The Education and Culture Group Exchange Facilitation Funding opportunity is a competitive funding program that supports organizations to design and implement short-term professional exchanges across the Western Hemisphere. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Partners of the Americas, this program advances collaboration, strengthens institutional linkages, and expands economic opportunity through people-to-people exchange.
Through awards of up to $10,000, selected Partners Chapters, PartnersCampuses, and affiliate organizations will facilitate exchanges for small cohorts of participants traveling between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. These exchanges are designed to build practical skills, strengthen professional networks, and support collaboration that contributes to workforce development, innovation, and more resilient communities.
This opportunity builds on more than 40 years of Education and Culture programming, which has connected leaders and professionals across the Americas through exchange, partnership, and knowledge-sharing. Group Exchange Facilitation Funding extends this work by supporting organizations to deliver structured, high-impact exchange experiences that highlight U.S. expertise, foster long-term institutional relationships, and generate shared economic and professional benefits.
Interested in Applying?
Applicants will submit a document that does not exceed five (5) pages (single-spaced, standard 12-point font). It should incorporate the following sections:
- Exchange Overview
- Proposed Exchange Design
- Organizational Capacity
- Exchange Sustainability and Impact
- Preliminary Budget and Cost Share
For a full description of the Group Exchange Facilitation Funding opportunity, review the Call for Expressions of Interest below:
Informational Sessions
Attend our Education and Culture Program informational sessions! During these sessions we will share about Group Exchange Facilitation Funding, as well as Community Project Funding.
Opportunity Timeline
| Stage | Date |
| Open Application | Monday, April 27, 2026 |
| Deadline | Monday, June 15, 2026 at 12pm ET |
| Informational Sessions | (English) Friday, May 8 – 1:00-1:30 PM ET (Spanish) Monday, May 11 – 1:00-1:30 PM ET |
| Award Notification | By August 1, 2026 |
| Award Period | After August 1, 2026 – ending by August 15, 2027 |
| Travel Period | 7-10 days between February 15 – July 15, 2027 (final dates to be agreed upon) Note: For participants traveling to the U.S. travel must start after March 15, 2027 due to visa processing times. |
Eligibility
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
- 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.
Themes
All applicants must apply under the following theme. Click on the theme to learn more.
- Citizen Security
- Economic Success
- Education
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
Roles and Responsibilities
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.
Application Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Templates for finalists:
- 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
- Environmental Exchange Description
- Contact Us Form
The Education and Culture Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by Partners of the Americas.