Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges

 

Citizen Exchange activities include American Film Showcase, American Music Abroad, Arts Envoy, Center Stage, Community Engagement Exchange, Community Solutions, Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, Fortune - Mentoring Program, Future Leaders Exchange Program, Global Media Makers, Global Sports Mentoring Program, International Sports Programming Initiative, International Writers Program, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, Leaders On-Demand, National Security Language Initiative for Youth, Next Level Hip Hop and Conflict Transformation, OneBeat, Professional Fellows Program, Sports Envoy Program and Sports Visitor Program, Stevens initiative, TechGirls, TechWomen, Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative, Youth Leadership Programs, and other Professional and Cultural Exchange programs.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
19.415
Federal Agency/Office
Bureau of Educational and Cultural, Department of State
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. The Professional Fellows Program supports young professionals in specific fields from countries around the globe to undergo individually-tailored internships at businesses, NGOs and government offices in the United States for five to six weeks, and sends their American counterparts overseas for follow-on programming. The program for the non-U.S. participants concludes with the Professional Fellows Congress – a three-day event dedicated to the strategic development of action plans and leadership skills development. There were approximately 167 U.S. participants and approximately 514 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Professional Fellows On-Demand Program is the flexible, rapid-response compliment to the Professional Fellows Program and is designed to address urgent, evolving Department priorities. The program enables young professionals from across the globe to participate in four week internships at U.S. organizations, and sends U.S. mentors, experts, and professional counterparts overseas for follow-on programming. There were approximately 30 U.S. participants and approximately 60 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Community Solutions program supports young professionals in specific fields from countries around the globe to undergo leadership training and four-month internships at NGOs and government offices in the United States to experience firsthand the interaction between the government and non-profit sector to enact change in local communities. There were approximately 100 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. TechWomen empowers women engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields from select countries in Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East through networking activities and month-long mentorships where they are matched with women at leading science, tech and innovation companies in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as through outreach projects to women and girls overseas. There were approximately 100 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Fortune/State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership develops the management and business skills of emerging women leaders from countries around the world through mentorships in the United States where they are matched with senior women executives in the fields of business, law, and non-profit management. There were approximately 25 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Traditional Public-Private Partnerships are long-standing programs to support the Bureau’s commitment to work with the U.S. NGO community to implement cooperative international exchange projects. There were approximately 107 U.S. participants, and approximately 132 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The National Youth Science Camp encourages the most talented science-inclined high school students to achieve their full potential. ECA supports the participation students from other countries in the Western Hemisphere in this month-long camp. There were approximately 16 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Global Sports Mentoring Program is composed of two distinct annual mentorships: the espnW GSMP to empower women and the Sport for Community GSMP on disability rights. The espnW GSMP is a public-private partnership that empowers women through sports by pairing international emerging leaders with American senior female executives in the sports sector for a mentorship focused on supporting underserved populations worldwide through sports. The Sport for Community GSMP promotes disability rights at home and abroad with participants who create opportunities for people with disabilities through adaptive sports. For both GSMP’s, international participants develop business strategies in collaboration with American mentors that provide sports and professional opportunities for others—particularly marginalized populations—in their respective communities. The GSMP places an emphasis on long-term and sustainable change through follow-on alumni grants and monitoring as well outbound programs with American participants. There were approximately 35 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016 and 10 U.S. participants. The International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) supports educational exchanges designed to foster mutual understanding and help start a dialogue at the grassroots level among American youth, coaches, and sports administrators and their peers from around the world through sports for social change programs. There were approximately 300 U.S. participants, and approximately 450 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Sports Visitor Program brings youth and coaches to the United States for a short-term sports cultural exchange. During the program, they engage with American peers and sports practitioners, participate in clinics, and sessions on leadership, team-building and conflict resolution, as well as on inclusion and equity in sport. Sports Visitor programs show young people how success in athletics can translate into achievements in the classroom and life, also providing Americans with an opportunity to interact firsthand with people from every region of the world. There were approximately 110 non-U.S. participantsin FY 2016. The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program promotes mutual understanding between the United States and the countries of Eurasia by providing scholarships for high school students to live in the United States for an academic year. There were approximately 872 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program promotes mutual understanding between the United States and countries with significant Muslim populations by providing scholarships for high school students to live in the United States for an academic year. There were approximately 803 