Opportunity Information: Apply for JUBA AEIF FY26 01
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to South Sudan designed to support projects led by alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. The program’s basic idea is to help exchange alumni turn their skills and connections into practical, community-facing initiatives, while keeping the focus on innovation and alumni-led collaboration rather than charity, institutional expansion, or commercial activity. The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $35,000, and the Mission expects to make around two awards. The opportunity opened on April 9, 2026, and the application deadline is May 7, 2026.
Eligibility is centered on exchange alumni rather than traditional organizations. Applicants must be alumni of qualifying U.S. government exchange programs (as listed through alumni.state.gov) or holders of U.S. government-sponsored J-1 exchange experience (as referenced at j1visa.state.gov). Proposals must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of U.S. government exchange alumni, and project teams must include at least two alumni. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs and even different countries, which signals that cross-program and cross-border collaboration is welcome. A key restriction is that U.S. citizens are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants, although U.S. citizen alumni can still participate as team members on a project.
The rules also place clear limits on how organizations can be involved. While the eligible applicant category in the source data is listed as “Individuals,” the notice explains that non-profit organizations, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions cannot apply in the name of the organization, but they may partner with alumni teams to help implement activities. Governmental institutions and public international organizations are mentioned in the eligibility text as possible participant types, but the notice also emphasizes that only one non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of an award, and that for-profit entities are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. If subcontracting is used, the proposal needs to spell out who is responsible for what, and applicants are pointed to federal guidance (2 CFR 200.331) for the distinction between a subrecipient and a contractor.
Administrative compliance requirements depend on whether the applicant is an organization or an individual. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration. Individuals do not need a UEI and do not need to be registered in SAM.gov, which lowers the administrative barrier for alumni-led teams that are not incorporated entities. There is also a strict submission rule: only one proposal may be submitted per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from the same organization, every proposal from that institution becomes ineligible, so applicants need internal coordination to avoid accidental disqualification.
Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required. In practice, that means applicants can strengthen a proposal by showing credible partner contributions (cash, in-kind support, volunteer time, donated space, pro bono services), but a lack of match funding does not automatically disqualify an application.
Finally, the opportunity draws firm boundaries around what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include partisan political projects; direct charitable or development services such as medical, psychological, or humanitarian aid; construction; projects that support specific religious activities; fundraising campaigns; lobbying for specific legislation or programs; scientific research or surveys; commercial ventures; projects mainly aimed at growing the applicant organization or building its institutional capacity; duplicate projects that already exist; and any illegal activity. The overall message is that AEIF funding is meant for alumni-driven initiatives that create public benefit and engagement, without functioning as charity delivery, political campaigning, religious programming, research-only work, or business development.Apply for JUBA AEIF FY26 01
- The U.S. Mission to South Sudan in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-07. (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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals.
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Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) - FAQs
What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)?
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to South Sudan that supports projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. government-funded or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
What is the purpose of AEIF 2026?
AEIF 2026 is intended to help exchange alumni turn their skills, experience, and networks into practical, community-facing initiatives. The emphasis is on innovation and alumni-led collaboration, not charity delivery, institutional expansion, or commercial activity.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $35,000.
How many awards does the U.S. Mission expect to make?
The Mission expects to make approximately two awards.
When did the opportunity open?
The opportunity opened on April 9, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is May 7, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be alumni of qualifying U.S. government exchange programs (as listed via alumni.state.gov) or have U.S. government-sponsored J-1 exchange experience (as referenced at j1visa.state.gov). Proposals must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of U.S. government exchange alumni.
Do projects need to be led by alumni, or can organizations apply?
The program is centered on exchange alumni rather than traditional organizations. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Individuals," and the notice explains that non-profit organizations, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions cannot apply in the name of the organization (but they may partner with alumni teams to help implement activities).
Can an alumni association apply?
Yes. Proposals may be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of U.S. government exchange alumni.
How many alumni must be included on a project team?
Project teams must include at least two alumni.
Can the team include alumni from different exchange programs?
Yes. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs.
Can the team include alumni from different countries?
Yes. The notice indicates that cross-border collaboration is welcome, and teams may include alumni from different countries.
Are U.S. citizens allowed to apply as applicants?
No. U.S. citizens are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants under this opportunity.
Can U.S. citizen alumni participate in a project at all?
Yes. U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members, even though they cannot submit proposals as applicants.
Can a non-profit organization, NGO, think tank, or academic institution be the applicant?
No. The notice states these organizations cannot apply in the name of the organization. They may, however, serve as partners supporting implementation of alumni-led activities.
Are for-profit entities eligible to apply?
No. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply under this NOFO.
Can governmental institutions or public international organizations be involved?
The eligibility text mentions governmental institutions and public international organizations as possible participant types. However, the notice emphasizes that the award is intended to be alumni-led and that only one non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of an award.
Can partners or subcontractors be used to implement parts of the project?
Yes. Alumni teams may partner with other entities to help implement activities. If subcontracting is used, the proposal should clearly describe who is responsible for what, and applicants are directed to federal guidance (2 CFR 200.331) regarding the distinction between a subrecipient and a contractor.
Is a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) required?
It depends on whether the applicant is an organization or an individual. Organizations must have a UEI. Individuals do not need a UEI.
Is SAM.gov registration required?
It depends on whether the applicant is an organization or an individual. Organizations must have an active SAM.gov registration. Individuals do not need to be registered in SAM.gov.
Is there a limit on the number of proposals an organization can submit?
Yes. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization.
What happens if more than one proposal is submitted from the same organization?
If more than one proposal is submitted from the same organization, every proposal from that institution becomes ineligible. Applicants should coordinate internally to avoid accidental disqualification.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required.
What kinds of contributions count as cost share or match?
Examples referenced include cash or in-kind contributions such as volunteer time, donated space, and pro bono services. Including credible partner contributions can strengthen a proposal, but not having match funding does not automatically disqualify an application.
What kinds of activities are not eligible for AEIF funding?
Ineligible activities include partisan political projects; direct charitable or development services (including medical, psychological, or humanitarian aid); construction; projects supporting specific religious activities; fundraising campaigns; lobbying for specific legislation or programs; scientific research or surveys; commercial ventures; projects mainly aimed at growing the applicant organization or building its institutional capacity; duplicate projects that already exist; and any illegal activity.
Does AEIF fund humanitarian or direct service delivery projects?
No. Direct charitable or development services such as medical, psychological, or humanitarian aid are listed as ineligible.
Does AEIF fund construction projects?
No. Construction is listed as an ineligible activity.
Does AEIF fund partisan political activities or lobbying?
No. Partisan political projects and lobbying for specific legislation or programs are both listed as ineligible.
Does AEIF fund religious programming?
No. Projects that support specific religious activities are listed as ineligible.
Does AEIF fund fundraising campaigns?
No. Fundraising campaigns are listed as ineligible.
Does AEIF support scientific research or surveys?
No. Scientific research or surveys are listed as ineligible activities under this opportunity.
Can the grant be used to launch or grow a business or other commercial venture?
No. Commercial ventures are listed as ineligible, and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
Can AEIF funds be used mainly to expand an organization or build its institutional capacity?
No. Projects mainly aimed at growing the applicant organization or building its institutional capacity are listed as ineligible.
Are duplicate or already-existing projects eligible?
No. Duplicate projects that already exist are listed as ineligible.
What is the overall focus of what AEIF will fund?
The overall focus is on alumni-driven initiatives that create public benefit and engagement, centered on innovation and alumni-led collaboration, without functioning as charity delivery, political campaigning, religious programming, research-only work, or business development.
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