Announcing the 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition

The 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition is now closed.

Virtual exchange is a critical part of international education, connecting young people from around the world and making global experiences possible for many. In an ever-connected world, young people need the tools, skills, and network of global peers required to tackle our most pressing challenges. Because of this ongoing need, the time for virtual exchange is now.

We are excited to announce the 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition which will award funding to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for the design and implementation of innovative virtual exchange programs connecting young people in the United States (U.S.) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

We will select a diverse cohort of applicants proposing programs for different ages, geographies, and backgrounds, prioritizing proposals with plans to reach communities and participants who traditionally have not had access to international education or exchange opportunities. Additionally, we aim to fund a diverse portfolio of virtual exchange program topics, prioritizing programs featuring digital literacy and combating misinformation, climate and the environment, language learning and practice, and civic engagement.

This year, we will award three grant types (established, mid-size, and seeding) with varying individual award sizes supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). We anticipate that this new portfolio of two-year grants will reach approximately 9,000 young people in the U.S. and MENA.

Grant Types

  • Seeding: New or early-stage virtual exchanges exploring promising frameworks and practices. | $100,000-$300,000
  • Mid-Size: Existing virtual exchanges with a promising program or framework and that are ready for (or recently experienced) modest growth in reach. | Up to $500,000
  • Established: At-scale virtual exchanges with proven success and impact. | Up to $900,000

Access the call for proposals here for in-depth information about requirements and expectations. Applicants must submit their proposal by 5pm U.S. Eastern Time on October 26, 2023. For additional guidance, applicants should review the frequently asked questions and common application feedback.

Learn More

What is Virtual Exchange?

Virtual exchange connects young people from around the world for learning and collaboration, immersing them in digital spaces to gain practical skills and build friendships along the way. Watch this video to learn more.

The Middle East and North Africa Region

In accordance with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, the Initiative considers the following countries or locations to be part of the MENA region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Webinar Information

We will host two webinars about the 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition.

  • Competition Overview: September 13, 2023, 11:00am-12:00pm U.S. Eastern Time | Watch here
  • Budget and Compliance: September 20, 2023, 11:00am-12:00pm U.S. Eastern Time | Watch here

Engage

New to virtual exchange? Apply for the 2024 Virtual Exchange Academy, a six-week training that teaches foundational elements of virtual exchange planning and implementation. Learn more here, and apply by October 20, 2023.

If you are not eligible for or interested in applying to the 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition, learn about other opportunities to bring virtual exchange to young people in your community here.

Spread the Word

Help us spread the word about the 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition by sharing information from this toolkit with your network.

The 2023 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition and the JCSVEI is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute, administers JCSVEI.