Alumni Engagement | SFOP0008437

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.

• 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.

Apply for SFOP0008437

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