Deadline: 10-Jul-2026
The FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage Program is a U.S. Department of State initiative designed to strengthen international cooperation in cultural heritage protection and preservation.
The program forms part of the America 250 celebrations and will convene cultural ministers and senior officials from selected countries for a one-to-two-day high-level exchange in the United States.
The initiative emphasizes:
- Cultural heritage protection
- International collaboration
- Cultural diplomacy
- Anti-trafficking cooperation
- Preservation technologies and innovation
Programme Objectives
The program aims to:
- Strengthen global cooperation in cultural heritage preservation
- Combat illicit trafficking of art and antiquities
- Promote U.S. best practices and preservation standards
- Showcase American heritage protection technologies
- Support international law enforcement coordination
- Strengthen cultural diplomacy and bilateral partnerships
- Highlight U.S. commitment to freedom and cultural preservation
Key Focus Areas
The initiative focuses on:
- Cultural heritage preservation and protection
- Anti-trafficking efforts for cultural property
- International cultural diplomacy
- Creative economy development
- Law enforcement cooperation
- Heritage conservation technologies
- Protection against organized crime and terrorism financing linked to illicit antiquities trafficking
Programme Activities
The selected implementing partner will organize and manage:
- Ministerial-level cultural heritage convenings
- Virtual preparatory meetings with participating countries
- Agenda development and coordination
- Expert panels and speaker sessions
- Strategic policy discussions
- Networking and cooperation-building activities
- Potential joint statements and future partnerships
Funding Details
- Award amount: $1,000,000
- Award ceiling: $1,000,000
- Award floor: $1,000,000
- Funding type: Cooperative agreement
Organising Institutions and Partners
The programme involves collaboration among:
- U.S. Department of State
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
- U.S. cultural institutions
- Law enforcement agencies
- Private sector organizations
- International cultural ministries and authorities
Programme Themes
Core themes include:
- Heritage preservation innovation
- Cultural property protection
- International cultural cooperation
- Public diplomacy and cultural exchange
- U.S. leadership in heritage technologies
- Countering illicit trafficking networks
- Sustainable cultural heritage management
Technology and Innovation Component
A major component of the program is showcasing advanced U.S.-based technologies and expertise related to:
- Heritage preservation tools
- Conservation technologies
- Digital documentation systems
- Cultural property tracking and protection
- Preservation laboratories and scientific methods
The initiative also supports commercial diplomacy by introducing participants to American institutions and businesses operating in the cultural heritage sector.
Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation
The programme supports stronger international coordination between:
- Cultural ministries
- Law enforcement agencies
- Border protection and customs authorities
- Cultural property experts
Focus areas include:
- Illicit antiquities trafficking prevention
- Organized crime financing
- Terrorism-linked trafficking networks
- International information sharing and enforcement cooperation
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. not-for-profit organizations
- Think tanks
- Civil society organizations
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Public educational institutions
- Private educational institutions
Experience Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- At least four years of experience managing international exchanges
- Capacity to organize high-level government convenings
- Expertise in public diplomacy programming
- Familiarity with cultural heritage preservation and protection initiatives
Expected Applicant Capabilities
Strong applications should demonstrate:
- International program management expertise
- Experience engaging senior government officials
- Capacity for complex logistics coordination
- Strong partnerships in the heritage sector
- Ability to manage public diplomacy initiatives
- Knowledge of cultural property protection issues
Expected Outcomes
The program seeks to achieve:
- Stronger international cultural heritage cooperation
- Expanded law enforcement coordination
- Greater awareness of U.S. preservation expertise
- Increased collaboration between governments and institutions
- Development of future heritage protection partnerships
- Enhanced global dialogue on illicit trafficking prevention
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Weak international exchange experience documentation
- Insufficient expertise in cultural heritage topics
- Limited logistical planning for high-level delegations
- Inadequate coordination frameworks
- Lack of public diplomacy alignment
- Vague implementation structures or timelines
Tips for a Strong Proposal
To improve competitiveness:
- Demonstrate extensive exchange management experience
- Highlight prior work with senior government officials
- Include strong heritage and law enforcement partnerships
- Show detailed event management capacity
- Emphasize public diplomacy outcomes
- Present realistic operational and security planning
- Include measurable international cooperation objectives
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the program?
- To strengthen global cooperation in cultural heritage preservation and protection
- To combat illicit trafficking of cultural property
- To promote U.S. leadership in heritage preservation technologies
- How much funding is available?
- A single award of $1,000,000
- Who can apply?
- U.S.-based nonprofits, NGOs, educational institutions, and think tanks
- What experience is required?
- At least four years of experience managing international exchange programs
- What activities will the program support?
- Ministerial convenings, expert discussions, preparatory meetings, and international cooperation activities
- What topics will be covered?
- Cultural heritage preservation
- Anti-trafficking cooperation
- Heritage technologies
- Law enforcement coordination
- Cultural diplomacy
- What is the broader goal of the initiative?
- To strengthen international partnerships and protect cultural heritage globally through diplomacy, technology, and cooperation
Conclusion
The FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage Program is a major international cultural diplomacy initiative designed to strengthen global partnerships in heritage preservation and anti-trafficking cooperation. Through a high-level exchange supported by the U.S. Department of State, the program promotes cultural protection, technological innovation, and international collaboration while highlighting American leadership in safeguarding cultural heritage worldwide.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.