The U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program (U.S. Exchange Alumni Program) enables U.S. alumni to use their skills, knowledge, and networks to model American exceptionalism and drive American progress and ingenuity. A component of the U.S. Exchange Alumni Program, the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) provides opportunities for exchange alumni to deepen their networks, while showcasing their expertise and supporting the American economy.

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.

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 America250 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 community resilience against global threats
• Strengthening alumni networks and partnerships for global impact 

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. At least one team leader must be a U.S. citizen. The second team leader may be either a U.S. citizen 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. Government 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
• Clarity and measurability of project goals, objectives, and activities
• 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 

CDAF 2026 Timeline 

March 2026: Application opens

May 2026: Application closes

June 2026: Project selections announced

July – December 2026: Project implementation

January 2027: Virtual CDAF Showcase

Contact

For questions about the U.S. Exchange Alumni Program or the CDAF small grants program, please email CDAF@irex.org.