AUTHORIZATION:

The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256.

OBJECTIVES:

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society � including young people, women, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals � increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans. The purpose of the Fulbright Student Program is to promote mutual understanding by providing opportunities for American and foreign students to study, do research, and/or serve as teaching assistants of their native languages abroad.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funding is provided to non-profit organizations to support their work in designing and administering programs as well as coordinating program logistics. Funding to those organizations supports activities such as publicity and recruitment, screening of applications, communication with recipients, payment of stipends, and the provision of enrichment activities. The flagship international exchange program sponsored by the United States Government, the Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program promotes leadership development through learning and international cooperation. Please refer to the grants.gov or Federal Register announcement for further information.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   To individuals with the following qualifications: (a) U.S. citizenship at the time of application; (b) with certain exceptions, B.A. degree or its equivalent before the beginning date of the grant; (c) candidates may not hold a doctoral degree at the time of application; (d); preference will usually be given to candidates who have not had extensive recent experience in the country to which they are applying; (e) language proficiency sufficient to communicate with the people of the host country and to carry out the proposed study; (f) language proficiency is especially important for students wishing to undertake projects in the social sciences and the humanities; and (g) good health.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   U.S. citizens who are graduate students and who want to live and study in a foreign country for one academic year.

Credentials/Documentation:   Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the grants.gov or Federal Register announcement for further eligibility criteria. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Announcements are made on the grants.gov website and in the Federal Register for organizations meeting eligibility requirements. Announcements are made throughout the fiscal year and are posted to the Department of State's website: http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html. The application procedures are described in the grants.gov and Federal Register announcements.

Award Procedure:   Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau�s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the recipient�s responsible officer identified in the application.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

As stated in the grants.gov and Federal Register announcements.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

As stated in the grants.gov and Federal Register announcements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Through the Department's central financial management database.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   As stated in the grants.gov and Federal Register announcement. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. As stated in the grants.gov and Federal Register announcement. As stated in the grants.gov and Federal Register announcement.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. The Recipient must comply with the OMB audit requirements. For all DOS awards, regardless of business type, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in OMB audit requirements. In addition, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in the Single Audit Act of 1984, 31 U.S.C. 7501-7507. Please refer to the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (http://fa.statebuy.state.gov ) for additional guidance

Records:   The Recipients must maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to an award for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. Please refer to the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (http://fa.statebuy.state.gov ) for additional guidance.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

19-0201-0-1-154.

Obligations:   (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 15 $99,939,717; FY 16 est $99,939,717; and FY 17 est $99,939,717

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

$1.900,000 to $84,646,255.

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