Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018387
The FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program (Albright SUSIs) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity that seeks one organization to design and implement four Study of the U.S. Institutes during summer 2027. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient will manage day-to-day implementation while working closely with ECA on program direction, compliance, and key decisions. The overall purpose is to run intensive, short-term academic and experiential institutes that showcase American approaches, success stories, and innovation connected to two major topic areas: Economic Prosperity and Growth (two institutes) and Governance and Security (two institutes).
Programmatically, the project consists of four separate cohorts, each with roughly 20 foreign undergraduate participants, for an estimated total of about 80 participants across all institutes. Participants are described as men and women ages 18 to 25, even though the program title emphasizes young women leaders, indicating the institutes are intended to advance leadership themes associated with the Madeleine K. Albright legacy while still hosting mixed-gender cohorts. Each institute runs for five weeks and is built around two major components: an approximately four-week academic residency hosted at a U.S. educational institution, followed by an approximately one-week integrated academic field experience in a different U.S. region than the residency site. The intent of the field experience is not just tourism, but structured learning that complements the academic content and exposes participants to U.S. institutions, communities, and practitioners tied to the institute theme.
The institutes are expected to highlight U.S. strengths and practical examples within the chosen themes, so proposals would typically need to demonstrate how the academic curriculum and site-based learning will connect participants to real-world American models, institutions, and innovations related to economic growth, entrepreneurship, inclusive prosperity, governance, democratic practice, civic institutions, public leadership, security issues, or related fields as defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Beyond the five-week in-country experience, the opportunity also emphasizes follow-on engagement after participants return home, suggesting that applicants should plan for alumni networking, continued learning, collaborative projects, mentoring, or other sustained engagement mechanisms that extend the program impact beyond the summer session.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding through CFDA number 19.009 and is offered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Eligible applicants include U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as “others” as specified in the NOFO. The government anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling of $1,500,000, meaning the selected recipient is expected to manage all four institutes under a single cooperative agreement rather than splitting implementation across multiple awards. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018387. The opportunity was created on May 19, 2026, and the original application deadline is June 26, 2026.Apply for DFOP0018387
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.009.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-26. (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 $1,500,000.00 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.
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FAQs: FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program (Albright SUSIs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to select one organization to design and implement four Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) during summer 2027, under the Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program (Albright SUSIs).
Who is the funder?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
What is the purpose of the Albright SUSIs?
The purpose is to run intensive, short-term academic and experiential institutes that showcase American approaches, success stories, and innovation tied to two major topic areas: Economic Prosperity and Growth and Governance and Security.
How many institutes are included, and what are their themes?
There are four institutes total: two focused on Economic Prosperity and Growth and two focused on Governance and Security.
How many awards does the government expect to make?
The government anticipates making one award, meaning one recipient is expected to manage all four institutes.
What type of award is this?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean in this context?
Under a cooperative agreement, the recipient manages day-to-day implementation while working closely with ECA on program direction, compliance, and key decisions.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $1,500,000.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018387.
What is the CFDA number?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.009.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 19, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application deadline is June 26, 2026.
When are the institutes expected to take place?
The institutes are expected to take place during summer 2027.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as "others" as specified in the NOFO.
How many participant cohorts are expected?
The project consists of four separate cohorts, corresponding to the four institutes.
How many participants are expected per institute and overall?
Each institute is expected to include roughly 20 foreign undergraduate participants, for an estimated total of about 80 participants across all four institutes.
Who are the participants (age and background)?
Participants are described as foreign undergraduate participants, men and women, ages 18 to 25.
Is this program only for women, given the program title?
Even though the program title emphasizes young women leaders, the participant description indicates mixed-gender cohorts (men and women ages 18 to 25). The institutes are intended to advance leadership themes associated with the Madeleine K. Albright legacy while still hosting mixed-gender cohorts.
How long is each institute?
Each institute runs for five weeks.
What are the main components of the five-week institute?
Each institute has two main components: (1) an approximately four-week academic residency hosted at a U.S. educational institution, and (2) an approximately one-week integrated academic field experience.
Where does the academic residency take place?
The academic residency is hosted at a U.S. educational institution.
What is the field experience, and how is it different from travel or tourism?
The field experience is an integrated academic component intended to be structured learning that complements the academic content. It is specifically described as not just tourism; it should expose participants to U.S. institutions, communities, and practitioners tied to the institute theme.
Does the field experience need to be in a different location than the academic residency?
Yes. The field experience is expected to take place in a different U.S. region than the residency site.
What kinds of content should the institutes highlight?
The institutes are expected to highlight U.S. strengths and practical examples within the two major themes. Proposals would typically need to show how the academic curriculum and site-based learning connect participants to real-world American models, institutions, and innovations related to economic growth, entrepreneurship, inclusive prosperity, governance, democratic practice, civic institutions, public leadership, security issues, or related fields as defined in the NOFO.
What is expected beyond the five-week in-country program?
The opportunity emphasizes follow-on engagement after participants return home. Applicants are expected to plan ways to sustain engagement and extend impact beyond the summer session.
What are examples of follow-on engagement mentioned in the opportunity description?
Examples mentioned include alumni networking, continued learning, collaborative projects, mentoring, or other sustained engagement mechanisms.
What is the implementing organization expected to do?
The selected organization is expected to design and implement all four institutes, manage day-to-day operations, host the academic residency at a U.S. educational institution, organize the one-week integrated field experience in a different U.S. region, and coordinate follow-on engagement, while working closely with ECA on direction, compliance, and key decisions.
Is the funding discretionary?
Yes. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
Is this opportunity intended to be split across multiple implementers?
No. The government anticipates one award, and the selected recipient is expected to manage all four institutes under a single cooperative agreement rather than splitting implementation across multiple awards.
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