Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS SAU FY26 01
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 (AEIF) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia (Funding Opportunity Number: PDS SAU FY26 01; CFDA: 19.022) that supports projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. government funded or sponsored exchange programs. The central purpose of the fund is to help exchange alumni translate their U.S. exchange experience into practical, community facing initiatives that strengthen long standing U.S. Saudi ties, with a clear emphasis on implementing most of the funded work inside Saudi Arabia.
Grant awards are expected to range from USD 5,000 to USD 35,000, with an award ceiling of USD 35,000, and the program anticipates making around three awards in this cycle. Projects are funded as grants (Funding Instrument Type: Grant), and the activity category is listed broadly as "Other," which typically signals flexibility in the types of eligible project themes as long as they align with the program goal of alumni led engagement and relationship building.
Eligibility is restricted to exchange alumni applying as individuals or alumni teams, not institutions. Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government funded or sponsored exchange program, and proposals must be submitted by the alumni themselves rather than by an organization. Teams are required: each project must be led by a team of at least two alumni. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs and even different countries, but at least one team leader must be a Saudi citizen or a resident in Saudi Arabia. Another key rule is that alumni who are U.S. citizens are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants, though U.S. citizen alumni are permitted to participate on a project team in a supporting role.
The fund is designed to support activities that predominantly occur within Saudi Arabia, so proposals should be built around in country programming, events, trainings, workshops, pilot initiatives, or other locally delivered activities that demonstrate clear community benefit and visible alumni leadership. While non profit organizations, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions cannot apply in the name of the organization, they may partner with the alumni team to help implement project activities, which can be useful for logistics, venues, specialized expertise, or access to target communities, as long as the alumni remain the official applicants and project leads.
The opportunity was created on 2026-04-19 and has an application deadline of 2026-05-07. Overall, AEIF 2026 is best suited for Saudi based exchange alumni who can form a small team, propose a realistic and well scoped project within the USD 5,000 to 35,000 range, and deliver a majority of project activities inside Saudi Arabia while advancing people to people connections and constructive collaboration linked to the shared U.S. Saudi relationship.Apply for PDS SAU FY26 01
- The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 (AEIF) - FAQs
What is the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 (AEIF)?
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 (AEIF) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia (Funding Opportunity Number: PDS SAU FY26 01; CFDA: 19.022). It supports projects designed and led by alumni of U.S. government funded or sponsored exchange programs.
What is the main purpose of AEIF 2026?
The fund is intended to help exchange alumni translate their U.S. exchange experience into practical, community facing initiatives that strengthen long standing U.S.-Saudi ties. A key emphasis is that most funded work should be implemented inside Saudi Arabia.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia.
What are the funding details (minimum, maximum, and expected award size)?
Grant awards are expected to range from USD 5,000 to USD 35,000. The award ceiling is USD 35,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The program anticipates making around three awards in this cycle.
What type of funding instrument is used?
Projects are funded as grants (Funding Instrument Type: Grant).
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed broadly as "Other," which typically signals flexibility in project themes as long as they align with the program goal of alumni led engagement and relationship building.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to exchange alumni applying as individuals or alumni teams (not institutions). Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government funded or sponsored exchange program, and proposals must be submitted by the alumni themselves.
Can an organization apply on behalf of alumni?
No. Proposals must be submitted by the alumni themselves rather than by an organization. Institutions are not eligible to apply in the name of the institution.
Are team applications required, or can one alum apply alone?
Teams are required. Each project must be led by a team of at least two alumni.
Can team members come from different exchange programs?
Yes. Teams can be mixed across different exchange programs.
Can team members be from different countries?
Yes. Teams can include alumni from different countries, provided the team meets the leadership rule that at least one team leader must be a Saudi citizen or a resident in Saudi Arabia.
Does the team need a Saudi citizen or Saudi resident in leadership?
Yes. At least one team leader must be a Saudi citizen or a resident in Saudi Arabia.
Can U.S. citizen alumni apply as the applicant?
No. Alumni who are U.S. citizens are not allowed to submit proposals as applicants.
Can U.S. citizen alumni participate in the project at all?
Yes. U.S. citizen alumni may participate on a project team in a supporting role, but they cannot be the applicant.
Where should project activities take place?
The fund is designed to support activities that predominantly occur within Saudi Arabia. Proposals should be built around in-country programming and implementation.
What types of activities are encouraged under AEIF 2026?
Examples mentioned include in-country programming such as events, trainings, workshops, pilot initiatives, or other locally delivered activities that demonstrate clear community benefit and visible alumni leadership.
What should a strong project proposal emphasize?
Based on the opportunity description, strong proposals should emphasize visible alumni leadership, clear community benefit, practical implementation linked to the alumni exchange experience, and a majority of activities delivered inside Saudi Arabia while advancing people-to-people connections and constructive collaboration tied to the U.S.-Saudi relationship.
Can alumni teams partner with nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, or universities?
Yes. While nonprofits, NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions cannot apply in the name of the organization, they may partner with the alumni team to help implement activities (for example, supporting logistics, venues, specialized expertise, or access to target communities). The alumni must remain the official applicants and project leads.
What is the application deadline for AEIF 2026?
The application deadline is 2026-05-07.
When was this opportunity created or posted?
The opportunity was created on 2026-04-19.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PDS SAU FY26 01.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.022.
Who is AEIF 2026 best suited for?
AEIF 2026 is best suited for Saudi based exchange alumni who can form a small team (at least two alumni), propose a realistic project within the USD 5,000 to 35,000 range, and deliver most activities inside Saudi Arabia while strengthening U.S.-Saudi ties through community facing engagement.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other
Previous opportunity: Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0003390
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