Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0007926
The FY 2021 BridgeUSA Leadership Development Program is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity that supports a national-level leadership enrichment initiative for current BridgeUSA (J-1) exchange visitors. Run through ECA's Private Sector Exchange Directorate (ECA/EC), the program is designed to strengthen leadership skills, civic engagement, and community problem-solving among exchange visitors who are in active SEVIS status and who have at least six months remaining in their exchange program at the time they are selected. The overall goal is to connect the exchange experience in the United States to practical, locally relevant leadership action in participants' home communities, while also reinforcing understanding of U.S. democratic institutions, values, and civic traditions.
Under this opportunity, one award recipient will be selected to organize and implement approximately ten in-person leadership development seminars in Washington, DC, reaching a combined total of about 150 to 200 exchange visitors. Each seminar is structured as a multi-day experience that blends cultural exposure, leadership training, and applied project development. Seminars begin with a one-day cultural immersion component that includes visits to national monuments and historically significant sites in Washington, DC. This tour is not meant to be sightseeing alone; it is intended to spark reflection on American history, democratic institutions, and leadership values, and to create a shared reference point for the leadership themes that follow.
After the immersion day, participants take part in three days of facilitated leadership training built around a leadership theme and featuring engagement with U.S. Department of State officials. The training is meant to be curriculum-driven and interactive, with an emphasis on collaboration, peer learning, and translating concepts into actionable plans. The final day of each seminar shifts from learning to application: participants present leadership action plans they have developed to address challenges they have identified in their home communities. These presentations are positioned as a capstone activity, demonstrating how the participants will apply the leadership tools, networks, and perspectives gained during the training portion of the seminar.
A key feature of the program is the follow-on component once participants leave Washington. After the U.S.-based seminar ends, exchange visitors may compete for small grants that help them implement their action plans back home. This adds a practical implementation pathway and creates a bridge between short-term training and longer-term community impact. Alongside these grants, the program is expected to build durable participant connections through a "BridgeUSA Leadership Network" and robust alumni engagement activities. In practice, this means the recipient organization is not only running events, but also cultivating a structured community of alumni for ongoing collaboration, support, and continued leadership development.
Administratively, this opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, indicating that the Department of State anticipates substantial involvement in the program's execution, coordination, or oversight rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The funding opportunity number is SFOP0007926 and the CFDA number is 19.451. The award ceiling is $500,000, with one expected award. Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, as well as public and private institutions of higher education and other eligible entities as further described in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted on April 7, 2021, with an original application deadline of June 4, 2021.
In short, the grant supports an organization to deliver a Washington, DC-based leadership seminar series for current BridgeUSA exchange visitors, combining cultural and civic learning, structured leadership training, and participant-designed community action plans, followed by alumni networking and potential small-grant support to turn those plans into real projects in participants' home communities.Apply for SFOP0007926
- The Department of State, Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 BridgeUSA Leadership Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.451.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 07, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 04, 2021. (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 $500,000.00 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2021 BridgeUSA Leadership Development Program (SFOP0007926) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2021 BridgeUSA Leadership Development Program?
It is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to support a national-level leadership enrichment initiative for current BridgeUSA (J-1) exchange visitors. The program is run through ECA's Private Sector Exchange Directorate (ECA/EC) and is intended to strengthen leadership skills, civic engagement, and community problem-solving.
2) What is the main purpose or goal of this grant opportunity?
The overall goal is to connect participants' exchange experience in the United States to practical, locally relevant leadership action in their home communities, while reinforcing understanding of U.S. democratic institutions, values, and civic traditions.
3) Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), through ECA's Private Sector Exchange Directorate (ECA/EC).
4) What type of award is being offered?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State anticipates substantial involvement in the program's execution, coordination, and/or oversight.
5) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0007926 and the CFDA number is 19.451.
6) How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $500,000.
7) How many awards are expected?
One award is expected under this opportunity.
8) Who can apply (eligibility)?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, as well as public and private institutions of higher education and other eligible entities as further described in the full announcement.
9) Who are the participants this program is intended to serve?
The initiative is designed for current BridgeUSA (J-1) exchange visitors.
10) Are there participant eligibility requirements related to SEVIS status or time remaining in the exchange program?
Yes. Participants must be in active SEVIS status and must have at least six months remaining in their exchange program at the time they are selected.
11) What is the core program model being supported?
The grant supports an organization to organize and implement approximately ten in-person leadership development seminars in Washington, DC. The seminars combine cultural exposure, leadership training, and applied project development, culminating in participant action plan presentations and followed by alumni engagement and potential small-grant support for implementation in home communities.
12) Where will the seminars take place?
The seminars are in-person and take place in Washington, DC.
13) How many seminars are expected to be delivered?
Approximately ten seminars are expected.
14) About how many exchange visitors will be reached in total?
The seminar series is expected to reach a combined total of about 150 to 200 exchange visitors.
15) How long is each seminar and what is the structure?
Each seminar is described as a multi-day experience with: (1) a one-day cultural immersion component; (2) three days of facilitated, curriculum-driven leadership training; and (3) a final day focused on application, where participants present leadership action plans.
16) What happens during the cultural immersion day?
Participants visit national monuments and historically significant sites in Washington, DC. The immersion is intended to prompt reflection on American history, democratic institutions, and leadership values and to create a shared reference point for the leadership themes that follow.
17) Is the cultural immersion day just sightseeing?
No. The tour is explicitly not meant to be sightseeing alone; it is designed to spark reflection on U.S. history and civic traditions and connect to the leadership content of the seminar.
18) What happens during the leadership training portion?
After the immersion day, participants complete three days of facilitated leadership training built around a leadership theme and featuring engagement with U.S. Department of State officials. The training is intended to be interactive and curriculum-driven, emphasizing collaboration, peer learning, and translating concepts into actionable plans.
19) Does the program include engagement with U.S. Department of State officials?
Yes. The training portion includes engagement with U.S. Department of State officials.
20) What is the capstone activity of each seminar?
The final day shifts from learning to application: participants present leadership action plans they developed to address challenges identified in their home communities. These presentations serve as a capstone demonstrating how participants will apply tools, networks, and perspectives gained during the seminar.
21) What happens after participants leave Washington, DC?
The program includes a follow-on component. After the U.S.-based seminar ends, exchange visitors may compete for small grants to help implement their action plans back home.
22) Are small grants guaranteed for all participants?
No. The description states that exchange visitors may compete for small grants, indicating a competitive process rather than automatic funding for every participant.
23) What is the purpose of the follow-on small grants?
The small grants provide a practical pathway to implement the action plans in participants' home communities, helping bridge short-term training to longer-term community impact.
24) What is the BridgeUSA Leadership Network?
It is an expected program feature intended to build durable connections among participants, supported by robust alumni engagement activities for ongoing collaboration, support, and continued leadership development.
25) What is expected of the award recipient organization beyond running seminars?
In addition to organizing and implementing the Washington, DC-based seminar series, the recipient is expected to cultivate a structured community of alumni through the BridgeUSA Leadership Network and alumni engagement activities, and to administer a follow-on small-grants competition for implementing action plans in home communities.
26) When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 7, 2021.
27) What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was June 4, 2021.
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