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Applications open March 5, 2026. Deadline: May 5, 2026. Implementation: July-December 2026. Virtual showcase: January 2027.
Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) is sponsored by U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) is a small grants competition funded by the U. S.
Department of State through IREX, offering up to $10,000 to alumni of U. S. Government exchange programs.
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Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) Small Grants Program | IREX Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) Small Grants Program Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) Small Grants Program Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) Small Grants Program The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF), a component of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program , is a small‑grants competition for U.S. citizen alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs.
This funding opportunity aims to amplify the U.S. Government’s return on investment in exchange programs by encouraging alumni to actively address shared global challenges at home and abroad.
Through competitively awarded grants of up to $10,000, exchange alumni implement policy‑focused projects in the United States and around the world, strengthening the impact of U.S. Government exchange programming while expanding their networks, showcasing their expertise, and contributing to the American economy.
Teams of two or more U.S. Government exchange alumni will collaborate to design and implement a project that applies the knowledge and skills gained on their exchange program to contribute to long lasting solutions, strengthen local U.S. communities, and spread American excellence to communities around the world. Selected projects will be implemented over a six-month period.
During the implementation period, teams will complete project management training coursework, designed to enhance project delivery and outcomes, and complete regular progress check-ins with IREX. Following the implementation period, teams will participate in the culminating Virtual Showcase to demonstrate the collective impact of all completed projects.
All project proposals must address a local or global challenge in one of the following areas: Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday and global connections through arts, sports, and culture Advancing free speech and expression through arts, media, and technology Fostering economic prosperity through English language, innovation, and partnerships Strengthening alumni networks and partnerships in support of a safer and stronger America CDAF applications must include all of the following components.
Incomplete applications at the submission deadline will be considered ineligible. All materials must be written in English. Completed Application Form Professional resumes of Exchange Alumni team members Letter of intent from partnering organization (if applicable) To be eligible for CDAF selection and funding, applications must meet all eligibility requirements: Projects must be related to one of the four current CDAF themes.
Projects must be submitted by teams of two or more alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs. To facilitate collaboration among alumni, each team must have two team leaders. The primary team leader must be a U.S. citizen.
The second team leader may be either a U.S. or international citizen. All team members must be alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs. All team members must be alumni in good standing.
All team members must be 18 years of age or older. U.S. Department of State and IREX employees and their immediate family members are not eligible.
Eligible applications will be reviewed based on the following selection criteria: Project methodology and feasibility of work plan Measurability of project goals, objectives, and activities Clear alignment of project activities with at least one of the four core thematic areas Applicants’ qualifications to implement the project Evidence of joint engagement by the team leaders in project design and implementation Reasonableness of project budget and value for cost Potential for impact beyond the project implementation If the project is conducted outside of the United States, its activities must demonstrate a clear link to the alumni ’ s exchange program and be carried out in a country where the team leads have substantial prior experience.
March 5, 2026 : Application opens May 5, 2026 : Application closes June 2026: Project selections announced July – December 2026: Project implementation January 2027: Virtual CDAF Showcase Register for an upcoming CDAF webinar! Please join us for a Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund information session to learn more about this year's project themes and application process.
The U.S. Exchange Alumni Program will also host virtual networking sessions to support prospective applicants in identifying their project partner(s). Watch a recording of the CDAF Application Information Session h ere . Interested in finding a CDAF partner?
Complete the networking form ! Please register for each session with the links below: CDAF Application Information Session: April 9, 2026 CDAF Application Virtual Office Hours : April 28, 2026 For questions about the CDAF small grants program, please email CDAF@irex. org .
The U.S. Exchange Alumni Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX .
Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
Describe your proposed project and how it addresses one of the four thematic areas
Provide a detailed work plan for the six-month implementation period
Detail your project budget
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Teams of two or more U. S. Government exchange program alumni. Primary team leader must be a U. S. citizen. Secondary team leader may be U. S. or international citizen. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $10,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The most recent published deadline was May 5, 2026, which has passed. This is an annual program, so a new cycle should follow. Check the funder's website for the next application window.
Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) is funded by U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
The solicitation lists 5 required documents: completed application form, work plan, budget, professional resumes, and letter of intent from partnering organization. Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V) announces an open competition for up to four cooperative agreements to support the staff expenses and overhead costs of the FY 2026 International Visitor Leadership Program’s (IVLP) National Program Agencies (NPAs). Launched in 1940, the IVLP is the Department of State’s foundational professional exchange program. The IVLP advances U.S. national security priorities and builds long-term relationships between Americans and international leaders in government, business, academia, and other fields. Recipients design and implement customized short-term visits to the United States for current and emerging leaders from around the world. These visits support U.S. foreign policy goals and reflect the participants’ professional interests. Eligible recipients will have expertise in foreign policy, experience in professional exchange programming, and the ability to provide tailored projects for participants from all countries. Please see the full NOFO for additional information. Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017385. Assistance Listing: 19.402. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: O. Award Amount: $613K – $1.2M per award.
Tinker Foundation Institutional Grants is a grant from the Tinker Foundation that funds research, advocacy, and capacity-building projects aimed at improving the lives of Latin Americans in the areas of democratic governance and education. Grant amounts typically range from $50,000 to $150,000, supporting activities including applied research, community engagement, measurement and evaluation, and knowledge exchange over periods of up to 36 months. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations or their equivalent with annual budgets of $50,000 or more, operating in Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking Latin American countries. The foundation ran one grantmaking cycle in 2026, with the Letter of Inquiry deadline on January 21, 2026 and full proposals due March 19, 2026 by invitation only. The foundation does not fund lobbying, individuals, tuition, or construction.