NEA/AC Regional Annual Program Statement
🏛 Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for foreign assistance projects that advance U.S. commercial and strategic interests through innovative programs in partner countries.
U.S.-based nonprofits, think tanks, educational institutions, for-profit companies, and public international organizations may apply. There is no cost-sharing requirement.
The project must leverage foreign assistance as a statecraft tool. It should promote trade and private enterprise, not traditional aid. Projects must advance U.S. economic, security, and diplomatic objectives.
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Program description
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) for innovative foreign assistance programs benefitting partner countries that also advance U.S. commercial diplomacy and place American interests first. SOI must demonstrate how projects will leverage foreign assistance for U.S. partners as a tool of statecraft to advance U.S. economic, security, and diplomatic objectives. Programming should promote trade, not aid, by leveraging assistance resources to champion American enterprise and infrastructure and catalyze private capital through market principles. SOI are to be submitted via MyGrants.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Statement of Interest (SOI)
- Project description demonstrating U.S. interest alignment
- Partner country information and context
- Commercial/diplomatic objectives and outcomes
- Organizational capacity and past experience
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
- 📧 NEA-Grants@state.gov
- 📞 703-516-1684
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.600 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$65,167,600
-
$24,959,025
-
$19,073,380
-
$6,449,156
-
$6,344,087
-
$5,800,000
-
$5,347,622
-
$5,241,060
-
$5,102,893
-
$5,000,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.600). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2020 | $28,478,840 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Nonprofits, think tanks, educational institutions, for-profits, and public international organizations may apply. Domestic U.S.-based entities are typical applicants.
What types of projects does this fund?
Projects that use foreign assistance to advance U.S. commercial interests, security goals, and diplomacy in partner countries. Focus is on leveraging aid for trade and private enterprise.
What is the deadline and funding range?
Deadline is September 30, 2026. Awards range from $250,000 to $30,000,000.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. This is a $190 million program with a fixed deadline. Strong proposals demonstrate clear linkage between assistance and U.S. economic/diplomatic returns.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Frame your project as advancing U.S. interests. Clearly explain how it serves American economic, security, or diplomatic goals alongside benefiting partner countries.
- Emphasize trade and private capital mobilization. Show how your program leverages foreign assistance to attract American enterprise and private investment.
- Detail partnerships with U.S. companies or institutions. Strong applications demonstrate concrete connections to American business interests.
- Submit through MyGrants platform. Use their system to submit your statement of interest before the September 2026 deadline.
- Align with State Department priorities. Research current U.S. strategic interests in your target country or region to match funding objectives.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants fail to clearly articulate how the project advances U.S. interests beyond traditional development goals. Projects that read as traditional foreign aid, not trade-focused initiatives, get rejected. Weak partnerships with American commercial entities or insufficient detail on private capital mobilization undermine competitiveness.
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