FY 2025 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program: Overseas Components

The U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY 2025 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program: Overseas Components. This initiative seeks to strengthen U.S. national security and foster global mutual understanding by funding a cooperative agreement aimed at facilitating international youth exchanges. The YES program brings approximately 450 high school students from around 30 countries of strategic interest to the United States to study and engage in community life for an academic year. Simultaneously, the YES Abroad component enables about 60 U.S. high school students to study in select YES countries abroad, supporting cross-cultural exchange and the development of youth leadership and civic engagement. This NOFO funds the overseas administration of both the YES and YES Abroad programs. The selected recipient will manage international participant recruitment, orientation, travel, alumni support, liaison activities with natural parents, and provide direct support for YES Abroad participants, including their host family placements and ongoing monitoring. While YES inbound placements within the U.S. are managed under separate awards, the recipient will be expected to coordinate closely with U.S.-based placement organizations and Department of State representatives, including U.S. embassies. The recipient must also comply with J-1 visa regulations and uphold similar safety and support standards for YES Abroad participants. The total anticipated funding is approximately $11,761,350, covering the 36-month performance period from September 2025 to August 2028. Only one award is expected under this competition. The eligible applicants are U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions with at least four years of experience in international exchange programming. While cost-sharing is not required, it is encouraged. Sub-awards are permitted and even encouraged to strengthen country-specific implementation but must be disclosed in advance with commitment letters. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by August 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Submissions must include the SF-424 forms, executive summary, proposal narrative, detailed budget, and budget narrative. All organizations must be registered in SAM.gov and MyGrants prior to submission. Selection will be based on program design, organizational capacity, cost-effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation plan, and expected multiplier effects. The anticipated award date is September 22, 2025. The grant also outlines specific program milestones, including student outreach beginning in late summer 2025, selection and orientation in early 2026, participant travel in mid-2026, and alumni engagement through summer 2028. A performance monitoring framework using the MODE indicators is required to assess program impact. Regular reporting through the MyGrants RPM module will be mandatory. The program will also require robust alumni engagement strategies, disability accommodations, and compliance with federal regulations related to participant safety and privacy. For further inquiries, applicants are directed to contact Katherine David-Fox at the U.S. Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges, via email at David-FoxKO@state.gov or by phone at 202-679-4754. The full solicitation and related materials can be accessed through Grants.gov or the State Department’s grant opportunities portal. Successful applicants will be expected to comply with all post-award administration, reporting, and programmatic regulations, including the issuance of DS-2019 forms and adherence to visa requirements for international participants.

Coordinate with ECA early; confirm sub-awardees with commitment letters; follow PSI instructions exactly