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. Through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) program, American high school participants from across the United States study for up to eleven months in select countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. There were approximately 60 U.S. participants in FY 2016. Youth Leadership Programs foster greater understanding and respect between the people of the United States and other countries, to develop leadership skills and a sense of civic responsibility among teenagers and educators. There were approximately 426 non-U.S. participants and 35 U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Youth Leadership On Demand Program provides high school students and adult educators from countries identified as Department priorities the opportunity to explore civic education, youth leadership development, and community service in the United States. There were approximately 42 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. TechGirls is an educational exchange initiative for teenage girls from the Middle East and North Africa that focuses on promoting the high-level study of technology while fostering mutual understanding among the youth of the United States and the countries and territories of this region. There were approximately 27 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Youth Ambassadors Program provides high school students and educators the opportunity to explore civic education, community service, and leadership through three-week exchanges between the United States and Latin America. There were approximately 77 U.S. participants, and approximately 411 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program (CBYX) was inaugurated in 1983 through a bilateral agreement between the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag. The program celebrates German-American friendship based on common values of democracy and creates lasting personal and institutional relationships through an academic year school and home stay experience for American and German high school students and vocational school graduates. There were approximately 350 U.S. participants, and approximately 360 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. Designed to increase the number of Americans who learn foreign languages that are critical to advancing U.S. national interests, the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program provides scholarships to American high school students for overseas intensive language programs in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish. There were approximately 586 U.S. participants in FY 2016. The Emerging Young Leaders Award supports international youth through an intensive, three-week program in the United States focused on the themes of peacebuilding and conflict prevention, democracy and governance, and advanced leadership development, in order to recognize and support young people who have shown the tenacity and courage to create positive and impactful change in challenging environments while also increasing public participation in, and public information about, social change and tolerance. There were approximately 10 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The International Writing Program is a five-part international exchange of writers who participate in a residency program at the University of Iowa, which also hosts the Between the Lines program, and supports residency programs focused on creative writing. American writers conduct public policy-related reading, lecture and teaching tours in several priority overseas countries with limited access to creative writing courses. There were approximately 19 U.S. traveling participants, and approximately 48 non-U.S. traveling participants in FY 20156 The American Film Showcase (AFS) presents award-winning independent American documentaries and narrative films and their filmmakers to audiences around the world, offers contemporary insights into American life and culture, and explores issues affecting democratic societies. There were approximately 80 U.S. participants, and approximately 10 foreign traveling participants in FY 2016. Global Media Makers (GMM) is an innovative mentoring initiative that connects visual storytellers from around the world with leading U.S. entertainment professionals through specially tailored mentorships, workshops and master classes. There were seven U.S. participants and 14 non-U.S. participants in FY 2016. The American Music Abroad Program is designed to bring American music and culture to audiences around the globe through person-to-person exchanges. U.S. musical groups engage with foreign audiences through workshops, master classes, jam sessions, and performances to present a positive image of the United States and provide a greater understanding of our society. There were approximately 45 U.S. participants in FY 2016. Through DanceMotion USA, American dance companies tour approximately nine overseas countries in three world regions, selected based on U.S. foreign policy interests, to present workshops, master classes and performances in the following American dance genres: contemporary, jazz, ballet, tap/or step and hip hop. There were approximately 33 U.S. participants in FY 2016. American Arts Incubator is an arts-based international people-to-people exchange through which American artists travel to five different countries for three to four weeks to implement a community-based art and micro grant program for new media art projects, in order to promote women’s empowerment, conflict resolution, and environmental protection. There were approximately 12 U.S. participants in FY 2016. Next Level is an arts-based international people-to-people exchange that supports and furthers U.S. Department of State foreign policy objectives by sending professional American hip hop artists to visit five select countries and implement multi-disciplinary workshops in music production, beat making, break dancing and rapping as a way to reach out to underserved youth and promote conflict resolution. There were approximately 20 U.S. participants, and approximately five foreign traveling participants in FY 2016. The Communities Connecting Heritage program engages at-risk communities, empowers youth, and builds partnerships between communities in the U.S. and in key strategic world regions through exchange projects that explore cultural heritage topics. These projects advance tangible and intangible cultural heritage appreciation and preservation through community outreach and public education and by reinforcing positive narratives. There are approximately 30 American and 30 foreign participants in FY 2016. The Arts Envoys program engages American artists and arts professionals in cultural exchange programs to address clearly defined foreign policy themes and objectives. In collaboration with ECA, posts have the opportunity to develop customized cultural programming that directly supports their achievement of specific mission objectives. There were approximately 200 American participants in FY 2016.
