Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 - Lebanon

The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) is a competitive grant program administered by the Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut under the U.S. Department of State. This funding opportunity is part of a broader global initiative launched in 2011 to support alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs in applying their acquired skills to address community challenges. The program is funded through Fulbright-Hays Educational and Cultural Exchange resources and is designed to strengthen ongoing engagement between the United States and international alumni communities. The primary purpose of the AEIF program is to support alumni-led projects that align with U.S. foreign policy priorities and promote shared interests between the United States and local communities. For the 2026 cycle, all proposed projects must incorporate themes tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States (Freedom 250) and align with at least one of several priority areas, including promoting American excellence, strengthening economic partnerships, supporting freedom of speech, combating corruption, or enhancing U.S. exports. Projects must be public diplomacy in nature and demonstrate measurable community impact, particularly among Lebanese populations. Funding for this opportunity ranges from a minimum of 5000 USD to a maximum of 35000 USD, with a total funding pool of 35000 USD and up to two awards anticipated. Projects must be completed within an 18-month performance period, with start dates between September 1 and September 30, 2026. Allowable costs include essential travel (excluding international travel to/from the U.S.), venue rentals, communications materials, speaker honoraria (capped at 250 USD per day), and reasonable equipment or virtual programming costs. Unallowable costs include construction, salaries, direct social services, fundraising, political activities, and activities occurring within the United States. Eligibility is limited to alumni of U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs. Applications must be submitted by teams of at least two alumni, and while organizations such as nonprofits or universities may serve as partners, they cannot apply as primary applicants. U.S. citizen alumni may participate in teams but cannot serve as applicants. Projects must take place outside the United States, primarily in Lebanon, although alumni residing abroad may apply if their project is implemented locally in Lebanon. The application process requires submission of a detailed proposal form and budget. The proposal must include a project summary, team member information, problem statement, goals and objectives, implementation plan, timeline, beneficiary estimates, partnership details, communication strategy, and monitoring and evaluation plan. Additional required materials include resumes of key personnel and letters of support from partners. Applications must be submitted via email to [email protected] by May 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM Beirut time. Applications are evaluated based on relevance to program themes, clarity and feasibility of the implementation plan, degree of alumni involvement, local partnerships, monitoring and evaluation rigor, communication strategy, and budget justification. Applicants are typically notified within 120 days after the deadline, with unsuccessful applicants informed by June 30, 2026. The program is offered annually, making it a recurring opportunity for eligible alumni networks to engage in future cycles.

Ensure strong alignment with stated U.S. policy priorities and Freedom 250 theme; demonstrate measurable community impact; include clear monitoring and evaluation metrics; provide detailed and realistic budget justification