Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA ECAPEC 14 031

  • 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 "Sport for Community Emerging Leaders in Action Program" 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 Dec 20, 2013 and posted on Dec 20, 2013.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 7, 2014 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 $400,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • none
Apply for ECA ECAPEC 14 031

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Opportunity Summary:

The Sport for Community Emerging Leaders in Action Program was a FY 2014 grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, under its SportsUnited portfolio and the broader Global Sports Mentoring Program. The core idea was to use the draw and visibility of major sporting events, especially mega events like the World Cup, as a platform for long-term community impact. Rather than funding one-off clinics or short visits, the program emphasized sustained mentorship and youth-led, community-based sports initiatives that could continue after the exchange period ended. In line with State Department public diplomacy goals, the exchange was meant to build both person-to-person relationships and stronger institutional connections between U.S. organizations and counterparts abroad through sport.

Program activities were structured around mentoring and follow-on engagement. The project was expected to select roughly 10 to 20 emerging leaders (men and women) in the approximate age range of 20 to 35 and connect them with U.S.-based mentors in the sports sector. After the U.S. mentorship component, about 10 American representatives from the mentoring organizations were expected to travel to the host country to conduct follow-on programming alongside their mentees. That follow-on element signals that applicants needed to plan for continuity, on-the-ground collaboration, and practical implementation support for the community sports initiatives that the emerging leaders would lead in their home settings.

The announcement also noted that implementation might be timed to align with the Men’s World Cup, reflecting the program’s intent to leverage heightened public attention and momentum around a large event. At the same time, ECA explicitly reserved the right to change the host country depending on evolving circumstances, so proposals needed to be flexible and resilient to changes in location or related logistical constraints.

From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during implementation (for example, coordination on program design, participant selection, branding, monitoring, or scheduling). The funding opportunity number was ECA-ECAPEC-14-031, and it was listed under CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges). The award ceiling was $400,000, with no stated award floor, and cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind) as part of the overall project budget.

Eligibility was broad within the nonprofit and education space. Applicants could include public or private nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, plus other eligible applicants as referenced in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted on December 20, 2013, with an application deadline of February 7, 2014, and it was later archived on March 9, 2014. For access issues, the notice directed applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov, 1-800-518-4726).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Sport for Community Emerging Leaders in Action Program?

The Sport for Community Emerging Leaders in Action Program was a FY 2014 U.S. Department of State exchange-focused grant opportunity designed to use sport as a tool for community impact. It sat under the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, within the SportsUnited portfolio and the broader Global Sports Mentoring Program.

What was the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The program aimed to leverage the visibility of major sporting events (including mega events like the World Cup) to support long-term, community-based outcomes. It prioritized sustained mentorship and youth-led sports initiatives intended to continue after the formal exchange period ended, while advancing public diplomacy goals through people-to-people and institutional connections.

How did the program plan to create long-term impact instead of one-time activities?

Rather than funding one-off clinics or short visits, the opportunity emphasized mentoring, follow-on engagement, and practical support for implementation. Applicants were expected to design a program where emerging leaders would lead community sports initiatives in their home settings with continuity and on-the-ground collaboration.

Who ran this opportunity, and under what office/portfolio?

This opportunity was run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, under SportsUnited and the Global Sports Mentoring Program.

What type of federal award was this?

It was a discretionary funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during implementation (for example, coordination on program design, participant selection, branding, monitoring, or scheduling).

What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was ECA-ECAPEC-14-031.

What CFDA program did this fall under?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 19.415, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges.

What was the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling was $400,000.

Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?

No award floor was stated in the provided opportunity summary.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind) as part of the overall project budget.

Who were the intended participants (emerging leaders)?

The project was expected to select roughly 10 to 20 emerging leaders, men and women, generally in the approximate age range of 20 to 35.

What was the mentorship component in the United States?

The program structure included pairing the selected emerging leaders with U.S.-based mentors in the sports sector during a U.S. mentorship component.

What follow-on activities were expected after the U.S. mentorship?

After the mentorship period, about 10 American representatives from the mentoring organizations were expected to travel to the host country to conduct follow-on programming alongside their mentees. This follow-on element signaled a focus on continuity, collaboration, and hands-on support for implementing community sports initiatives.

How many U.S. representatives were expected to participate in the follow-on visit?

Approximately 10 American representatives from the mentoring organizations were expected to travel for the follow-on programming.

Did the program connect to major sporting events like the World Cup?

Yes. Implementation might have been timed to align with the Men’s World Cup, reflecting the program intent to use the heightened attention around a major event to support momentum for community-based initiatives.

Was the host country guaranteed?

No. ECA explicitly reserved the right to change the host country depending on evolving circumstances, so proposals needed to be flexible and resilient to location changes and related logistical constraints.

What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility included public or private nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible applicants as referenced in the full announcement.

What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on December 20, 2013. The application deadline was February 7, 2014. It was later archived on March 9, 2014.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. Based on the provided information, it was archived on March 9, 2014, and the application deadline passed on February 7, 2014.

Where could applicants get help with access issues related to applying?

For access issues, the notice directed applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726.

What types of outcomes was the State Department seeking through this program?

In line with public diplomacy goals, the exchange aimed to strengthen person-to-person relationships and build stronger institutional connections between U.S. organizations and counterparts abroad through sport, while supporting youth-led community sports initiatives designed to last beyond the exchange period.

What did the program imply about applicant responsibilities for implementation?

Because the design centered on mentoring plus an on-the-ground follow-on phase, applicants needed to plan for continuity, coordination with mentors and host-country partners, and practical support for implementing community-based sports initiatives led by the emerging leaders.

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