Preventing Terrorist Recruitment of Youth Online

The Bureau of Counterterrorism within the U.S. Department of State has announced a funding opportunity titled "Preventing Terrorist Recruitment of Youth Online." This initiative, offered under the Assistance Listings number 19.701 — Global Counterterrorism Programs, aims to address the urgent and growing threat of youth radicalization through online platforms. The funding opportunity is offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism and falls under the discretionary grant category. The funder, a federal agency, has prioritized this effort in response to recent alarming trends showing a rise in terrorist-related arrests among youth, particularly in Europe, where teens reportedly comprised up to two-thirds of ISIS-linked arrests in 2024. The presence of children as young as 11 in terrorist plots underscores the urgency of targeted intervention. This grant opportunity seeks innovative proposals that can effectively reduce both the availability and influence of terrorist content online, especially on social media and gaming platforms frequently used by young individuals. The funded program should also equip vulnerable communities with the tools and knowledge needed to detect and prevent terrorist threats emerging in digital spaces. The dual focus of the project is not only on reactive content reduction but also on proactive community-based resilience and threat identification strategies. The total funding available for this opportunity is $1,726,689, with a single award expected to be issued. The award ceiling is set at the full program funding amount of $1,726,689, while the floor is established at $1,000. There is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds, which may encourage broader participation from eligible organizations. Spending under this cooperative agreement should align with the objectives outlined, focusing on counterterrorism capacity building and online safety. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status that are not institutions of higher education. Additionally, Public International Organizations (PIOs) are also eligible to apply. This targeted eligibility framework reflects the nature of the work, which often requires specialized community engagement and international coordination capacities that are common within nonprofit and international entities. The application period for this grant opened on July 9, 2025, and will close on August 7, 2025. There are no pre-application deadlines such as Letters of Intent or RFIs indicated. The application submission is not on a rolling basis, and there is currently no evidence that this opportunity recurs. Applicants must submit their materials via the appropriate government portal by the closing date. As with most federal grant programs, submission requirements include full adherence to the published guidelines and proposal format. For further details or if prospective applicants have trouble accessing the announcement, they are encouraged to contact the grant officer directly at corsonkl@state.gov. Interested parties should review all documentation thoroughly and ensure timely submission to be considered for funding.