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 2017, more than 4,400 U.S. citizens participated in international arts, professional, sports, and youth exchanges, and more than 2,800 foreign exchange participants traveled to the U.S. on reciprocal exchanges. U.S. performing artists, athletes, and coaches engaged tens of thousands of international audience members directly and millions more through traditional media and online, in coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates. The majority of the professional exchange participants participated in two-way professional fellowships designed to empower emerging entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders to transform their communities. Professional exchange project themes included legislative process and governance, tolerance and conflict resolution, combating disinformation, entrepreneurship, and protecting human rights and the environment.
Fiscal Year 2018 In 2018, approximately 7,000 individuals participated in Citizen Exchanges' programs from approximately 180 countries, including the United States.
Fiscal Year 2019 In 2019, approximately 7,500 individuals participated in Citizen Exchanges’ programs from approximately 180 countries, including the United States.
Fiscal Year 2020 In 2020, most Citizen Exchange (CE) programs pivoted to a virtual platform. CE’s innovation and flexibility powered a rapid transition to new strategies for virtual engagement and people-to-people exchange which advanced foreign policy objectives and achieved lasting benefits for U.S. citizens. In FY 2020, approximately 6,700 individuals participated in Citizen Exchanges programs from approximately 180 countries, including the United States.
Fiscal Year 2021 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2022 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2023 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2024 No Current Data Available.
Authorization
The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended., Public Law 87-256
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement for further eligibility criteria.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiaries include recipient organizations, educational institutions, other non-government organizations (NGOs) that meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), as well as sponsored participants, and the American people and the people of participating countries who interact with the international participants.
Credentials/Documentation
Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement for further eligibility criteria. OMB Guidance 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E Cost Principles under Special Considerations for States, Local Governments, and Indian Tribes applies to this program.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Announcements are posted on the Grants.gov and the U.S. Department of State's website: http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic website for organizations meeting eligibility requirements. Announcements are made as necessary during the fiscal year. The application procedures are described in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement.
Award Procedure
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed/validated by an authorized Grants Officer, and sent via the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the application.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements.
How are proposals selected?
As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements.
How may assistance be used?
Funding is provided to eligible non-profit organizations, colleges and universities to support their work in designing and administering programs as well as coordinating program logistics. Funding to those organizations supports activities such as publicity and recruitment, screening of participant applications, communication with participants, domestic and international travel, payment of stipends and program benefits, and the provision of enrichment activities. Citizen Exchanges constitute a range of professional, youth, sports and cultural exchange programs designed to promote priority U.S. interests around the world by developing mutual understanding of key issues and promoting long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries. Programs are designed to promote good governance, civil society and civic responsibility, public health, conflict prevention and management, women’s empowerment, trade, environmental awareness and responsibility, leadership, arts management, cultural diversity and heritage, sports education, and educational reform, as well as other topics through people-to-people exchanges. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement for further information.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: As stated in Grants.gov announcement.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Guidance 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F Audit Requirements, a nonfederal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific-audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. The Recipient must comply with the OMB audit requirements. For all DOS awards, regardless of business type, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in OMB audit requirements.. Please refer to the U.S. Department of State's Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm) for additional guidance.
Records
The Recipients must maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to an award for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. Please refer to the U.S. Department of State's Standard Terms and Conditions for awards (https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm) for additional guidance.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is awarded/released through the Department's central financial management database.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Matt McMahon
U.S. Department of State,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Office of Citizen Exchanges,
2200 C Street, NW
SA-05, Rm. 3B16
Washington, DC 20037 US
mcmahonmp@state.gov
Phone: (202) 632-6766
Website Address
http://eca.state.gov/about-bureau-0/organizational-structure/office-citizen-exchanges
Financial Information
Account Identification
19-0209-0-1-154
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$138,812,786.00; FY 23 est $138,812,786.00; FY 24 est $138,812,786.00; FY 21$127,556,630.00; FY 20$132,427,754.00; FY 19$132,427,754.00; FY 18$129,495,910.00; FY 17$120,595,927.00; FY 16$118,404,551.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$65,000 to $17,980,767.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements. In addition, organizations should be familiar with OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. For a copy of the OMB Guidance cited, please contact the U.S. Government Publishing Office or download from www.ecfr.gov website.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



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