Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006534
The FY 2020 Office of the U.S. Speaker Program grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0006534) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs initiative designed to support a large-scale public diplomacy program that connects international audiences with dynamic American experts. The core idea is to recruit and deploy U.S. citizens with credible expertise and informed perspectives to engage overseas communities on topics that matter to U.S. foreign policy and broader strategic interests. Through these engagements, the program aims to deepen understanding of U.S. policy priorities, the institutions that shape U.S. governance, and the political, economic, social, and cultural context in which those policies are formed.
The program supports both in-person and virtual formats, reflecting a flexible model that can be adapted to local conditions and audience needs. In-person travel programs typically run anywhere from three days to three weeks, allowing for intensive, multi-event schedules across one or more locations. Virtual programs are usually set for a specific date and time and may be delivered as one-off events or as part of an ongoing series. The content and delivery methods are intentionally varied and can include workshops, lectures, seminars, consultations, media engagements, and digital products such as podcasts and videos. A key feature of the program is the use of innovative technologies to extend reach and amplify messaging beyond the immediate room or live event.
Operationally, the Office of the U.S. Speaker Program runs at significant scale, conducting roughly 600 to 700 programs per year worldwide. It works closely with U.S. embassies and consulates to design and implement customized programs tailored to local priorities and target audiences. This collaboration helps ensure that each engagement is shaped by on-the-ground insight into what will resonate most effectively in a given country or community. Another emphasis is sustainability: the program is not only about one-time speaking events, but about building longer-term relationships between U.S. speakers and overseas counterparts to maintain dialogue on key policy issues over time.
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal government expects substantial involvement in the program’s implementation rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The funding activity category is listed as "Other" under CFDA 19.440, aligning it with ECA exchange and cultural programming that does not fit neatly into a single conventional category. The award structure anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1), with an award ceiling of $4,200,000, indicating that the selected recipient would function as a primary implementing partner responsible for executing the program at global scale in coordination with the Department of State and overseas posts.
Speaker recruitment is central to the program design and is handled through deliberate sourcing and vetting processes. The program draws from a wide range of fields and viewpoints, seeking prominent experts with strong professional credibility and the ability to communicate effectively with international audiences. Recruitment methods include outreach to professional organizations and academic institutions, coordination with other Department of State offices and U.S. government entities, review of biographical materials, online research, and referrals from former speakers. A firm eligibility requirement for individual speakers is U.S. citizenship, reflecting the program’s role in presenting American expertise and perspectives abroad.
Key administrative details include a creation date of February 26, 2020, and an original application closing date of April 27, 2020. Eligibility is broadly described as "Others" with additional clarification expected in the full notice, which typically signals that the competition is open to certain types of organizations capable of managing international programming at high volume, including logistics, content development, speaker management, and coordination with embassies and consulates. Overall, this funding opportunity supports an extensive, high-visibility engagement platform intended to communicate U.S. policy context and priorities, strengthen professional and institutional connections, and sustain international dialogue through both travel-based and technology-enabled programming.Apply for SFOP0006534
- The Department of State, Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020 Office of the U.S. Speaker Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.440.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2020. (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 $4,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| DRL FY19 IRF Addressing Societal Constraints on Religious Freedom in Pakistan Apply for SFOP0006584 Funding Number: SFOP0006584 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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