Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018281
The FY 2026 Tech Youth Program is a new U.S.-based youth exchange funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges. The program is designed as an intensive three-week exchange that brings together high school students from the United States and select countries overseas to build practical skills in technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The overall aim is to prepare young innovators to succeed in emerging industries while supporting broader U.S. priorities related to maintaining a competitive technological edge internationally.
The exchange is meant to be highly experiential rather than purely classroom-based. Participants are expected to learn through a mix of intensive coursework and hands-on training, along with direct exposure to how technology and innovation operate in real workplaces. Core activities described in the announcement include job shadowing, site visits to U.S. companies, and meetings with industry leaders, in addition to structured training that develops technical competencies alongside leadership and entrepreneurial thinking. The program also explicitly ties participant learning to real-world economic and business challenges, especially through required capstone projects.
The program is planned to support about 96 total participants. This includes approximately 72 English-speaking international high school students and about 24 U.S. high school students. The grant covers more than just the three weeks in the United States: applicants must propose a full program model that includes pre-exchange activities, the three-week U.S.-based exchange itself (scheduled for summer 2027), and post-exchange alumni engagement. A key deliverable is the implementation of required capstone projects, which are intended to extend the impact beyond the exchange period and push participants to apply what they learned to practical problems.
From a funding and administration standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically means the federal agency expects substantial involvement during implementation (for example, coordination, approvals, and ongoing collaboration rather than a hands-off grant). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.415 and is being competed as a single award. The expected number of awards is 1, with an award ceiling of $1,100,000, so the selected implementer would be responsible for delivering the full program at scale.
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The listing also includes an "Others" category, indicating additional applicant types may be allowable as described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018281. The opportunity was created on 2026-05-07, and the original closing date for applications is 2026-07-06.
In practical terms, a competitive proposal would need to show the applicant can recruit and support U.S. and international high school participants, design and deliver a tight three-week U.S. program with credible industry engagement, and sustain outcomes through alumni programming and capstone project execution. Because the exchange is explicitly positioned as supporting U.S. technological competitiveness, proposals will likely be expected to demonstrate strong alignment with high-impact technology and innovation themes, meaningful partnerships with U.S. companies and leaders, and a clear plan for measurable skills development and post-program follow-through.Apply for DFOP0018281
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Tech Youth Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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FY 2026 Tech Youth Program Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Tech Youth Program?
The FY 2026 Tech Youth Program is a new, U.S.-based youth exchange funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges. It is designed as an intensive three-week exchange focused on building practical skills in technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship for high school students from the United States and select countries overseas.
What is the main goal of the program?
The program aims to prepare young innovators to succeed in emerging industries while supporting broader U.S. priorities related to maintaining a competitive technological edge internationally.
Is the exchange mostly classroom-based or hands-on?
The exchange is intended to be highly experiential rather than purely classroom-based. Participant learning is expected to come from a mix of intensive coursework, hands-on training, and direct exposure to technology and innovation in real workplaces.
What types of activities are expected during the program?
Core activities described include job shadowing, site visits to U.S. companies, meetings with industry leaders, and structured training that develops technical competencies along with leadership and entrepreneurial thinking.
Are participants required to complete a capstone project?
Yes. Capstone projects are a required element of the program and are intended to connect participant learning to real-world economic and business challenges. They are also meant to extend the impact beyond the three-week exchange period.
How many participants is the program expected to support?
The program is planned to support about 96 total participants.
How many international and U.S. students are expected?
The program anticipates approximately 72 English-speaking international high school students and about 24 U.S. high school students.
When is the U.S.-based exchange expected to take place?
The three-week U.S.-based exchange is scheduled for summer 2027.
Does the grant cover only the three-week exchange?
No. Applicants must propose a full program model that includes pre-exchange activities, the three-week U.S.-based exchange itself, and post-exchange alumni engagement.
What is expected in post-exchange programming?
The program model must include post-exchange alumni engagement. The announcement also emphasizes implementing required capstone projects to support longer-term outcomes beyond the exchange.
What type of federal award is being offered?
This opportunity is a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during implementation, such as coordination, approvals, and ongoing collaboration, rather than a more hands-off grant relationship.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.415.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The expected number of awards is 1, meaning this competition is anticipated to result in a single award to one implementer.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,100,000.
Is this being competed as a single award?
Yes. The opportunity is being competed as a single award, and the selected implementer would be responsible for delivering the full program at scale.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The listing also includes an "Others" category, indicating additional applicant types may be allowable as described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018281.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-05-07.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is 2026-07-06.
What are applicants expected to propose and implement?
Applicants are expected to propose a complete program model that can recruit and support both U.S. and international high school participants, design and deliver a tight three-week U.S. program with credible industry engagement, and sustain outcomes through alumni programming and capstone project execution.
What is meant by "credible industry engagement" in this announcement?
The announcement describes industry engagement through elements such as site visits to U.S. companies and meetings with industry leaders, along with workplace exposure like job shadowing.
What themes should a competitive proposal emphasize?
Based on the announcement, proposals will likely need to align with high-impact technology and innovation themes, demonstrate meaningful partnerships with U.S. companies and leaders, and present a clear plan for measurable skills development and post-program follow-through.
How does the program connect to broader U.S. priorities?
The exchange is explicitly positioned as supporting U.S. technological competitiveness and the goal of maintaining a competitive technological edge internationally.
What makes the program "intensive"?
It is structured as a focused three-week exchange that combines intensive coursework, hands-on training, and direct exposure to real workplaces and industry leaders, plus required capstone projects and extended programming before and after the exchange.
Are the international participants required to speak English?
Yes. The planned participant group includes approximately 72 English-speaking international high school students.
What is the overall scale of the implementer's responsibility?
Because the competition is expected to result in a single award, the selected implementer would be responsible for delivering the full program model for roughly 96 participants, covering pre-exchange activities, the three-week U.S. exchange, and post-exchange alumni and capstone engagement.
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