Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006691
The FY 2020 Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES) opportunity is a U.S. Department of State program run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically its Office of Alumni Affairs. The government is seeking one organization to administer a set of thematic, in-person or regionally organized enrichment seminars for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and U.S. government-facilitated people-to-people exchange programs (referred to as "exchange alumni"). The central idea is to bring together these alumni in structured seminar settings to deepen professional connections, reinforce skills and networks gained during prior exchanges, and focus participants on shared themes and practical outcomes that advance U.S. public diplomacy and mutual understanding objectives.
This funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement in the project during implementation (for example, collaborating on seminar themes, participant selection parameters, deliverables, or monitoring and evaluation). The recipient would be responsible for designing and running approximately nine seminars that are regional, sub-regional, or multi-regional in scope. While the announcement summary does not list the exact themes, the format implies a coherent programmatic approach across multiple events, including consistent recruitment and selection processes, speaker and agenda development, logistics, facilitation, and follow-up to keep alumni engaged and translating seminar content into action.
A notable required element is the inclusion of a small grants component. This is intended to help seminar participants take concrete actions after the seminar, such as launching community projects, collaborative initiatives, training programs, or other alumni-led activities that put seminar learning into practice. In effect, the seminars are not meant to be stand-alone convenings; they are paired with a mechanism for post-seminar mini-projects that extend impact into local communities and professional networks. The administering organization would generally need to manage this small grants process end-to-end, including grantmaking procedures, transparent selection, allowable costs guidance, reporting, oversight, and documentation of outcomes.
Eligibility is open to U.S. public and private non-profit organizations that meet IRS 501(c)(3) requirements, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the full notice. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.452 and is categorized under "Other" for the funding activity (with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement). The government anticipated making a single award, with an award ceiling of up to $2,250,000 total for the cooperative agreement. The funding opportunity number is SFOP0006691. The notice was created on April 10, 2020, and the original application closing date was June 8, 2020.
Overall, this opportunity funds one lead implementer to run a multi-seminar alumni engagement platform at scale: convening exchange alumni across regions, delivering structured thematic programming, and distributing and overseeing small grants that enable alumni to implement tangible follow-on projects tied to seminar goals.Apply for SFOP0006691
- The Department of State, Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020 Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.452.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 10, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 08, 2020. (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 $2,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: FY 2020 Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES) (SFOP0006691)
What is the FY 2020 Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES) opportunity?
The FY 2020 Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminars (TIES) opportunity is a U.S. Department of State program that funds one organization to design and administer a set of thematic enrichment seminars for alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and U.S. government-facilitated people-to-people exchange programs (referred to as "exchange alumni").
Which U.S. government office runs this program?
The program is run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically the Office of Alumni Affairs.
What is the main purpose of the TIES seminars?
The central purpose is to bring exchange alumni together in structured seminar settings to deepen professional connections, reinforce skills and networks gained during prior exchanges, and focus participants on shared themes and practical outcomes that advance U.S. public diplomacy and mutual understanding objectives.
Who are the intended participants?
The intended participants are alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and U.S. government-facilitated exchange programs (exchange alumni).
How many seminars is the selected organization expected to run?
The selected organization would be responsible for designing and running approximately nine seminars.
What is the geographic scope of the seminars?
The seminars are expected to be regional, sub-regional, or multi-regional in scope, and may be organized in-person or regionally.
Are the seminar themes specified in the summary?
No. The announcement summary does not list the exact themes, but it indicates a thematic, structured approach across multiple events.
What kind of program structure is implied across the seminars?
The opportunity implies a coherent program across multiple events, including consistent recruitment and selection processes, speaker and agenda development, logistics, facilitation, and follow-up to keep alumni engaged and translating seminar content into action.
What type of award mechanism is used?
This funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement during implementation, such as collaborating on seminar themes, participant selection parameters, deliverables, and/or monitoring and evaluation.
How many awards did the government anticipate making?
The government anticipated making a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $2,250,000 total for the cooperative agreement.
Is there a required small grants component?
Yes. A required element is the inclusion of a small grants component tied to the seminars.
What is the purpose of the small grants component?
The small grants component is intended to help seminar participants take concrete actions after the seminar, such as launching community projects, collaborative initiatives, training programs, or other alumni-led activities that put seminar learning into practice.
Are the seminars intended to be stand-alone events?
No. The seminars are explicitly framed as more than stand-alone convenings because they are paired with a mechanism for post-seminar mini-projects supported by small grants.
What responsibilities would the administering organization likely have for the small grants?
Based on the summary, the administering organization would generally need to manage the small grants process end-to-end, including grantmaking procedures, transparent selection, guidance on allowable costs, reporting, oversight, and documenting outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to U.S. public and private non-profit organizations that meet IRS 501(c)(3) requirements, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the full notice.
Are higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are specifically included among eligible applicants, as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.452.
How is the funding activity categorized?
It is categorized under "Other" for the funding activity, with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0006691.
When was the notice created?
The notice was created on April 10, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application closing date was June 8, 2020.
What is the overall program model funded by this opportunity?
This opportunity funds one lead implementer to run a multi-seminar alumni engagement platform at scale: convening exchange alumni across regions, delivering structured thematic programming, and distributing and overseeing small grants that enable alumni to implement tangible follow-on projects tied to seminar goals.
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