FY 2025 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The FY25 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a federal funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). This grant is managed through the Office of Global Educational Programs and aims to support American undergraduate students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. The program is grounded in the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, which prioritizes equipping students from diverse backgrounds with global competencies to strengthen U.S. national security and economic prosperity. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), amended under cooperative agreement number DFOP0017192, offers approximately $16,826,696 in funding with a performance period of 36 months. ECA anticipates issuing one award under this opportunity. The cooperative agreement provides funds for the administration of the Gilman Program, including related programs such as the Gilman-McCain Scholarship and Critical Need Language Awards. These scholarships help undergraduate students with high financial need participate in credit-bearing academic studies or internships overseas, supporting their development in sectors critical to U.S. interests, including business, technology, security, law, and energy. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and U.S. public and private nonprofit educational institutions. Applicants must have at least four years of experience managing international exchange programs to qualify for the full funding level. Organizations without this experience are capped at $130,000 in funding. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. Only one application per organization will be reviewed. The submission must include a full proposal package including SF-424 forms, narrative, budget, and other required documentation. Applications are due by June 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via Grants.gov. Late submissions will be rejected automatically. The anticipated award date is August 17, 2025. The program expects applicants to submit extensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans, aligned with the Department of State’s MODE Framework, and to report on program progress through the MyGrants system. A Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) is recommended to outline how objectives will be met using defined indicators. Evaluation criteria for the award include the quality of the program idea, detailed program planning, institutional capacity, follow-on activities, and a cost-effective budget. Questions can be directed to Theresa Gagnon at GagnonTF@state.gov or (202) 632-6339. For technical support with Grants.gov, applicants can contact the Grants.gov Support Center. Full proposal guidelines and submission instructions are outlined in the solicitation package available online.

Begin UEI and SAM.gov registration early due to delays Ensure all eligibility and format requirements are met to avoid technical disqualification Emphasize innovative outreach, evaluation planning, and institutional capacity