Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

The U.S. Embassy Windhoek announces an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026). This annual funding opportunity is designed to amplify the U.S. government’s return on investment in exchange programs, advance policy goals, and strengthen the U.S. government’s relationship with exchange alumni. All 2026 AEIF projects must celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of American independence in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Namibia’s Freedom 250 campaign. We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2026 should submit proposals to WindhoekPublicDiplomacy@state.gov by May 20, 2026.

Program Details

U.S. Mission to Namibia 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 Namibia 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 Namibia or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application.

Funding and Timeline

Funding available: $5K – $35K. Applications are due by May 20, 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 20, 2026.

Categories

Research Innovation