Education and Culture Program : Exchange Funding

For Individual or Group Exchanges, all applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be 18 years old or older by the time the program begins
• Be a citizen and resident of one of the following countries (reside in the same country one is a citizen of):
  • Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kits and Nevis; Saint Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; The United States; Uruguay; Venezuela
• Not a Partners of the Americas employee
• If traveling to the US, be eligible to obtain a U.S. J-1 visa
  • Including proficiency in English.
  • Learn more about the J-1 visa here.
  • Note: If selected, a social media review will be a part of the J-1 visa process.
• Have a valid passport for six months post-travel 
• Be able to attend the virtual and in-person programming
• Ability to submit the application online by the application deadline 
• Priority will be given to applicants who have not received a US-government funded exchange grant in the past two years.

All applicants must apply under the following theme. 

• Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship: 

Exchanges should equip individuals and organizations with the skills, networks, and resources needed for long-term economic success, supporting stable and legal employment pathways that contribute to regional prosperity and security. Programs should strengthen job markets and align technical training with industry demands, ensuring participants can apply lessons learned to foster growth in their home communities and support host communities in their strengthening as well.

Example focus areas: Vocational and entrepreneurial training, workforce development exchanges, small business support, and strategies that promote economic security and expand opportunity.

• Education: 

Exchanges should expand educational opportunities and strengthen learning ecosystems that strengthen individuals and communities across the Hemisphere. Programs should engage participants/host communities in capacity development, workforce-aligned education, and strategies that improve education quality.

Example focus areas: Classroom innovation, STEAM education, after-school academic enrichment, literacy initiatives, and skills-based training that prepare individuals to meet evolving workforce needs.

• Informational Session
  • Recording
  • PPT Slides
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Calls for Applications
  • Individual Self-Designed Exchanges
  • EcoCreatives: Educators and Creators for a Tech Skills Future for Youth
  • STEAM Education Alliance of the Americas: An Entrepreneurial Look Into the Sciences
• Contact Us Form

Watch the recordings and review the slides from our informational sessions when we shared more about the opportunity, eligibility, and tips for creating a strong proposal.

• English Recording and Slides
• Spanish Recording and Slides

To be considered for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• All applicants must be an active Partners Chapter, PartnersCampus, or affiliate organization, with a bank account and a UEI number.  Learn more about how to become a member here.
• Be hosted in and facilitated by a Chapter/organization in one of the following eligible countries:
  • Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Uruguay.
• Propose an exchange aligned with one of the program themes
• Have a bank account and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
• Provide cost share that matches the award funds requested at a minimum 1:1 ratio
  • Read more about cost share here.
• Propose activities with a period of performance after the award date and concluding by August 15, 2027; travel must occur between February 15 and July 15, 2027
  • Note: For participants traveling to the U.S. travel must start after March 15, 2027 due to visa processing times.
• Submit the EOI via the online platform by the stated deadline

Applicants are required to comply with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, and Executive Orders of the President of the United States, including any issued, amended, or rescinded before or during the period of performance. Proposed projects, activities, partners, and expenditures must align with current U.S. Government policy priorities and Executive Order requirements. Failure to comply may result in the rejection of an application, the suspension or termination of an award, and/or the recovery of funds.

All applicants must apply under the following theme. 

• Citizen Security
• Economic Success
• Education
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Partners of the Americas and the facilitating Chapters and/or organizations will work together across the lifecycle of the exchange. To see more about the differences in implementation responsibilities over the course of the lifecycle of the exchange, see above.

Grantees will be responsible for designing and facilitating a 7–10-day exchange excluding international travel days. They may choose to include 1-3 days (1-2 nights) in Washington, D.C. at the end of the exchange.

All exchanges are between the United States and Latin America/the Caribbean. For example, if the applicant is in the United States, they would only receive participants from the eligible Latin American and Caribbean countries listed above. Applicants in Latin America and the Caribbean would only receive participants from the United States.

After the hosts are awarded, Partners of the Americas will facilitate an open competition for exchange participants. At least one person from each selected entity will be on the review committee and confirm understanding of conflict of interest policies. 

Awardees will be responsible for: 

• Signing a contract outlining the regulations and constraints of the subaward;
• Successfully designing and implementing the exchange as outlined in the application and amendments, in alignment with the prioritized theme(s);
  • Implementation includes housing, meals, local transportation, and local health/safety support for participants during the exchange.
  • If Washington, DC is included, grantees will be responsible for designing and facilitating the agenda, including one meeting with the Department of State
• Having one representative participate in the exchange participant review process;
• Submitting milestone reports, including cost share reports in the final report;
• Submitting social media posts and/or a success story;
• Keeping Partners staff updated on the achievement of their proposed program activities;
• Completing surveys during the implementation of the subaward;
• Sending modifications to proposed program activities and/or budget to Partners for approval;
• Informing Partners of any changes in key personnel; and
• Responding to other inquiries and requests for information during and after implementation, as needed.

Partners of the Americas will be responsible for: 

• Facilitating the review process and, with ECA approval, awarding subawards to selected individuals/organizations;
• Facilitating the review process and, with ECA approval, awarding selected exchange participants;
• Facilitating the subaward agreement negotiation process and disbursing subaward funds;
• Reviewing recipient’s milestone reports;
• Reviewing budgets and modification requests for approval;
• Providing general support services through regular contact outside of the reporting process, (i.e., responding to inquiries from subaward recipients as needed);
• Purchasing international flights for participants, support J-1 visa processing, reimburse other visas as required, provide Accient and Sickness coverage, provide participant incidentals stipend; and
• Designing and facilitating participant reporting.

• Templates for finalists:
  • Budget Template
  • Agenda Template
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Template
• Funding Guidelines and Instructions for the Budget Template 
• Past Group Exchanges – Review the overviews and agendas from past group exchanges. Note: Themes have changed.
  • Raíces & Caminos: Empowering Afrodescendant Change Agents Description
    • Sample Agenda
  • Environmental Exchange Description
    • Sample Agenda