Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Mission in South Africa, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition to implement a program to roll-out of the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF). The 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund is designed to increase the impact of the U.S. government’s investment in exchange participants and programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects that support U.S. policy objectives and promote shared interests. All AEIF projects must celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America (Freedom 250) and align with administration policy goals to make the U.S. safer, stronger and more prosperous, or defend freedom of speech. Please read this notice of funding opportunity document carefully before preparing and submitting a funding proposal. -----------Please do not apply for this funding opportunity if you’re not an alumnus of a U.S. government-funded exchange program-----------

Program Details

U.S. Mission to South Africa is a federal agency that offers the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 grant program to support research innovation. This funding opportunity is available nationally and is administered by U.S. Mission to South Africa through Grants.gov. Organizations seeking funding for research innovation should review the details below and confirm their eligibility before preparing an application.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include eligible organizations. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and to review the full program guidelines before submission. Because eligibility rules and funding priorities can change between cycles, applicants should always confirm the current requirements with U.S. Mission to South Africa or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application.

Funding and Timeline

Funding available: $5K – $35K. Applications are due by May 8, 2026. Applicants should allow sufficient time to gather required documentation, including organizational information, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials as specified in the program guidelines. Submitting a complete application well ahead of the deadline reduces the risk of disqualification on technical or administrative grounds.

Program Focus

This grant supports research innovation. This grant is associated with NAICS industry classifications: 611310, 813920. Organizations operating in these sectors are encouraged to review eligibility. Funded projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with the program's stated objectives. Grant recipients may be required to submit progress reports and final evaluations as a condition of the award, and to retain records for audit and compliance purposes.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov. Create a free organization profile on GrantRegister to see whether this grant matches your organization's NAICS code, entity type, location, and focus area, and to receive a weekly digest of every open grant you qualify for.

GrantRegister maintains a complete, authoritative registry of US federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities — matched automatically to your organization profile and delivered every Monday.

Eligibility

• Funded by State-mission

Award details

Award range: $5K – $35K. Applications close on May 8, 2026.

Categories

Research Innovation