FY 2025 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The FY25 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. This funding opportunity, authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act), is designed to promote mutual understanding and diplomacy through educational exchange. The program specifically targets undergraduate students of limited financial means to support their participation in academic studies or internships abroad, thereby enhancing their skills and global competence in service of national economic and security interests. This NOFO is an amendment to a previous announcement and incorporates updated compliance language concerning anti-discrimination and foreign funding disclosure regulations. The funding opportunity has a cooperative agreement structure with substantial involvement from ECA. Approximately $16.8 million is available for one award, pending the availability of funds, with an anticipated start date of August 17, 2025. The program runs for 36 months and includes potential renewals for up to two consecutive years based on performance and available funding. The awardee will be responsible for implementing a wide-ranging program that includes recruitment, outreach, application processing, student support, monitoring, evaluation, alumni engagement, and partnership development. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit organizations and U.S. public and private non-profit educational institutions. To qualify for awards exceeding $130,000, applicants must demonstrate a minimum of four years’ experience in conducting international exchange programs. Only one proposal per organization will be considered. Applications must include a suite of standardized documents, including SF-424 forms, narrative, budget details, and required certifications. All applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2025. Key components of the Gilman Program include the awarding of approximately 3,100 merit-based scholarships of up to $5,000 per year, with special sub-programs like the Gilman-McCain Scholarship for military families and Critical Need Language Awards for selected languages. Additional funding supports STEM-related international research. Applicants and participants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including U.S. citizenship and Pell Grant receipt. The implementing organization must ensure compliance with branding, outreach, evaluation, and communication standards set by ECA and support cross-departmental collaboration through detailed planning and reporting mechanisms. Applications will be evaluated on multiple criteria, including the originality and relevance of the proposal, institutional capacity, detailed planning, follow-on activities, and cost-effectiveness. Mandatory compliance includes federal anti-discrimination laws and reporting standards. Contact for this funding opportunity is Theresa Gagnon at GagnonTF@state.gov or (202) 632-6339. Registration with MyGrants, SAM.gov, and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) are required for eligibility. The full NOFO, application package, and submission instructions are available on www.grants.gov and eca.state.gov.