Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018215
The FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018215) is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) that supports short-term international exchanges by sending American experts overseas. The program expects to place roughly 400 U.S. academics and seasoned professionals in host countries around the world for project-based engagements lasting about two to six weeks during FY 2027. The overall aim is to deploy U.S. expertise in ways that deepen professional connections, expand international experience for participants, and advance projects that align with U.S. foreign policy priorities, while also strengthening institutional ties connected to education, innovation, and trade.
A key feature of this program is that projects are demand-driven from overseas. Rather than applicants inventing projects independently, assignments are requested by U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions abroad and developed in coordination with host-country institutions. Those partner institutions can include universities and colleges, teacher-training centers, cultural organizations, and government ministries, among others. The structure is designed to ensure the work is relevant on the ground and linked to broader diplomatic and educational objectives, with the embassy/commission acting as a coordinating bridge between U.S. program administration and the host institution’s needs.
The work Specialists do is practical and deliverable-focused. Participants may be asked to develop or revise curricula, plan and lead workshops or symposia, conduct needs assessments, provide technical consultations, or advise on faculty development and workforce training priorities. The program is intentionally interdisciplinary and not limited to traditional academic fields; it can include attorneys, business leaders, economists, and other professionals whose expertise is valuable to institutional capacity-building and professional exchange. In general, the projects emphasize knowledge transfer, skills development, and relationship-building that can continue beyond the short in-country period through ongoing professional networks and institutional collaboration.
From a funding and administration standpoint, this opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, indicating substantial federal involvement in program direction and oversight during performance. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $4,600,000 and anticipates making one award, which typically means a single implementing organization will be selected to manage the program operations (for example, recruitment support, logistics, coordination with posts and commissions, and program monitoring), rather than issuing separate awards for each Specialist. The activity category is listed as “Other,” and the CFDA (assistance listing) number is 19.401.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The “Others” category is also included, suggesting additional entity types may be permitted as described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity. The posting shows a creation date of 2026-04-29 and an original closing date of 2026-06-29, which is the key deadline for organizations seeking to apply to operate the program under this cooperative agreement. For full requirements, allowable costs, program responsibilities, and selection criteria, applicants are directed to consult the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity and full announcement materials.Apply for DFOP0018215
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.401.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-29. (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 $4,600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program (DFOP0018215) FAQs
1) What is the FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program?
The FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program is a U.S. Department of State initiative administered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) that supports short-term, project-based international exchanges by sending American experts overseas for approximately two to six weeks.
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is DFOP0018215.
3) Who runs this program on the U.S. government side?
The program is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
4) What is the primary purpose of the program?
The program aims to deploy U.S. expertise in ways that deepen professional connections, expand international experience for participants, and advance projects aligned with U.S. foreign policy priorities, while strengthening institutional ties connected to education, innovation, and trade.
5) How many U.S. Specialists does the program expect to place in FY 2027?
The program expects to place roughly 400 U.S. academics and seasoned professionals in host countries worldwide during FY 2027.
6) How long are Fulbright Specialist engagements typically?
Projects are expected to last about two to six weeks.
7) Are projects created by applicants, or are they requested by host countries?
Projects are demand-driven from overseas. Assignments are requested by U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions abroad and developed in coordination with host-country institutions, rather than being invented independently by applicants.
8) Who coordinates the projects overseas?
U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions abroad coordinate the assignments and act as a bridge between U.S. program administration and the needs of host-country institutions.
9) What kinds of host-country institutions can be involved?
Partner institutions can include universities and colleges, teacher-training centers, cultural organizations, and government ministries, among others.
10) What types of work might Fulbright Specialists be asked to do?
The work is practical and deliverable-focused. Examples include developing or revising curricula, planning and leading workshops or symposia, conducting needs assessments, providing technical consultations, and advising on faculty development and workforce training priorities.
11) Is the program limited to traditional academic fields?
No. The program is intentionally interdisciplinary and can include attorneys, business leaders, economists, and other professionals whose expertise supports institutional capacity-building and professional exchange.
12) What is the overall emphasis of Specialist projects?
Projects generally emphasize knowledge transfer, skills development, and relationship-building that can continue beyond the short in-country period through professional networks and institutional collaboration.
13) What type of funding opportunity is this (discretionary or mandatory)?
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
14) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial federal involvement in program direction and oversight during performance.
15) What is the award ceiling?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $4,600,000.
16) How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates making one award.
17) Does this opportunity fund individual Specialists directly?
Based on the information provided, the opportunity anticipates a single implementing organization will be selected to manage program operations, rather than issuing separate awards for each Specialist.
18) What might the selected implementing organization be responsible for?
The implementing organization would typically manage program operations such as recruitment support, logistics, coordination with U.S. posts and commissions, and program monitoring.
19) What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as "Other."
20) What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 19.401.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The "Others" category is also included, indicating additional entity types may be permitted as described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
22) What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The posting indicates that "Others" may be eligible, but the specific additional entity types are not listed in the summary provided and are expected to be described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
23) When was this opportunity created?
The posting shows a creation date of 2026-04-29.
24) What is the application deadline?
The posting shows an original closing date of 2026-06-29 for organizations seeking to apply to operate the program under this cooperative agreement.
25) Where should applicants look for full requirements and selection criteria?
Applicants are directed to consult the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity and full announcement materials for full requirements, allowable costs, program responsibilities, and selection criteria.
26) What is the geographic scope of the program?
The program operates in host countries around the world, with assignments requested and coordinated through U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions abroad.
27) What makes this program "project-based"?
Specialists complete defined, deliverable-focused engagements (for example, workshops, consultations, curriculum work, or needs assessments) during a short in-country period of about two to six weeks.
28) How does this program connect to broader U.S. goals?
The program is designed to align projects with U.S. foreign policy priorities and to strengthen institutional ties connected to education, innovation, and trade, while building professional relationships and networks.
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