Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia’s Public Diplomacy Section is offering the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund to support projects that strengthen U.S.-Saudi ties and advance shared foreign policy interests. The grant is intended for project teams of at least two U.S. government-funded exchange alumni to carry out alumni-led activities in priority areas such as cultural heritage, leadership and alumni empowerment, education, sports and cultural initiatives, data-driven projects, and creative economy or technology themes. Projects must primarily take place in Saudi Arabia, be completed within 12 months, and include at least one team leader who is a Saudi citizen or resident; applications from organizations are not eligible as the submitting applicant, though organizations may participate as partners. Awards range from $5,000 to $35,000, with applications due May 7, 2026, and applicants must use the required federal forms and have a UEI and active SAM.gov registration if applicable.
Eligible Applicants
• Applicants must be alumni of a U. S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program.• 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 member in a project.• Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries, but at least one of the team leaders must be a Saudi citizen or resident in Saudi Arabia.• The majority of the activities funded by this grant must take place in Saudi Arabia.• 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.