FY 2024 Study of the U.S. Institutes Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program | SFOP0010289

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0010289

The FY 2024 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) Madeleine K. Albright Young Women Leaders Program is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) grant opportunity that funds the design and delivery of an intensive summer exchange program for international undergraduate women. The program is administered through ECA's Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch (ECA/A/E/USS), and supports a set of four concurrent institutes to be implemented in summer 2025. At its core, the opportunity is asking a single lead U.S. organization to build and run a cohesive, multi-site academic and leadership experience that strengthens participants' understanding of the United States while advancing U.S. public diplomacy and foreign policy priorities.

The project to be funded consists of four institutes, each lasting about five weeks, with each institute organized around a specific theme tied to U.S. foreign policy priorities: Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment, Environmental Issues, and Public Policy. The institutes are intended to help participants develop a deeper, more nuanced view of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions, while also sharpening practical leadership skills. The emphasis is not just on classroom learning, but on structured exposure to how the United States works in practice across communities, sectors, and institutions.

Each of the four institutes will host 20 foreign undergraduate women, for a total cohort of 80 participants across the full program. The structure described in the notice includes an approximately four-week academic residency hosted at a U.S. academic institution, paired with an approximately one-week integrated study tour. The study tour is meant to broaden the experience beyond the host campus by placing students in one or more U.S. communities that represent a culture and/or region different from the academic residency site. In addition to the institute-specific programming, the overall model includes a convening event that brings participants from all four institutes together for networking and shared exploration of the program themes, reinforcing the idea that this is one unified leadership program delivered through four thematic tracks.

From an applicant perspective, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement by the federal agency during implementation (for example, coordination on program elements, approvals, or required reporting and compliance). Eligible applicants include U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (including nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education). The opportunity is housed under CFDA number 19.009 and is issued by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The funding details provided indicate an award ceiling of $1,400,000 and an expectation of one award, suggesting the Department of State plans to select a single prime recipient to manage the full set of four institutes and ensure consistency across themes, recruitment and participant experience, scheduling, and overall program quality. The original application closing date is May 6, 2024, and the opportunity number is SFOP0010289.

Overall, the grant supports an academically grounded, experiential, and leadership-focused exchange for emerging women leaders from around the world. The key deliverables implied by the announcement are the successful design and implementation of four five-week institutes in summer 2025; thematic content aligned to the four priority areas; a balanced mix of academic sessions, leadership development, and community engagement; an integrated study tour that contrasts with the residency environment; and a cross-institute convening that builds networks and a shared sense of cohort across all 80 participants.

• The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2024 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 2024-03-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-06. (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 $1,400,000.00 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.

Apply for SFOP0010289

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: