The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF), a component of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program, is a small‑grants competition for U.S. citizen alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs. This funding opportunity aims to amplify the U.S. Government’s return on investment in exchange programs by encouraging alumni to actively address shared global challenges at home and abroad. Through competitively awarded grants of up to $10,000, exchange alumni implement policy‑focused projects in the United States and around the world, strengthening the impact of U.S. Government exchange programming while expanding their networks, showcasing their expertise, and contributing to the American economy.

Application Live in March 2026!

Activities 

Teams of two or more U.S. Government exchange alumni will collaborate to design and implement a project that applies the knowledge and skills gained on their exchange program to contribute to long lasting solutions, strengthen local U.S. communities, and spread American excellence to communities around the world. 

Selected projects will be implemented over a six-month period. During the implementation period, teams will complete project management training coursework, designed to enhance project delivery and outcomes, and complete regular progress check-ins with IREX. Following the implementation period, teams will participate in the culminating Virtual Showcase to demonstrate the collective impact of all completed projects.

All project proposals must address a local or global challenge in one of the following areas: 

• Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday and global connections through arts, sports, and culture
• Advancing free speech and expression through arts, media, and technology
• Fostering economic prosperity through English language, innovation, and partnerships
• Strengthening alumni networks and partnerships in support of a safer and stronger America

Application Instructions

CDAF applications must include all of the following components. Incomplete applications at the submission deadline will be considered ineligible. All materials must be written in English.

• Completed Application Form
• Completed Work Plan
• Completed Budget
• Professional resumes of Exchange Alumni team members
• Letter of intent from partnering organization (if applicable)

Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible for CDAF selection and funding, applications must meet all eligibility requirements:

• Projects must be related to one of the five current CDAF themes.
• Projects must be submitted by teams of two or more alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs.
• To facilitate collaboration among alumni, each team must have two team leaders. The primary team leader must be a U.S. citizen. The second team leader may be either a U.S.  or international citizen. All team members must be alumni of U.S. Government- sponsored exchange programs.
• All team members must be alumni in good standing.
• All team members must be 18 years of age or older.

U.S. Department of State and IREX employees and their immediate family members are not eligible. 

Selection Criteria 

Eligible applications will be reviewed based on the following selection criteria: 

• Project methodology and feasibility of work plan
• Measurability of project goals, objectives, and activities
• Clear alignment of project activities with at least one of the five core thematic areas
• Applicants’ qualifications to implement the project
• Evidence of joint engagement by the team leaders in project design and implementation
• Reasonableness of project budget and value for cost
• Potential for impact beyond the project implementation
• If the project is conducted outside of the United States, its activities must demonstrate a clear link to the alumni’s exchange program and be carried out in a country where the team leads have substantial prior experience.

CDAF 2026 Timeline 

March 5, 2026: Application opens

May 5, 2026: Application closes

June 2026: Project selections announced

July – December 2026: Project implementation

January 2027: Virtual CDAF Showcase

Contact

For questions about the CDAF small grants program, please email CDAF@irex.org.

Sponsor

The U.S. Exchange Alumni Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX.