Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026

The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) is an annual initiative launched by the U.S. Mission in South Africa through its Public Diplomacy Section, under the U.S. Department of State. The primary objective of AEIF is to support alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs in implementing projects that align with U.S. policy goals and deliver community-level impact. These projects are expected to promote American values such as democracy, freedom of speech, and mutual understanding, while fostering local engagement and long-term partnerships between alumni and their communities. The 2026 round of AEIF targets alumni working collaboratively—requiring at least two alumni from U.S. exchange programs per proposal—and focuses on South Africa as the geographic scope. Proposals may request funding ranging between $5,000 and $35,000, with a maximum of three awards anticipated. The funding source for this opportunity is the FY 2026 Fulbright-Hays public diplomacy funds, and selected projects are expected to begin within 45 days of award notification. Although the exact total funding allocation is unspecified, projects must be completed within a 12-month period. However, there is potential for annual renewal for up to two additional years, contingent on early success, the availability of funding, and approval by the U.S. Mission in South Africa. Eligible applicants must be alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs, and teams must include at least two non-U.S. citizen alumni. U.S. citizen alumni may participate but cannot serve as project leads. Alumni associations are also eligible if a designated team lead is identified. Applications must be submitted in English via a dedicated Google Forms link, and all proposal materials—including the official AEIF 2026 proposal and budget forms—must also be submitted via email to [email protected]. Documents saved as PDFs or uploaded to cloud services will not be accepted. Proposals that do not use the correct format or miss mandatory components will be deemed ineligible. The fund supports specific types of expenses such as local transportation, equipment, virtual tools, trainer honoraria, and communication materials. Conversely, it does not allow for salaries, office rent, U.S. travel, scholarships, large equipment, or politically affiliated activities. AEIF projects must contribute to broader public diplomacy goals and may address topics such as workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, leadership development, or regional collaboration. Successful proposals will demonstrate strong community partnerships, detailed implementation plans, and robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms using SMART criteria. Applications will be evaluated based on alignment with embassy priorities, alumni involvement, the feasibility of the implementation plan, and the strength of local partner support. Proposals must also include a communications plan that gives visibility to the U.S. Embassy's involvement. Notifications for selected awards are expected by June 1, 2026. Payment will be facilitated through standard federal forms, and recipients must comply with all federal regulations, including those relating to anti-discrimination, foreign influence disclosure, and reporting through the Foreign Assistance Data Review system. Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. SAST on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Use SMART indicators in M&E; include strong local partner support; show clear alumni roles; highlight U.S. Embassy involvement throughout.