One to Many: U.S. Government Exchanges & Program Alumni Workshops | C NOFO 20 101 REPOST

Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 20 101 REPOST

The grant opportunity titled "One to Many: U.S. Government Exchanges & Program Alumni Workshops" (Funding Opportunity Number: C NOFO 20 101 REPOST) is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Mission to India through the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, specifically its Public Affairs Section. The core purpose is to strengthen the ability of U.S. government-sponsored exchange program alumni in India to pass on what they learned during their exchanges to broader local audiences, in ways that also advance shared U.S.-India priorities. Rather than focusing on sending new participants abroad, this opportunity is designed as a multiplier: it takes the expertise and first-hand experience of alumni and turns it into local capacity-building activities that can reach many more people.

The program is structured around creating follow-on workshops connected to at least four recent U.S. exchange programs, including the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other U.S. government exchanges. The expectation is that the grantee will implement at least one alumni-led workshop for each of those exchanges. In practice, this means a single funded project should not be limited to one topic or one alumni group; it should build a small series of workshops that each tie back to a specific recent exchange and mobilize that exchange's alumni to train, inform, or convene relevant peer groups in India. The proposed workshop themes are broad and policy-relevant, and the notice highlights areas such as water, sustainability and disaster management/resiliency, countering disinformation and online harassment/trolling, civil rights and civic responsibility/active citizenship, trafficking in persons, air quality, empowering women and girls, advancing science/technology/health/innovation, and promoting inclusion and educational opportunity. It also notes that additional topics from the 2020 IVLP slate may be included as they are confirmed.

A key emphasis is who benefits from the workshops. The program is meant to extend beyond elite audiences and major urban networks by intentionally including non-elite communities, regional language participants, and rural participants. Alumni are expected to draw directly on their U.S. exchange experience and translate what they observed and learned into locally useful knowledge for Indian stakeholders. This could include practical skills, new approaches to problem-solving, stronger professional networks, and exposure to U.S. perspectives and best practices, adapted to local realities. In short, alumni are positioned as credible messengers who can bridge international exchange learning with on-the-ground needs in India.

The opportunity also places value on measurable and visible outcomes. Beyond general capacity building, the announcement anticipates changes in attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors among participants. It also encourages dissemination and storytelling products that can extend impact beyond the workshop rooms, including shared photo essays, media articles, podcasts, and blogs created by participants. These deliverables serve two purposes: they document the project and they broaden public engagement by making the learning accessible to wider audiences.

In terms of funding and eligibility, the award is offered as a grant (with the announcement also referencing a grant/cooperative agreement framework). The ceiling for the award is $30,000, and the agency expected to make one award. The eligible applicant category listed is U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The funding activity category is Education, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 19.040. The original posting indicates a closing date of June 12, 2020, and a creation date of March 23, 2020, which is useful context for understanding the timeline of the opportunity and whether it is active or referenced for historical or reposted purposes.

Overall, this opportunity is essentially a small, focused public diplomacy and capacity-building grant that aims to convert the value of U.S. exchange programs into broader local impact in India. It does that by funding an implementing organization to organize multiple alumni-led workshops tied to multiple recent exchanges, deliberately reaching underserved audiences, and producing both learning outcomes and shareable public-facing content that supports shared U.S.-India objectives.

• The U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "One to Many: U.S. Government Exchanges & Program Alumni Workshops" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-06-12. (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 $30,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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