Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK800 25 PAS001
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program FY 2025 is a competitive small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia to help alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs turn what they learned during their exchanges into practical, community-based solutions. The program is meant to fund alumni-led public service projects that are clearly tied to U.S. Embassy priorities, advance shared U.S.-North Macedonia interests, and produce tangible benefits for local communities. AEIF has been operating globally since 2011 and has supported nearly 500 alumni-led projects worldwide, and this round continues that model by backing locally designed initiatives that are innovative, feasible, and mission-aligned.
For FY 2025, the program focus is explicitly connected to the United States commitment to deepen North Macedonia's democracy and support reforms that strengthen the country as a reliable and capable U.S. partner. To be eligible, each proposal must directly address at least one of the required themes. These include reinforcing democratic values; promoting rule of law and anti-corruption; increasing social cohesion across ethnic and political groups and with regional partners; empowering youth, women, and other marginalized groups; supporting the transition to diversified, sustainable, and renewable energy to accelerate regional energy independence; countering disinformation; fostering civic responsibility, public service, or community-driven change (especially in underserved communities); promoting cross-cultural understanding and using heritage, culture, or the arts as a driver of progress; and fostering stronger ties between North Macedonia and the United States. Proposals that do not clearly and explicitly connect their activities to one or more of these themes are considered ineligible. Another core requirement is that all project activities must take place outside the United States and its territories.
The opportunity places a strong emphasis on clearly defined target audiences rather than broad or vague groups. Applicants are expected to identify specific and realistic participants or beneficiaries and avoid general labels like "the public" or "all youth." The priority audiences highlighted in the notice are youth and young adult leaders ages 13 to 30, community leaders and local officials, teachers and academic professionals, and underserved, under-resourced, and rural communities. Projects that focus on other audiences can still qualify, but the application needs to explain why that audience is essential for achieving the program's stated goals.
Eligibility is aimed at North Macedonia-based, non-profit entities working with exchange alumni. Applications must be submitted either by a local U.S. government exchange alumni association or by a team of at least two exchange alumni applying through a partner organization that will implement the project, such as a not-for-profit NGO, think tank, or academic institution. Key staff and the project team must be alumni of qualifying U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs (including those listed on the U.S. Department of State alumni exchange program roster) or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs associated with the J-1 program. The project team must include at least two alumni, and teams can be mixed across different exchange programs and even different countries. U.S. citizen alumni cannot serve as primary applicants, but they may participate as team members.
From a funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SMK800 25 PAS001; CFDA 19.022) with an award ceiling of up to $35,000 per award and an expectation of making two awards. The posting lists an original application closing date of January 31, 2025. Overall, the grant is best suited for alumni teams who can propose a focused, measurable project that fits one of the priority themes, targets a clearly defined group of beneficiaries in North Macedonia, and demonstrates a direct line from exchange experience to local impact.Apply for SMK800 25 PAS001
- The U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Program FY 2025" 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 2024-11-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-31. (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: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program FY 2025?
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Program FY 2025 is a competitive small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia. It supports alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs who want to turn what they learned during their exchange into practical, community-based solutions through alumni-led public service projects.
2) Who is running this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is run by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia.
3) What is the overall purpose of AEIF?
AEIF funds alumni-led public service projects that are clearly tied to U.S. Embassy priorities, advance shared U.S.-North Macedonia interests, and produce tangible benefits for local communities.
4) Is AEIF a new program?
No. AEIF has been operating globally since 2011 and has supported nearly 500 alumni-led projects worldwide.
5) What is the FY 2025 focus for North Macedonia?
For FY 2025, the focus is explicitly connected to the United States commitment to deepen North Macedonia's democracy and support reforms that strengthen the country as a reliable and capable U.S. partner.
6) Do proposals have to match specific themes?
Yes. Each proposal must directly address at least one required theme. Proposals that do not clearly and explicitly connect activities to one or more of the required themes are considered ineligible.
7) What are the required themes a project must address?
A proposal must directly address at least one of the following themes:
- Reinforcing democratic values
- Promoting rule of law and anti-corruption
- Increasing social cohesion across ethnic and political groups and with regional partners
- Empowering youth, women, and other marginalized groups
- Supporting the transition to diversified, sustainable, and renewable energy to accelerate regional energy independence
- Countering disinformation
- Fostering civic responsibility, public service, or community-driven change (especially in underserved communities)
- Promoting cross-cultural understanding and using heritage, culture, or the arts as a driver of progress
- Fostering stronger ties between North Macedonia and the United States
8) What makes a proposal ineligible based on themes?
If the proposal does not clearly and explicitly connect its activities to one or more of the required themes, it is considered ineligible.
9) Where must project activities take place?
All project activities must take place outside the United States and its territories.
10) Who should the project target?
The opportunity emphasizes clearly defined target audiences rather than broad or vague groups. Applicants are expected to identify specific and realistic participants or beneficiaries and avoid general labels like "the public" or "all youth."
11) Which target audiences are highlighted as priorities?
The notice highlights these priority audiences:
- Youth and young adult leaders ages 13 to 30
- Community leaders and local officials
- Teachers and academic professionals
- Underserved, under-resourced, and rural communities
12) Can a project focus on an audience that is not listed as a priority?
Yes. Projects focusing on other audiences can still qualify, but the application needs to explain why that audience is essential for achieving the program's stated goals.
13) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed at North Macedonia-based, non-profit entities working with exchange alumni.
14) What types of applicants can submit an application?
Applications must be submitted either by:
- A local U.S. government exchange alumni association, or
- A team of at least two exchange alumni applying through a partner organization that will implement the project (such as a not-for-profit NGO, think tank, or academic institution)
15) What is the minimum number of alumni required on a project team?
The project team must include at least two alumni.
16) Do all key staff and the project team need to be alumni?
Yes. Key staff and the project team must be alumni of qualifying U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs associated with the J-1 program.
17) What counts as a qualifying exchange program for alumni eligibility?
Qualifying alumni include those from U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs (including those listed on the U.S. Department of State alumni exchange program roster) or U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs associated with the J-1 program.
18) Can alumni from different exchange programs work together on one project?
Yes. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs.
19) Can team members come from different countries?
Yes. Teams can include alumni from different countries.
20) Can U.S. citizen alumni be the main applicants?
No. U.S. citizen alumni cannot serve as primary applicants.
21) Can U.S. citizen alumni participate in the project at all?
Yes. U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members.
22) What is the funding type for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity.
23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SMK800 25 PAS001.
24) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.022.
25) How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is up to $35,000 per award.
26) How many awards are expected to be made?
The posting indicates an expectation of making two awards.
27) What is the application deadline?
The posting lists an original application closing date of January 31, 2025.
28) What kind of projects are considered a good fit for this grant?
The grant is best suited for alumni teams that can propose a focused, measurable project that fits one of the priority themes, targets a clearly defined group of beneficiaries in North Macedonia, and demonstrates a direct line from exchange experience to local impact.
29) Does a project need to be innovative?
The program description emphasizes backing locally designed initiatives that are innovative, feasible, and mission-aligned.
30) Does the project need to show a link to the alumni's exchange experience?
Yes. The opportunity is designed to help alumni turn what they learned during their exchanges into practical solutions, and the ideal project demonstrates a direct line from exchange experience to local impact.
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