U.S.-ASEAN Road to 50: Rising Leaders Forum
🏛 U.S. Mission to ASEAN
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 28, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and individuals working on U.S.-ASEAN relations and regional development.
Not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society groups, and NGOs can apply. Public and private educational institutions are eligible. Individuals may also apply. Public international organizations and government institutions are welcome.
The forum gathers 50 rising leaders from ASEAN alumni networks across Southeast Asia. Activities include designing joint action plans on U.S. priorities: strategic partnership, AI, digital economy, energy security, critical minerals, supply chains, maritime security, and entrepreneurship.
The one-day Jakarta workshop includes expert panels, strategy sessions, and a social media campaign. Funding covers developing, organizing, and overseeing the event.
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Program description
The U.S. Mission to ASEAN (USASEAN) Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition for applications to develop, organize, and oversee the U.S.-ASEAN Road to 50: Rising Leaders Forum. This one-day Jakarta workshop will gather approximately 50 rising leaders selected exclusively from the USASEAN alumni networks across Southeast Asia. Celebrating 50 years of partnership, this forum looks ahead to the next 50 years: building an independent, self-sustaining alumni network that collaborates to address regional challenges and advance shared goals.
Participants will design joint action plans aligned with U.S. priorities, including strengthening the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), ASEAN centrality, AI, digital economy, energy security, critical minerals, resilient supply chains, maritime security, and entrepreneurship. Through expert panels, strategy sessions, and a joint social media campaign, alumni will turn shared policy goals into practical, cross-border initiatives that mark the U.S.-ASEAN relationships successes over the past 50 years and prepare for even more triumphs over the next 50. Please follow all instructions below.
Read the full NOFO here: https://asean.usmission.gov/nofo-u-s-asean-road-to-50-rising-leaders-forum/
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NOFO application form (check USASEAN website)
- Project narrative describing forum design and outcomes
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Evidence of organizational capacity and past event management
- Letters of support from ASEAN partner organizations
- CV or organizational background information
Program contact
- 👤 Immanuella Suganda Grantor
- 📧 sugandai@state.gov
- 📞 08111549105
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.022 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$570,002
-
$550,000
-
$500,000
-
$500,000
-
$425,000
-
$315,177
-
$290,000
-
$269,061
-
$268,500
-
$250,000
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.022). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $9,943,397 | |
| 2025 | $9,943,397 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,943,397 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Not-for-profits, think tanks, NGOs, educational institutions (public and private), individuals, public international organizations, and government institutions are eligible. You must be able to develop and oversee a one-day forum in Jakarta.
What is the funding range for this grant?
Awards range from $60,000 to $85,000. No cost sharing is required.
What activities does this grant support?
This grant funds organizing a one-day Rising Leaders Forum in Jakarta. Activities include expert panels, strategy sessions, designing joint action plans on U.S.-ASEAN priorities, and a social media campaign.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is August 30, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
Is this competitive and what makes applications stand out?
Yes, this is competitive. Strong applications demonstrate experience managing international forums, connections to ASEAN alumni networks, expertise in U.S.-ASEAN relations, and clear plans for implementing joint action plans aligned with U.S. priorities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build your application around proven experience organizing international conferences or convenings in Southeast Asia. Highlight past successes managing multi-country events.
- Demonstrate deep connections to USASEAN alumni networks across the region. List specific partner organizations and contacts in multiple ASEAN nations.
- Clearly align your proposed forum outcomes with U.S. priorities: the CSP, ASEAN centrality, AI, digital economy, energy security, critical minerals, and maritime security.
- Show a concrete plan for recruiting and selecting 50 rising leaders from alumni networks. Explain your outreach and selection criteria.
- Include a detailed timeline and budget breakdown showing how funds will cover venue, logistics, speaker fees, documentation, and the social media campaign. Be specific about Jakarta costs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants underestimate the logistical complexity of organizing an international one-day forum in Jakarta for 50 people. Weak applications lack specific evidence of access to ASEAN alumni networks across multiple countries. Many fail to clearly connect proposed activities to explicit U.S. policy priorities like the CSP, AI, or energy security.
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