Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009567
The FY 2023 U.S. Speaker Program grant opportunity is an open competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), to select one organization to provide administrative and programmatic support for the Office of the U.S. Speaker Program. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning ECA will remain actively involved in guiding and overseeing key aspects of implementation rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement. The selected partner would help ECA operate a large, global exchange platform that connects U.S. citizen experts with overseas audiences through embassy and consulate programming, supporting public diplomacy goals and long-term relationship building.
At its core, the U.S. Speaker Program is designed to recruit and deploy dynamic American professionals who can engage foreign publics and institutions through short-term speaking and training engagements, either in person or virtually. The program has a long history, operating for more than four decades, and emphasizes sustained relationship-building between U.S. experts and foreign counterparts. Speakers must be U.S. citizens, and the program prioritizes diversity in professional backgrounds and perspectives. Engagements are intended to be practical and interactive, helping create lasting linkages that can contribute to educational and economic opportunities both in the United States and abroad.
The scope is substantial. ECA anticipates supporting roughly 700 programs each year across all world regions. Activities can take the form of traveling programs, typically lasting from three days up to three weeks, as well as virtual programs that may be one-time events or part of a longer series. Common formats include lectures, workshops, seminars, and structured training series. The implementing organization would be expected to manage the operational backbone that makes these engagements possible, which commonly includes speaker recruitment and vetting, coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates, logistics and scheduling, program design support, and ensuring that engagements align with ECA priorities and public diplomacy standards.
Eligibility is broad but specific. Applicants may include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (including nonprofits other than higher education institutions). The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 19.440. The funding opportunity number is SFOP0009567, and it is categorized as discretionary funding under a cooperative agreement instrument. The application window opened March 24, 2023, with an original closing date of May 22, 2023.
Funding is structured as a single award. ECA expects to make one cooperative agreement with an award ceiling of $3,809,000. Because only one award is anticipated, the competition is essentially to choose a single prime implementer that will serve as ECA's operational partner for the U.S. Speaker Program. A notable submission rule applies: only one proposal per applicant organization will be reviewed. If multiple submissions from the same applicant appear in Grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission that is closest in time to the NOFO deadline, and that submission becomes the sole proposal reviewed from that organization.
In practical terms, this opportunity is best understood as a large-scale program management role supporting a flagship public diplomacy mechanism. The awardee would help ECA deliver hundreds of high-visibility engagements annually by organizing expert exchanges that are responsive to embassy needs, adaptable to virtual and in-person delivery, and designed to build long-term professional and institutional connections between Americans and foreign audiences.Apply for SFOP0009567
- 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 2023 U.S. Speaker Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.440.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 24, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2023. (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 $3,809,000.00 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 2023 U.S. Speaker Program (ECA) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY 2023 U.S. Speaker Program grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It is an open competition to select one organization to provide administrative and programmatic support for the Office of the U.S. Speaker Program.
What is the U.S. Speaker Program?
The U.S. Speaker Program is a long-running exchange platform that connects U.S. citizen experts with overseas audiences through U.S. embassy and consulate programming. It supports U.S. public diplomacy goals and focuses on sustained relationship-building between U.S. experts and foreign counterparts.
How long has the U.S. Speaker Program operated?
The program has operated for more than four decades.
Who is the federal sponsor?
The sponsor is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
What type of award will be made?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This means ECA will remain actively involved in guiding and overseeing key aspects of implementation, rather than issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement.
How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA expects to make a single award. The competition is to select one prime implementer to serve as ECA's operational partner for the U.S. Speaker Program.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $3,809,000.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 19.440.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0009567.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under a cooperative agreement instrument.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (including nonprofits other than higher education institutions).
What is the application timeline?
The application window opened on March 24, 2023. The original closing date was May 22, 2023.
What will the selected organization be responsible for?
The selected partner would provide the administrative and programmatic support needed to operate a large, global exchange platform. This includes running the operational backbone that enables embassy and consulate speaker engagements worldwide while aligning activities with ECA priorities and public diplomacy standards.
What kinds of activities does the U.S. Speaker Program support?
Activities include short-term speaking and training engagements delivered in person or virtually. Common formats include lectures, workshops, seminars, and structured training series.
How many programs per year does ECA anticipate supporting through this platform?
ECA anticipates supporting roughly 700 programs each year across all world regions.
How long are typical in-person (traveling) programs?
Traveling programs typically last from three days up to three weeks.
What do virtual programs look like?
Virtual programs may be one-time events or part of a longer series.
Who can serve as a speaker?
Speakers must be U.S. citizens. The program prioritizes diversity in professional backgrounds and perspectives and seeks dynamic American professionals who can engage foreign publics and institutions.
What is the program trying to achieve through these engagements?
The program aims to help U.S. embassies and consulates engage overseas audiences in practical, interactive ways and to build long-term professional and institutional connections. The stated emphasis is on sustained relationship-building and linkages that can contribute to educational and economic opportunities in the United States and abroad.
What kinds of operational tasks are commonly required to support these engagements?
Common operational responsibilities include speaker recruitment and vetting, coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates, logistics and scheduling, program design support, and ensuring engagements align with ECA priorities and public diplomacy standards.
Does the opportunity involve work across multiple regions?
Yes. The platform is described as global and ECA anticipates programs across all world regions.
What does "only one proposal per applicant organization will be reviewed" mean?
It means an applicant organization may submit applications, but ECA will review only one proposal from that organization. If multiple submissions from the same applicant appear in Grants.gov, ECA will consider only the submission that is closest in time to the NOFO deadline, and that submission becomes the sole proposal reviewed for that organization.
What is the overall purpose of selecting a single implementing partner?
The goal is to choose one organization to serve as ECA's operational partner in delivering hundreds of high-visibility engagements annually, supporting embassy needs, and ensuring the program is adaptable to both virtual and in-person delivery while building long-term relationships between Americans and foreign audiences.
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