Youth and Education Exchange Grant Program (Austria)

Deadline: 15/06/24

The U.S. Embassy Vienna of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out Youth and Education Exchange Grant Program to increase understanding of the United States and strengthen support for the transatlantic relationship and the common goals among young, emerging voices in Austrians.

Although Austrians – especially the younger generations – tend to be eager consumers of American technology and popular culture, and view America’s economic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit as world class, there is skepticism toward U.S. global leadership, including the impression that the United States acts unilaterally on the world stage, concern about the stability of democracy, societal divides, and polarization in the United States. U.S. Embassy Vienna invites proposals for a Youth and Education Exchange to be carried out between September 2024 and December 2025. In times of increasing discord and mis and disinformation, this program promises to contribute to coming generations of Austrian leaders’ understanding of the United States.

Program Objectives and Goals

• This exchange program will focus on U.S. culture, shared values, disinformation, DEIA, and the contemporary American political and media landscape. The goal is to reinforce the power of shared democratic values, provide a first-hand look at the U.S. political process and the role of civil society, and enhance people-to-people ties between young Austrians and Americans. The program will reduce stereotypes and produce informed young Austrians who can act as citizen ambassadors, thus benefiting the Austrian-American relationship in the years ahead.
• As this will be a cooperative agreement, U.S. Embassy Vienna will have substantial involvement in this effort including participant selection and approval of the program structure and content of the U.S. component.
• The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy is providing maximum flexibility for applicant organizations to offer program models that effectively meet the overall goals of the program.
• In addition to those listed above, required elements of the program are as follows:
  • Participants should learn about the essential elements of contemporary American life, in particular leadership, civil society, community engagement, and politics and how these elements inter-relate. Participants should have the opportunity to experience these elements in a local U.S. community through interactive, hands-on training, which might include, for example: formal presentations, meetings with stakeholders, discussions, and cultural or social events.
  • Participants should have interaction with policy experts, media professionals, civil society representatives, and academics and students in both countries.
  • The program should include elements for post-program engagement with the Austrian participants that include mentoring and supporting participants as alumni of this program.
  • The recipient will identify specific and measurable outputs and outcomes based on the project specifications provided in the solicitation.
• Additional program goals include:
  • Promote future Austrian leaders’ awareness of the American political process and the resilience of U.S. democracy.
  • Encourage identification of the United States as a destination for future academic, business, or other partnerships, and ongoing education.
  • Foster professional and personal ties with participants and U.S. citizens in the local community.
  • Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Austria.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $150,000 (pending availability of funds)
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $150,000
• Length of performance period: 12 to 24 months
• Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts)

Participants and Audiences 

• Target audience and participants are 10-15 Austrian university students and young professionals, between age 21 and 28 and residing permanently in Austria, with demonstrated leadership capacity to participate in a tailored and compact hybrid (with a virtual pre-program phase) program in Austria and the United States, focusing on education and leadership.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations.
  • Public and private educational institutions.
  • For-profit organizations can not apply.
• In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.
• U.S. Embassy Vienna encourages cost-sharing, which may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition, but a very competitive application will include cost sharing that allows for more participants. The recipient of an assistance award must maintain written records to support all allowable costs which are claimed as its contribution to cost participation, as well as costs to be paid by the federal government. Such records are subject to audit.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.