U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Diplomacy Section, part of the U.S. Mission to Bulgaria, is seeking grant proposals through the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund to support alumni-led projects that strengthen exchange alumni networks and U.S.-Bulgarian cooperation. The program funds initiatives that advance U.S. administration goals and highlight American excellence, core values, and the Freedom250 commemoration, with projects designed around measurable objectives, partnerships, and community impact. Eligible proposals must come from teams of at least two exchange alumni and include at least one Bulgarian resident, and applications will be judged on program quality, applicant capacity, project planning, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Awards range from $5,000 to $35,000, and proposals must be submitted by email to SofiaGrants@state.gov by May 1, 2026, with “AEIF” in the subject line.
Eligible Applicants
● Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program. ● Projects teams must include 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, but at least one of the team members must be a Bulgarian residing in Bulgaria. ● Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. No other organizations are eligible to apply but can serve as partners for implementing project activities. ● Exchange alumni can partner with not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations, think tanks and academic institutions to implement project activities. ● The grant can be issued to individual alumni or the partner organization.