Closed · DFOP0018007 · CFDA 19.415 · Discretionary

FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program

Federal grant opportunity posted by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs, cataloged on Grants.gov.

$2.6M-$2.6M
Award range
Closed
Status
May 26, 2026
Close date
1
Expected awards

The verdict

FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program is a closed discretionary listing from Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs that offered $2,600,000 -- $2,600,000 across 1 expected award. Future funding cycles may be published under the same CFDA number.

$2.6M-$2.6M
award range
Closed
application status
1
expected award
19.415
CFDA program

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program - is cataloged under number DFOP0018007 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 19.415, posted by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as closed, first posted on March 26, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a cooperative agreement.

Award economics. The award range on file is $2,600,000 -- $2,600,000. 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. This opportunity closed on May 26, 2026. Future funding cycles may be published under the same CFDA number, so monitoring the parent program page is the most reliable way to catch re-announcements. 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. Before acting on the deadline or award figures above, verify them directly on the official Grants.gov listing, amendments can change dates and amounts after this page was last refreshed.

Award Range

$2,600,000 -- $2,600,000

Close Date

May 26, 2026

Posted

March 26, 2026

Expected Awards

1

Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Description

The Office of Sports Diplomacy of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the Sports Envoy Program. This international exchange program uses sports to advance the Administration’s foreign policy priorities and promote American leadership and excellence. The Sports Envoy Program includes countries from all six regions of the world, as determined in consultation with the Department’s regional bureaus. The program is authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act), which aims to increase mutual understanding and strengthen ties between the people of the United States and other nations. The Sports Envoy Program sends current and former American professional athletes and coaches overseas on weeklong programs to promote cross-cultural understanding, engage key communities that are often difficult to reach through traditional approaches, and showcase American excellence and leadership through sport. Sports Envoys lead youth clinics and team building activities, conduct community outreach and media engagements, foster dialogue with government leaders, and meet with other U.S. embassy contacts to advance U.S. foreign policy and America First priorities. ECA funding will support approximately 35 international exchanges for approximately 70 Envoy participants, approximately eight alumni grants, and a technology system created by the applicant. Each Sports Envoy program typically lasts 4-7 days excluding travel, and 7-10 days including travel. Alumni grants will enable participants to deepen the impact of sports diplomacy in the U.S. and/or internationally. Applicants are encouraged to exceed 35 exchanges, 70 Envoy participants, and eight alumni grants should their expertise lead to cost-efficiencies. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Only one proposal per organization will be considered. ECA anticipates that a single award recipient will manage all organizational and administrative responsibilities of the program. Please see announcement for additional details.

Eligibility

Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category codes 06, 12, 20, 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

Erika Mueller Chen

Key Dates

Posted March 26, 2026
Close Date May 26, 2026
Archive Date June 25, 2026
Last Updated March 26, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Sports Envoy Program", offered by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is associated with CFDA program 19.415. The Office of Sports Diplomacy of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the Sports Envoy Program. This international exchange program us...
Is this opportunity still open?
No, this opportunity is closed. It closed on May 26, 2026. Check the parent program page for future funding cycles.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is $2,600,000 -- $2,600,000. Expected number of awards: 1.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

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.

Data sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants Editorial