Closed · DFOP0018219 · CFDA 19.415 · Discretionary
FY 2026 Future Leaders Exchange Global (FLEX Global)
Federal grant opportunity posted by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs, cataloged on Grants.gov.
- $400K-$22M
- Award range
- Closed
- Status
- June 29, 2026
- Close date
- 11
- Expected awards
The verdict
FY 2026 Future Leaders Exchange Global (FLEX Global) is a closed discretionary listing from Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs that offered $400,000 -- $22,000,000 across 11 expected awards. Future funding cycles may be published under the same CFDA number.
- $400K-$22M
- award range
- Closed
- application status
- 11
- expected awards
- 19.415
- CFDA program
Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - FY 2026 Future Leaders Exchange Global (FLEX Global) - is cataloged under number DFOP0018219 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 April 29, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a cooperative agreement.
Award economics. The award range on file is $400,000 -- $22,000,000. It expects to issue 11 awards. 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 June 29, 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
$400,000 -- $22,000,000
Close Date
June 29, 2026
Posted
April 29, 2026
Expected Awards
11
Instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Description
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invite proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 FLEX Global high school exchange program. Applicants may apply for one or both of the following program components: · Administrative Component: Manages overseas operations, recruitment and selection of inbound and outbound participants, travel, host family recruitment and placement for outbound participants (e.g., American students studying abroad), database and website management for all inbound and outbound participants, alumni activities for all inbound and outbound participants, program-wide events, and overall program coordination. · Placement Component: Manages host family and school placement of inbound foreign participants in the U.S., regional “American Excellence” enhancement type activities, and ongoing monitoring and support. FLEX Global builds on the 34-year legacy of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program and the 24-year legacy of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, expanding participation beyond specific world regions. The program advances U.S. interests by cultivating a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. culture and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, civic engagement, and leadership. Key Activities: · Up to 1,200 foreign high school participants will study in the U.S. for an academic year. · Up to 150 American high school participants will study abroad for an academic year. As noted above, this element of the program will be managed entirely through the Administrative Component. Organizations applying solely for the Placement Component should not include any costs related to this activity. · All participants live with host families, attend high school, and engage in leadership and American Excellence enhancement activities. ECA expects to issue one award for the Administrative Component and six to ten awards for the Placement Component. Eligible organizations may apply for one or both components but must submit a separate proposal for each component. The POGI document outlines the activities, roles, and responsibilities of the FLEX Global Administrative Component and Placement Component recipients. Please see the full announcement for additional information.
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.
Agency Contact
Amy Schulz
Key Dates
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 | the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov |