2025 Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund
Application Open Date
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Application Close Date
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Are you an alumni of a U.S. government sponsored exchange program ready to use skills and knowledge gained during your exchange experience to create change? Do you have a great public service project in mind, but need funding to get it off the ground?
If you answered yes, then you could apply for – and win! – up to $10,000 through the 2025 Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund for U.S. Alumni. The competition provides small grants to teams of two or more U.S. government-sponsored exchange alumni to carry out policy-inspired community service projects both in the United States and around the globe that increase the effectiveness of U.S. Department of State exchange programming and advance U.S. policy goals related to one of the following five themes.:
- Strengthening Democratic Institutions & Promoting Media Integrity
- Protecting the Environment
- Building Community Through Arts, Sports, or Technology
- Human Rights, Refugees, and Migrants
- Promoting English Language Learning
CDAF is a unique opportunity for alumni to use skills and knowledge learned during their exchange, connect with fellow alumni, and elevate their role as community leaders. Past participants have developed projects that promote media literacy education, build community resilience, foster alumni network development, and engage with issues such as climate change and sustainable development.
To apply: At least one team leader must be a U.S. citizen alum, and this individual will be responsible for accessing the proposal form. Projects may be carried out virtually, in the United States or its territories, or internationally. If the project is proposed to take place overseas, at least one of the team leaders must have direct international exchange experience in that community.
Applications close Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Please read below for more details about the 2025 CDAF competition and how to apply.
How to Apply
You can access the grant application portal through the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund website linked above.
Eligibility
- Projects must be submitted by teams of two or more alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. See a list of eligible programs here (note: this is not a comprehensive list of eligible programs).
- Some common programs that are eligible but not seen on the above list are: Peace Corps, Boren Scholars, Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS).
- Each team must comprise at least one U.S. citizen exchange alum and either one U.S. OR international citizen alum of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
- Team members must be alumni ages 18+.
Competition Project Themes
Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Promoting Media Integrity
Projects strengthen democratic institutions to counter authoritarianism, empower citizens, fight disinformation, and foster a strong civil society. Projects may include initiatives to instill confidence in free and fair elections, combat corruption, support a free and independent media, strengthen media literacy education to counter disinformation, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, or increase the civic participation of women and marginalized communities.
Protecting the Environment
Projects support healthy, environmentally conscious populations by strengthening education, increasing understanding, and fostering sustainable practices. Projects may include initiatives to support conservation, boost recycling and reduce waste, empower farmers to strengthen sustainable farming practices, introduce outdoorsmanship skills, connect communities to their environment, or (re)develop local economies through environmental cleanup and investment in newer, greener jobs. Projects may look at tackling critical energy issues both in the United States and around the world, proposing bold ideas and strategies to address the growing energy crisis.
Building Community Through Arts, Sports, or Technology
Projects foster strong civic engagement by strengthening education, economic empowerment, peace building, or community resilience through programs using new technology, the arts, sports, and language. Projects may include initiatives to promote self-expression, foster mutual understanding, support mentorship programs for aspiring artists and athletes, increase access to language classes and foster cross-cultural communication, develop educational and civic engagement opportunities for minority, refugee, and indigenous language communities, and integrate new technologies into communal spaces and public engagement.
Human Rights, Refugees, and Migrants
Projects should support the needs of refugees, migrants, and those facing human rights abuses around the world. Projects may establish supportive programming to alleviate stressors, tackle challenges, give voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on difficult situations. Projects are encouraged to seek outside support to raise awareness and provide appropriate, adequate, and helpful assistance in each situation. For certain projects, teams should be prepared to work closely with U.S. embassies around the world.
Promoting English Language Learning
Projects provide opportunities and engagement for participants to learn or utilize English language skills in both professional and informal environments. For example, projects may include an English language camp with youth participants, an awareness campaign promoting English language classes and courses, or a workshop on pedagogical strategies for ESL teachers in another country.
CDAF 2025 Resources
CDAF Informational Webinar (December 5 at 5:30 p.m. ET)
During this webinar, we will provide an overview of CDAF, the five selected themes for this year’s projects, and the application components. We will have time at the end for any questions. Recording Here
CDAF Grant Proposal Writing Webinar (December 11 at 5:00 p.m. ET)
During this webinar, we covered the components of the CDAF grant proposal application and provided resources for deeper review of the proposal elements. Recording Here
CDAF Team Networking (January 15 at 12:30 p.m. ET)
During this webinar, we will discuss the 2025 CDAF team structure and thematic content. Participants will have the chance to meet other alumni and connect around shared interests. Register Here
CDAF Open Office Hours
CDAF staff will hold four (4) office hours throughout January and February to answer any questions about the program and the application process.
- January 7 at 12:30 p.m. ET
- January 23 at 4:00 p.m. ET
- January 29 at 12:30 p.m. ET
- February 3 at 5:30 p.m. ET
More Information
Visit exchangealumni.state.gov, click on the U.S. Alumni tab, and read detailed information pertaining to competition guidelines and requirements on the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) page.
Click here to see a page of Frequently Asked Questions.
Learn more about the winners of the 2024 Competition.
Learn more about the winners of the 2023 Competition.
Contact CDAF@GlobalTiesUS.org.
The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and implemented by Global Ties U.S. in partnership with the Office of Alumni Affairs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.