FY 2026 Community Solutions Program
🏛 Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs (DOS-ECA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations planning and implementing an international exchange program focused on economic development and community leadership.
Eligible applicants are typically nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and international organizations with experience managing cultural or exchange programs. Applicants must have capacity to coordinate multi-month exchanges involving 50-60 international participants.
The program is national in scope with funding through the U.S. Department of State. Activities must include placements in U.S. communities for 27-39 year-old international leaders in sectors like culinary arts, business, technology, hospitality, and tourism.
The program supports three to four-month exchanges in the United States featuring partnerships between international participants and American counterparts on economic development initiatives.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design and implement the FY 2026 Community Solutions Program (CSP). The United States has a strong tradition of hard work, entrepreneurship, and local leadership that has powered economic growth. American communities succeed by building on what they do best — innovating, strengthening key industries, and coordinating business, workforce, and community leadership to deliver results. CSP invests in American and international community leaders interested in learning from proven U.S. approaches to regional economic growth. It will engage leaders, ages 27–39, who will work alongside American partners to understand how regional industry clusters and locally driven strategies expand opportunities that benefit the American people. During a three- to four-month exchange in the United States, approximately 50–60 participants will work directly with American counterparts on real-world economic growth initiatives across key sectors such as: culinary industries/farm-to-table; business and entrepreneurship; hospitality and tourism; technology and innovation, and others as proposed. Placements will demonstrate how U.S. communities organize around regional industry clusters to attract talent, secure investment, grow businesses, and strengthen local economies.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Notice of Funding Opportunity (full announcement)
- Project narrative/proposal
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of partnership/commitment from U.S. host communities
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- 📧 allisonle@state.gov
- 📞 202-890-9795
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.415 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$20,570,000
-
$19,800,000
-
$19,176,414
-
$18,390,884
-
$17,980,767
-
$17,915,753
-
$17,903,753
-
$17,403,806
-
$16,896,050
-
$16,320,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.415). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $139,802,885 | |
| 2025 | $86,270,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $86,270,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Organizations with experience managing exchange programs, capacity for large-scale international participant coordination, and ties to U.S. community leaders. Check the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for specific organizational requirements.
What is the funding amount and timeline?
This is a fixed award of $3,000,000 as a cooperative agreement. The deadline is July 23, 2026.
What activities does the program fund?
Three to four-month exchanges bringing 50-60 international leaders (ages 27-39) to the U.S. to work with American partners on regional economic growth in sectors like technology, hospitality, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship.
Is cost sharing required?
No, cost sharing is not required for this grant.
How competitive is this grant?
This is a highly competitive cooperative agreement with a single fixed award amount. Strong proposal narratives and demonstrated exchange program experience are essential.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's track record managing large-scale international exchange programs. Include past participant outcomes and feedback.
- Build partnerships with U.S. community leaders and industries before applying. Demonstrate concrete placements and mentorship commitments.
- Focus your proposal on specific industry sectors and how exchanges will create lasting impact on both U.S. and international economies.
- Address how your program will select and prepare 27-39 year-old leaders for meaningful engagement with American counterparts.
- Detail the logistics of managing 50-60 international participants for 3-4 months, including housing, support services, and monitoring mechanisms.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lacking demonstrated experience with large international exchanges or multi-month participant management. Weak partnerships with U.S. community organizations or unclear placement commitments. Insufficient detail on how program activities connect to sustainable regional economic growth outcomes.
Similar grants
- CLOSING SOON FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors Programs — Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- OPEN FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange — Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- OPEN FY 2027 International Visitor Leadership Program’s National Program Agencies — Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- OPEN Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy Mission Mexico – FY26 — U.S. Mission to Mexico
- CLOSED Annual Program Statement (APS) For Fiscal Year 2026 — U.S. Mission to Tunisia