FY 2025 International Sports Programming Initiative

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), through its Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division (ECA/PE/C/SD), is announcing an open competition for the FY 2025 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI), under the funding opportunity number DFOP0017393. This program is being offered under a cooperative agreement model, with an anticipated single award of approximately $1,400,000. The period of performance is expected to range between 12 and 36 months, with an anticipated award date of September 30, 2025. The NOFO has been amended to correct a typographical error in the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document. Applications are due by August 11, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. ISPI is a sports diplomacy initiative that fosters cross-cultural understanding and supports U.S. foreign policy objectives through people-to-people exchanges centered on sports. The program promotes mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations while also supporting broader diplomatic initiatives such as America250, the FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. Through coaching, leadership training, and cultural exchange, the program supports youth development professionals, coaches, and sports administrators globally and in the United States. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and U.S. public and private nonprofit educational institutions, all of which must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Applicants must also have a minimum of four years’ experience conducting international exchange programs to be considered for this funding, given the scale of the proposed award. Only one proposal will be reviewed per applicant, defined by EIN and legal name, and any additional submissions will be disqualified based on timing of receipt. The scope of work involves implementing up to 14 sports exchanges of at least 10 days each, including travel, and engaging approximately 45 international and 95 U.S.-based participants. Applicants will directly manage a portion of these exchanges while subcontracting at least two programs to eligible subaward recipients. These subrecipients must be selected through a transparent solicitation process post-award, and ECA retains the right to approve or reject all subawardees. Program implementation should reflect cost-effectiveness, programmatic innovation, and adherence to ECA’s Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework, which includes specific performance indicators and reporting requirements via the MyGrants RPM module. Allowable expenditures under this grant include international and domestic travel, interpretation and translation services, per diem allowances, cultural and book stipends for participants, consultant fees, venue rentals, materials and equipment purchases (excluding furniture), health benefits, and reasonable accommodations for participants. Organizations may also include up to $50,000 in small grants to support participant-led projects. While there is no required cost-sharing amount, ECA encourages applicants to contribute additional support in the form of in-kind or direct funding. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and must include a completed SF-424, executive summary, proposal narrative, SF-424A budget form, detailed line-item budget, and budget narrative. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Technical support for Grants.gov and SAM.gov registration is available through designated help desks. For inquiries about the grant, applicants should contact Nicholas Hirsch at HirschNW@state.gov. Compliance with all applicable federal regulations, including anti-discrimination laws and requirements for institutions receiving foreign funding, is mandatory. Successful applicants will be notified following the completion of the competitive review and grants panel process, and all awards will be contingent on Congressional appropriations.