Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008437
The Department of State is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity called "Alumni Engagement" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0008437) under the education activity category (CFDA 19.500). The program is designed to deepen and sustain engagement with alumni of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), specifically graduates of the Student Leaders Program (SLP), the Leadership Development Fellowship (LDF), and Tomorrow's Leaders (TL). Rather than creating a new cohort program, the emphasis is on building stronger alumni networks and keeping past participants connected to each other, to professional opportunities, and to ongoing U.S. engagement in the region.
At the core of the award is the creation of local and regional networking opportunities that bring alumni together in practical, career-relevant ways. The program also prioritizes professional development training, meaning structured activities that help alumni build workplace and leadership skills, expand their professional connections, and increase their ability to collaborate across sectors. Another major component is encouraging social and business entrepreneurship. This includes using small grant opportunities as a tool to help alumni test ideas, launch initiatives, or grow early-stage projects that address community needs, generate employment, or deliver innovative services. In addition, the award calls for tailored local outreach that is coordinated with U.S. embassies in the region, signaling that programming and recruitment for events or grants should be aligned with embassy priorities and country-specific contexts.
Strategically, the opportunity is framed as advancing U.S. foreign policy goals by strengthening ties with individuals who share American values and interests. In practical terms, that means maintaining long-term relationships with MEPI program alumni and supporting their continued leadership and civic or economic contributions in the Middle East and North Africa. The opportunity also aligns with MEPI's broader strategic framework, which emphasizes partnerships among citizens, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and government institutions. The underlying idea is that durable, locally driven solutions are more likely when these groups collaborate, and alumni networks can act as connectors that make those partnerships easier to form and sustain.
The eligible applicant type listed is for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and the agency is the Department of State, Assistance Coordination. The award ceiling is $6,250,000, with one award expected, indicating the Department anticipates selecting a single implementer to run the initiative at scale across multiple locations or countries. The opportunity was created on November 16, 2021, and the original closing date was January 5, 2022.Apply for SFOP0008437
- The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Engagement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.500.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 16, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 05, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Alumni Engagement (SFOP0008437)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
This Department of State discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity is titled "Alumni Engagement".
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0008437.
3) Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, listed under Assistance Coordination.
4) What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The opportunity is in the education activity category and is associated with CFDA 19.500.
5) What is the purpose of the Alumni Engagement program?
The program is designed to deepen and sustain engagement with alumni of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), with a focus on maintaining long-term relationships, keeping alumni connected, and supporting continued leadership and civic or economic contributions in the Middle East and North Africa.
6) Which alumni groups are specifically targeted?
This opportunity specifically targets alumni who are graduates of MEPI's:
- Student Leaders Program (SLP)
- Leadership Development Fellowship (LDF)
- Tomorrow's Leaders (TL)
7) Is this funding meant to create a new cohort or a new fellowship class?
No. The opportunity emphasizes not creating a new cohort program. The focus is on strengthening and sustaining existing alumni networks and keeping past participants connected to each other and to professional opportunities.
8) What are the core program components expected under this award?
Based on the opportunity description, core components include:
- Local and regional networking opportunities that bring alumni together in practical, career-relevant ways
- Professional development training to build workplace and leadership skills and expand professional connections
- Support for social and business entrepreneurship, including the use of small grants to test or grow ideas
- Tailored local outreach coordinated with U.S. embassies to align programming with country contexts and embassy priorities
9) What does "networking opportunities" mean in this context?
Networking opportunities are described as local and regional convenings that connect alumni in ways that are practical and career-relevant, helping them engage with one another and expand professional relationships.
10) What is meant by "professional development training"?
The opportunity frames professional development training as structured activities that help alumni:
- Build workplace and leadership skills
- Expand professional connections
- Increase their ability to collaborate across sectors
11) How does entrepreneurship fit into the program?
Entrepreneurship is a major component. The opportunity encourages social and business entrepreneurship, and specifically mentions using small grant opportunities to help alumni test ideas, launch initiatives, or grow early-stage projects that address community needs, generate employment, or provide innovative services.
12) Are small grants required or optional under this program design?
The opportunity states that small grant opportunities are included as a tool to support entrepreneurship among alumni. The description positions small grants as a planned component of the approach for helping alumni develop and scale initiatives.
13) What kinds of outcomes are small grants intended to support?
The small grants are intended to help alumni efforts that:
- Address community needs
- Generate employment
- Deliver innovative services
14) What does "tailored local outreach coordinated with U.S. embassies" mean?
It means outreach and local programming should be country-specific and coordinated with U.S. embassies in the region, suggesting recruitment for events or grants and overall engagement activities should be aligned with embassy priorities and local context.
15) What region is this program focused on?
The opportunity describes continued leadership and contributions in the Middle East and North Africa and references engagement coordinated with U.S. embassies in the region.
16) How does this opportunity connect to U.S. foreign policy goals?
The opportunity is framed as advancing U.S. foreign policy by strengthening ties with individuals who share American values and interests, and by maintaining long-term relationships with MEPI alumni.
17) How does the opportunity align with MEPI's broader strategic framework?
It aligns with MEPI's emphasis on partnerships among:
- Citizens
- Non-governmental organizations
- The private sector
- Government institutions
The concept described is that locally driven, durable solutions are more likely when these groups collaborate, and alumni networks can help act as connectors to make those partnerships easier to form and sustain.
18) What type of award is being offered?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant type listed is for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
20) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $6,250,000.
21) How many awards does the Department of State expect to make?
The opportunity indicates one award expected, suggesting a single implementer to run the initiative at scale across multiple locations or countries.
22) When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on November 16, 2021.
23) What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was January 5, 2022.
24) What does it mean that the program is intended to be implemented "at scale"?
Based on the description of one award expected and the focus on engagement across the region, the Department anticipates selecting a single implementer capable of running alumni engagement activities across multiple locations or countries, rather than operating in only one local area.
25) What is the main difference between this program and a traditional exchange or fellowship?
This program is designed for post-program engagement. Instead of recruiting and training a new class of participants, it focuses on keeping existing MEPI alumni connected through networking, professional development, entrepreneurship support (including small grants), and coordinated local outreach with U.S. embassies.
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