interest in reaching socially and economically diverse participants, including groups that have not traditionally had significant access to U.S. exchange opportunities or long-standing ties with U.S. counterpart institutions.
Substantively, the exchange projects were meant to help strengthen democratic societies and institutions and to contribute to a more stable international environment. The announcement highlights several intended outcomes: breaking down stereotypes between societies, fostering dialogue and mutual respect, sharing expertise, building individual and institutional capacity, supporting good governance and economic growth, contributing to conflict prevention and conflict management, and encouraging respect for cultural expression and identity. Projects were expected to create a shared professional dialogue around common challenges, helping U.S. participants and their international counterparts learn from each other and develop practical approaches that can be applied in their own communities.
Participant profiles were intentionally broad but oriented toward current or emerging leaders positioned to drive positive change. Examples listed include community leaders; elected or professional government officials; religious leaders; educators; and people who promote democratic ideals and institutions, including figures connected to the media and judiciary. The underlying theme is that participants should be credible influencers within their communities and sectors, so that exchange experiences translate into follow-on activity, collaboration, and longer-term impact once participants return home.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted November 27, 2007, with an application deadline of February 15, 2008, and it was later archived on February 16, 2008. Applicants needing access to the full announcement were directed to contact the program specialist listed in the notice (Hans Posey at poseyhe@state.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, to fund professional and cultural exchange programs that connect U.S. organizations with civil society and cultural groups in multiple world regions.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The overall purpose is relationship-building through people-to-people exchanges that strengthen mutual understanding, expand professional networks, and support longer-term partnerships between institutions and communities in the United States and abroad.
Which regions are included in the program scope?
The opportunity spans multiple world regions: Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs under Citizen Exchanges).
How much funding was expected to be available?
Total funding for the competition was expected to be around $5,000,000 or more, subject to the availability of funds.
How many awards did ECA anticipate making?
ECA anticipated approximately 15 to 20 awards during FY 2008.
What is the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $350,000.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated. Applicants are not required to provide matching funds as a condition of eligibility, though proposals may still benefit from showing leveraged support.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and nonprofit organizations, particularly those recognized as tax-exempt under 26 USC 501(c)(3). Eligibility also extends to institutions of higher education (including private and public/state-controlled institutions) and other qualifying nonprofits.
What kind of projects was ECA expecting to fund?
Proposals were expected to support the goals of the Professional Exchange Program by running multi-phased professional and cultural exchanges designed for sustained engagement and relationship-building, rather than brief, one-off visits.
How long were the exchange programs expected to last?
The exchange programs were expected to be multi-phased and last one to two years.
Does ECA prefer one-way or two-way exchanges?
ECA emphasized two-way exchange designs whenever possible, meaning roughly equal participation from U.S. professionals and international counterparts, rather than one-direction study tours.
What does ECA mean by "people-to-people" exchanges in this context?
In this competition, "people-to-people" exchanges are intended to build mutual understanding and durable professional relationships through direct engagement, shared learning, and collaboration between U.S. and international participants and their institutions.
What program themes or priorities were highlighted?
The competition prioritized projects that encourage citizen engagement with current issues, with special attention to youth and the adults and institutions that shape youth perspectives.
How could a project address the youth emphasis described in the announcement?
The youth focus could be addressed by involving educators and education-focused organizations, youth-serving community leaders, or other groups with direct influence on young people.
Is there an emphasis on participant diversity?
Yes. ECA signaled strong interest in reaching socially and economically diverse participants, including groups that have not traditionally had significant access to U.S. exchange opportunities or long-standing ties with U.S. counterpart institutions.
What broader outcomes were exchange projects intended to support?
The exchange projects were meant to help strengthen democratic societies and institutions and contribute to a more stable international environment.
What types of results or outcomes were mentioned in the announcement?
Intended outcomes included breaking down stereotypes, fostering dialogue and mutual respect, sharing expertise, building individual and institutional capacity, supporting good governance and economic growth, contributing to conflict prevention and conflict management, and encouraging respect for cultural expression and identity.
What kind of learning or collaboration was ECA looking for?
Projects were expected to create a shared professional dialogue around common challenges so that U.S. participants and international counterparts could learn from each other and develop practical approaches applicable in their own communities.
Who were the intended participants?
Participant profiles were broad but oriented toward current or emerging leaders positioned to drive positive change and follow-on collaboration after the exchange.
What examples of participant types were provided?
Examples listed include community leaders; elected or professional government officials; religious leaders; educators; and people who promote democratic ideals and institutions, including figures connected to the media and judiciary.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted on November 27, 2007, and the application deadline was February 15, 2008.
What does it mean that the opportunity was "archived"?
The notice indicates it was later archived on February 16, 2008, meaning the listing was closed and maintained for record/reference rather than active solicitation.
Who should be contacted to request the full announcement?
Applicants needing access to the full announcement were directed to contact the program specialist listed in the notice: Hans Posey (poseyhe@state.gov).
Is there a required focus on long-term partnerships?
Yes. The program description emphasizes sustained engagement and longer-term partnerships between institutions and communities in the United States and abroad.
Does the announcement specify exact countries within the listed regions?
No. The information provided identifies regions but does not list specific eligible countries within those regions.
Does the announcement specify required activities or a single exchange format?
No single mandatory format is specified in the information provided, but ECA expected multi-phased exchanges over one to two years and emphasized two-way exchange designs whenever possible.
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