2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Mission to Georgia’s Public Diplomacy Section is offering the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund to support exchange alumni in designing and carrying out projects that advance U.S. policy objectives, benefit local communities, and celebrate Freedom 250. The program is aimed at alumni-led initiatives that convene alumni from different exchange programs, strengthen ties between alumni and the U.S. government, or build alumni leadership capacity for community projects. Applicants must be alumni of U.S.-government funded or sponsored exchange programs, apply as teams of at least two alumni, and follow detailed budget rules with itemized justifications and limits on certain costs such as speaker fees, project management fees, and travel. The opportunity has no cost-sharing requirement, offers awards from $5,000 to $35,000, and is expected to fund two awards from a total of $70,000, with applications due April 18, 2026; questions may be directed to TbilisiGrants@state.gov.
Eligible Applicants
The following individuals and/or organizations are eligible to apply: • Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded exchange program (https://alumni.state.gov/list-exchange-programs ) or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (https://j1visa.state.gov/ ). • Projects teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni. • U.S. citizen alumni may be included on alumni teams; however, the team must have at least two non-U.S. citizen exchange program alumni. U.S. citizen alumni cannot be team leads on projects. • Alumni teams may be composed of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries. • Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. Not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the organization but can serve as partners for implementing project activities. · Alumni Associations. Applications from Alumni Associations will need to specify a team lead.