FY 2026 Leaders Lead On-Demand
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations that seek to send U.S. citizen leaders to participate in international professional exchange programs focused on leadership development and cross-cultural engagement. Eligible applicants are typically 501(c)(3) organizations, educational institutions, and professional associations with demonstrated capacity to identify, nominate, and support participants for international fellowship opportunities. The program supports educational and cultural exchange activities that strengthen leadership networks between the United States and partner countries, particularly in priority sectors such as governance, civic engagement, and social entrepreneurship. Geographic scope includes participation in international programs, with eligibility extending to organizations nationwide capable of identifying qualified U.S. leaders for exchange placements.
Program description
The Office of Citizen Exchanges in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the FY 2026 Leaders Lead On-Demand program (LLOD). This program develops ideas from across the Department of State into customized, two-way exchange projects. LLOD provides rapid response, flexible programming focused on building self-sustaining global, regional, and country-based networks of practitioners.
The recipient will design and carry out a series of exchange projects for emerging leaders and mid-level professionals representing government, business, and civil society. The program expects to support approximately four to six exchange projects for approximately 150 participants, including approximately 110 foreign and 40 U.S. participants
.Each project will feature a group of foreign participants who will travel to the United States for an intensive, customized program. Activities may include workshops, meetings, or events. Every U.S.-based exchange must also include at least one segment overseas, which should involve U.S. participants. All participants should have relevant experience or expertise in the project’s field. U.S. participants will work with foreign participants during both the U.S. and overseas segments.
Please see the amended Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative describing the exchange program design, participant selection criteria, and international partner relationships
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Organizational capacity statement and relevant past experience with exchange programs
- Letters of support or memoranda of understanding from international partner organizations
- Evaluation plan describing how program outcomes will be measured
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
- Proof of 501(c)(3) status or other organizational documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
- 📧 BarnesCL@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
-
$20,450,000
-
$19,800,000
-
$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 is eligible to apply for the Leaders Lead On-Demand grant?
Eligible organizations typically include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, and professional associations with capacity to nominate and support U.S. leaders for international exchange programs.
What is the application deadline and how long is the application period?
The application opens April 29, 2026 and closes May 25, 2026, providing approximately four weeks for organizations to prepare and submit their proposals.
What types of activities does this grant support?
The grant supports leadership development, professional networking, cultural exchange, and peer-to-peer learning through international fellowship placements and professional exchange programs.
How competitive is this program?
State Department cultural exchange programs are typically moderately to highly competitive. Strong applications emphasize demonstrated networks for participant recruitment, clear leadership development outcomes, and alignment with U.S. diplomatic priorities.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding amounts vary by program scope and participant numbers, but Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs grants typically range from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars depending on the scale of exchange activities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's track record identifying and supporting high-caliber U.S. leaders qualified for international exchange and demonstrate strong networks in your target sector.
- Align your program clearly with State Department priorities such as democratic governance, civil society strengthening, entrepreneurship, or public health leadership.
- Provide specific details about the countries and partner institutions where U.S. leaders will be placed, demonstrating existing relationships and vetting capacity.
- Include participant success metrics such as post-exchange outcomes, networking impact, and evidence of sustained professional relationships or collaboration.
- Build a realistic budget with clear line items for participant support, travel, program management, and monitoring that shows cost-effectiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack concrete evidence of strong networks for participant recruitment, making it unclear how the organization will identify qualified leaders efficiently. Many proposals underestimate the importance of post-exchange follow-up and impact measurement; reviewers expect detailed plans for tracking how participants leverage their international experience. Additionally, applications that are too generic about exchange outcomes or that propose partnerships without documented pre-existing relationships with international institutions are unlikely to be competitive.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health