Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018829
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V) is offering funding through an open, competitive process to support the FY 2027 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) National Program Agencies (NPAs). This opportunity is focused on providing the operational backbone for IVLP implementation by covering staff expenses and overhead costs for organizations that serve as NPAs. IVLP, established in 1940, is the State Department's flagship professional exchange program and is intended to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by building sustained relationships between Americans and influential international leaders across government, business, academia, and other sectors.
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, meaning the Department of State is expected to have an active partnership role during implementation rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The program anticipates making about five awards. The work supported under these agreements centers on designing and delivering customized, short-term professional visits to the United States for current and emerging leaders from around the world. These projects are tailored both to U.S. foreign policy priorities and to the professional interests and responsibilities of the international participants, with the expectation that programming can accommodate participants from any country and a wide range of thematic topics that align with U.S. policy goals.
Applicants are expected to bring substantial capacity and credibility in international exchange and foreign policy-adjacent programming. Competitive applicants will typically demonstrate deep experience running complex professional exchange projects, strong networks of U.S. counterparts and institutions that can host meaningful meetings and site visits, and the operational ability to deliver high-quality, individualized itineraries at scale. Because these are NPA roles supporting a foundational State Department exchange program, applicants should be prepared to show robust administrative systems, compliance readiness, and staffing models that can reliably handle planning, coordination, and execution of frequent, customized delegations and schedules.
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and other eligible entity types as permitted in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.402. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018829, and the application deadline is August 24, 2026. The posted award ceiling is $8,875,000. Further program requirements, allowable costs, evaluation criteria, and specific expectations for NPA functions are provided in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity referenced in the announcement.Apply for DFOP0018829
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2027 International Visitor Leadership Program’s National Program Agencies" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.402.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-24. (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 $8,875,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an open, competitive U.S. Department of State funding opportunity from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V), to support FY 2027 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) National Program Agencies (NPAs).
What is the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)?
IVLP is the U.S. Department of State's flagship professional exchange program, established in 1940. It advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by building sustained relationships between Americans and influential international leaders across sectors such as government, business, and academia.
What are National Program Agencies (NPAs) in the context of IVLP?
NPAs are organizations that provide the operational backbone for implementing IVLP programming. Under this opportunity, NPAs are supported to carry out the staffing and administrative functions needed to design and deliver customized, short-term professional visits in the United States for international participants.
What type of award will be made under this opportunity?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements. This means the Department of State is expected to have an active partnership role during implementation, rather than issuing funding with minimal ongoing involvement.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making about five awards.
What is the primary purpose of the funding?
The opportunity is focused on supporting the operational backbone of IVLP implementation by covering staff expenses and overhead costs for organizations serving as NPAs.
What activities are supported through these cooperative agreements?
The supported work centers on designing and delivering customized, short-term professional visits to the United States for current and emerging international leaders. Programming is tailored to U.S. foreign policy priorities as well as the participants' professional interests and responsibilities.
Do projects need to support specific thematic areas?
Projects are expected to accommodate a wide range of thematic topics, as long as they align with U.S. policy goals and foreign policy priorities.
Are NPAs expected to be able to host participants from any country?
Yes. The programming is expected to be able to accommodate participants from any country.
What kind of organizational experience is expected from applicants?
Competitive applicants typically demonstrate deep experience running complex professional exchange projects and foreign policy-adjacent programming, along with the ability to deliver high-quality, individualized itineraries at scale.
What operational capabilities are emphasized for competitive applicants?
Applicants are expected to show strong administrative systems, compliance readiness, and staffing models capable of reliably handling planning, coordination, and execution of frequent, customized delegations and schedules.
How important are U.S. networks and counterparts for applicants?
Strong networks of U.S. counterparts and institutions that can host meaningful meetings and site visits are described as a typical characteristic of competitive applicants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and other eligible entity types as permitted in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Is this opportunity limited only to universities and nonprofits?
No. In addition to institutions of higher education and U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, the announcement notes that other eligible entity types may apply if permitted in the full NOFO.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.402.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018829.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is August 24, 2026.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling is $8,875,000.
Where can applicants find details on allowable costs and evaluation criteria?
Further program requirements, allowable costs, evaluation criteria, and specific expectations for NPA functions are provided in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) referenced in the announcement.
Does this opportunity fund direct program delivery, operations, or both?
Based on the announcement, the opportunity is focused on providing the operational backbone for IVLP implementation, specifically covering staff expenses and overhead costs for organizations serving as NPAs, while the work supported under the agreements centers on designing and delivering IVLP professional visits.
What makes this opportunity different from a standard grant?
Because the awards are cooperative agreements, the Department of State is expected to play an active partnership role during implementation rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.
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