FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs for Scholars) is a prestigious academic exchange initiative led by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Designed to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other nations, the program engages mid-career foreign university faculty, scholars, and professionals through intensive academic residencies. Administered under the authority of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act), the program aims to bolster international teaching and research capacities related to U.S. society, values, and institutions. In its 2026 cycle, ECA invites proposals from eligible U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for the administration and implementation of three SUSIs for Scholars programs. Each of the three institutes will focus on a critical and globally relevant theme: 1) Critical Minerals, 2) Digital Transformation, and 3) Economics and Business. These programs will take place in the summer of 2027 and are structured to include approximately four weeks of academic residency at a U.S. college or university, followed by a one-week academic field experience in a region different from the residency location. Each institute will host around 18 participants, totaling 54 scholars for the cycle. The overarching goal is to equip participants with nuanced insights into American leadership, innovation, and governance while fostering transnational scholarly networks. The awarded organization, to be selected via this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), will receive approximately $1,500,000 in FY 2026 funds. The period of performance is expected to span 18 to 24 months. The cooperative agreement model allows for substantial ECA involvement, including determining eligible countries and selecting participants. While one organization may implement one SUSI directly, it must subaward the remaining two, as no single institution may implement more than one SUSI in a given fiscal year. Proposals may detail administration of all three SUSIs or a combination of implementation and subaward management. Proposals must also demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges, as awards over $130,000 require this qualification. Applications are due no later than May 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Required components include the SF-424 form, executive summary, narrative proposal, SF-424A budget, a detailed line-item budget, and a budget narrative. Submissions must be made via Grants.gov. Organizations must be registered in SAM.gov and MyGrants and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The anticipated award notification date is June 30, 2026. ECA intends to renew the cooperative agreement for up to two additional years, pending performance and funding availability. Evaluation criteria include the quality and feasibility of the program design, institutional capability and track record, clarity of follow-on engagement plans, the strength of the performance monitoring and evaluation framework, and overall cost-effectiveness. All proposals must incorporate performance indicators from ECA’s Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework. The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to transition programming to virtual formats if needed and should consider aligning activities with the Semiquincentennial celebration ("Freedom 250") if applicable. For further questions regarding the solicitation, interested applicants may contact Tania Jazynka at the U.S. Department of State, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-718-8378. The full solicitation is available through Grants.gov or the ECA website, and all application materials must be prepared in accordance with the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) and the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.

Clearly articulate institutional capacity and include detailed performance monitoring and follow-up engagement plans.