Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Embassy Windhoek is offering the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund to support projects led by alumni of U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs. The grant is intended to strengthen alumni engagement, advance U.S. policy goals, and require projects to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence through the Freedom 250 campaign. Eligible applications must come from teams of at least two alumni, with U.S. citizen alumni allowed to participate as team members but not as primary applicants, and the application package calls for specific forms, a detailed proposal, budget justification, attachments, a UEI, and active SAM.gov registration. Proposals are due May 20, 2026, and the opportunity provides awards from $5,000 to $35,000, with $70,000 total program funding and an expected two awards.
Eligible Applicants
• Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or -sponsored 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.• Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.• Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries.• Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of USG 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.• All 2026 AEIF projects must celebrate and promote Freedom 250.