FY 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
Posted by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement — FY 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) — is cataloged under number DFOP0017979 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 19.415, posted by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on March 26, 2026 and last updated on March 27, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a cooperative agreement.
Award economics. The award range on file is $10,000,000 -- $10,000,000. It expects to issue 1 award. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.
Deadline and action path. Applications close on May 26, 2026. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully — federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed — it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities.
Award Range
$10,000,000 -- $10,000,000
Close Date
May 26, 2026
Posted
March 26, 2026
Expected Awards
1
Instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Description
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invite proposals for a cooperative agreement to implement the FY 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) high school exchange program, hereafter referred to as the YES program. Participants will be on program from approximately January to June 2027. The program requires the following elements: · Manage overseas operations, recruit and select inbound participants, arrange travel, and oversee database and website management for all inbound participants, as well as coordinate the overall program. · Manage host family and school placements for inbound foreign participants in the United States, organize “American Excellence” enhancement activities, and provide ongoing monitoring and support. Although not required, applicants have the option to also propose a YES Abroad outbound component, recruiting, placing, and monitoring up to 30 American students who will attend high school and live with host families overseas. The YES program advances U.S. interests by cultivating a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. principles and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, civic engagement, and leadership. The program equips American youth participants with language skills and cross-cultural competencies essential for success in international business, diplomacy, and security. By fostering connections among young people from the United States and key countries, the program supports the National Security Strategy’s focus on expanding alliances to secure American interests and counter adversarial influence. Key Activities: Up to 270 foreign high school participants will study in the U.S. for an academic semester. All participants live with host families, attend high school, perform community service, and participate in American Excellence enhancement activities. ECA expects to issue one award. Please see announcement for additional information.
Eligibility
06;12;20;25
Official Listing on Grants.gov
View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.
Agency Contact
Katja David-Fox
Key Dates
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Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.
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| Sources | Public official public datasets |