Closed · DFOP0017987 · CFDA 19.415 · Discretionary
FY 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI)
Federal grant opportunity posted by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs, cataloged on Grants.gov.
- $7.9M-$7.9M
- Award range
- Closed
- Status
- June 5, 2026
- Close date
- 1
- Expected awards
The verdict
FY 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) is a closed discretionary listing from Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs that offered $7,875,000 -- $7,875,000 across 1 expected award. Future funding cycles may be published under the same CFDA number. PlainGrants indexes 554 other opportunities from Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
- $7.9M-$7.9M
- award range
- Closed
- application status
- 1
- expected award
- 19.415
- CFDA program
Recently closed NOFO
This listing closed on June 5, 2026. CFDA 19.415 may re-announce under a new opportunity number. Historical award band was $7,875,000 -- $7,875,000.
According to Grants.gov (extract vintage 2026-08-10), this record reflects the officially published listing. See methodology.
Deadline tracker
Application window closed
Closed June 5, 2026
Est. Total Funding
$23,625,000
Expected Awards
1
Instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Description
The Global Leaders Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks proposals for a cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the FY 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program. YLAI advances U.S. economic interests and leadership by fostering business partnerships between emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere and U.S. companies. The program combines in-person and technology-driven engagement, an active alumni network, and ongoing collaboration with U.S. embassies to promote U.S. commercial priorities, create new opportunities for American companies in key markets, and increase public awareness of American business leadership. YLAI directly supports U.S. national security and the Administration’s foreign policy objectives by strengthening commercial ties, expanding U.S. exports, and promoting American values of entrepreneurship, free enterprise, and innovation throughout the Western Hemisphere. The FY 2026 program will bring approximately 250 participants from the Caribbean and Latin America for a five to six-week fellowship, including orientation, tailored U.S. business placements, entrepreneurial training, a closing event, and post-program alumni activities. Approximately 100 U.S. participants will travel overseas to support Fellows’ action plans and develop networks that support American economic growth. Please see the announcement for additional information.
Campus–civic applicant bridge · 4 doors
FY 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiat… bridges educational institutions with civic applicant types (4 doors: Public / state-controlled institutions of higher education; Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than IHEs); Private institutions of higher education; Others (see official listing text)). Expect campus and public/nonprofit operators in the same printed set. The extract does not mark applicant cost-sharing as required. Instrument: Cooperative Agreement. Funding-activity code maps to Other (O). This eligibility-code string dominates the Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs book (508 peers, 92% of 555).
- Code 06
- Public / state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Code 12
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than IHEs)
- Code 20
- Private institutions of higher education
- Code 25
- Others (see official listing text)
Codes are Grants.gov eligibility category values from the extract vintage 2026-08-10. Confirm the full eligibility statement on the official listing or the Grants.gov eligibility reference.
Official Listing on Grants.gov
View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.
Agency Contact
Susannah Wood
More from Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Annual Program Statement for U.S. Presentation at International Architecture Biennales
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FY 2027 Fulbright Scholar Program
FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange
Annual Program Statement for U.S. Presentation at International Architecture Biennales
What to do next
FY 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiat… is closed; use the parent program and agency catalog for the next funding cycle.
- Browse open federal opportunities in the same category when this listing is closed. Open opportunities
- Look up CFDA 19.415 across all indexed listings before you commit to this opportunity alone. Eligibility finder
- Compare award ranges across federal categories before you pick a single CFDA. All categories
Opportunity deadlines and eligibility change on Grants.gov; PlainGrants mirrors the extract and is not the submission system.
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
| Publisher | PlainGrants |
| Sources | the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov |