2027 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program Administration Grant
🏛 Bureau of Human Resources
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for eligible organizations seeking to administer the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program. Applicants must have demonstrated capacity to manage complex financial, programmatic, and administrative operations at scale. The organization must be able to provide secure tracking systems, coordinate with federal agencies for security clearances, and deliver professional development services.
Eligible recipients likely include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and federally-funded research centers with prior experience managing scholarship programs or federal cooperative agreements. Experience managing graduate fellowships, international exchanges, or Foreign Service-related programming is expected.
The project runs 32 months starting approximately January 2027. The scope includes tuition and stipend disbursements, clearance coordination for 100% of cohort, internship logistics, and mentorship pairing with current Foreign Service officers.
This is a competitive, single-award cooperative agreement. Geographic scope is national, though Fellows participate in internships in Washington, D.C. and overseas at U.S. Embassies.
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Program description
Background & Goal:
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships Division (HR/OFI) announces an open competition for an eligible organization to manage programmatic, financial, and administrative operations for the 2027 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program. Established in 1992, the Pickering Fellowship attracts outstanding students—particularly those with financial need—for Foreign Service Officer careers. Administered via a Cooperative Agreement, this 32-month project (starting ~January 2027) aims to cultivate premier diplomatic talent, ensuring timely commissioning into generalist tracks pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2719 and 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.
Problem Statement:
Fellows face complex operational, financial, and logistical demands across graduate studies, domestic internships in Washington, D.C., and overseas assignments at U.S. Embassies. Dedicated administrative oversight is essential to execute tuition disbursements, secure housing, navigate security/medical clearances, and eliminate friction that could impede academic success or delay Foreign Service commissioning.
Key Objectives & Outcomes:
Financial & Academic Oversight: Establish a robust tracking system within 30 days of award to manage 100% on-time disbursements for tuition ($55k/yr cap), living stipends ($33k/yr cap), and summer allowances ($11k/summer cap) under 2 CFR 200 guidelines, ensuring Fellows maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA.
Clearance & Onboarding Support: Guide 100% of the cohort through required examination attempts and medical, suitability, and Top Secret security clearance protocols prior to graduation.
Internships & Professional Development: Coordinate travel, lodging, and stipends for summer internships; deliver 7–8 professional seminars; facilitate a 2-week session at NDU; and pair all Fellows with tenured Foreign Service mentors.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (program management plan and staffing)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational capability statement and prior fellowship management examples
- Letters of support from Foreign Service or relevant federal partners
- Proof of nonprofit status or institutional standing (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Katherine Wright Grantor
- 📧 wrightka@state.gov
- 📞 7712041230
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 19.013 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.013). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $6,065,979 | |
| 2025 | $6,065,979 | |
| 2026 est. | $6,065,979 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only eligible organizations (likely 501(c)(3)s, educational institutions, or federally-funded research centers) with proven experience managing federal fellowship programs. Prior administration of graduate scholarships or State Department programs strongly preferred.
What is the deadline?
Fixed deadline is November 23, 2026. This is a single competition cycle; there is no rolling acceptance.
What activities must the program support?
Financial disbursements (tuition, stipends), security clearance guidance, summer internship coordination, professional seminars, NDU session facilitation, and Foreign Service mentorship pairing.
How competitive is this award?
Highly competitive. This is a single-award cooperative agreement with substantial federal funding and critical national interest in Foreign Service recruitment and retention.
What is the funding level?
Award is $2,813,620 for the 32-month project period. No cost-sharing requirement.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize prior experience managing federal fellowship programs, especially graduate-level or State Department partnerships. Provide detailed case studies of similar successes.
- Develop a detailed financial management plan showing 100% on-time disbursement capability. Reference 2 CFR 200 compliance explicitly.
- Demonstrate robust systems for tracking security clearances, medical exams, and suitability reviews. Coordination experience with federal agencies is critical.
- Highlight mentorship networks within the Foreign Service and ability to connect Fellows with tenured officers. This relationship-building is a core program value.
- Submit early and have State Department subject-matter experts review the proposal for policy alignment before submission.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating the administrative complexity of 100% clearance coordination and timely disbursements. Vague descriptions of prior fellowship management experience without specific metrics. Failing to address security protocols and compliance with 2 CFR 200 explicitly in the narrative.
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