U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026)

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Notice of Funding Opportunity AEIF FY26

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

U.S. Embassy Sofia PDS Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund

(AEIF 2026)

U.S. Embassy - Bulgaria, Department of State

Opportunity number: PDS-AEIF-FY26-01-SOFIA

Application deadline: May 1, 2026

Table of Contents

U.S Department of State
U.S. Embassy – Sofia, Bulgaria, Public Diplomacy Section

Notice of Funding Opportunity

BASIC INFORMATION

Overview

Funding Instrument Type: Grant or fixed amount award (FAA)

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 1 year or less.

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.

Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Sofia announces an open competition for past participants (“alumni”) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs to submit applications to the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026). We seek proposals from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below. Exchange alumni interested in participating in AEIF 2026 should submit proposals to SofiaGrants@state.gov by May 1, 2026. Note: all submitted/emailed proposals must include "AEIF" in the subject line.

The program aims to increase the long-term impact of exchange programs by strengthening alumni networks, supporting collaboration at the regional and global levels, and building strong relationships between alumni and the U.S. government.

Embassy Sofia seeks alumni-led projects that advance administration goals, including boosting bilateral commercial ties, promoting free speech, highlighting American excellence/best practices, and delivering practical, locally grounded solutions that strengthen U.S.–Bulgarian cooperation in strategically important sectors.

Competitive 2026 proposals will:

• Demonstrate how they will strengthen the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government to work together on activities that address shared goals/challenges through sustained partnerships, practices, outcomes, and measurable impact; and

• Celebrate/promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (Freedom250) through programs that:

• Showcase American excellence, best practices, and innovation in business, entrepreneurship, workforce development, leadership, artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies, energy, space exploration, medical research, sports, music, film, and other cultural exports, with an emphasis on applied solutions that can be locally adopted.

• Reinforce core American values, including freedom of speech and digital freedom

• Promote American prosperity through forging sustainable economic, educational, and commercial partnerships, demonstrating the benefits of studying in the United States, adopting U.S. technologies and standards, building partnerships with U.S. firms, and supporting workforce readiness and entrepreneurship in strategic sectors.

• Strengthen U.S.-Bulgaria energy cooperation, including improving energy security, strategic infrastructure, civil nuclear workforce development, and emerging technologies, consistent with U.S. norms and best practices.

• Share the American story/experience by spotlighting key historical milestones linked to America’s global leadership, highlighting American contributions to Bulgaria and Bulgarian-American contributions to the United States, and connecting Freedom250 commemorations to forward-looking cooperation, innovation, and shared prosperity.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program.

Projects teams must include at least two (2) alumni.

Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project.

Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries, but at least one of the team members must be a Bulgarian residing in Bulgaria.

Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni. No other organizations are eligible to apply but can serve as partners for implementing project activities.

Exchange alumni can partner with not-for-profit or non-governmental organizations, think tanks and academic institutions to implement project activities.

The grant can be issued to individual alumni or the partner organization.

Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity.

Other Eligibility Requirements

While individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov, if organizational partners (for which a USG alum is associated with) apply, they must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov.

Important: Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal. If more than one proposal is submitted from an individual, all proposals from that individual will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Project Background: The U.S. Embassy seeks to strengthen sustained engagement with alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs in Bulgaria by supporting initiatives that advance shared U.S.–Bulgaria strategic priorities. In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (Freedom250), this opportunity encourages alumni-led projects that highlight American excellence, promote U.S. standards and best practices, reinforce core foundational values, and build durable economic, educational, and technological partnerships.

Projects should connect historical commemoration to forward-looking cooperation, innovation, and shared prosperity.

Project Goals: To strengthen sustained alumni engagement and advance U.S.–Bulgaria strategic cooperation by promoting American innovation, standards, and foundational values in priority sectors, contributing to long-term economic growth, energy security, and shared prosperity.

Project Themes: Competitive 2026 proposals will:

• Demonstrate how they strengthen the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government to work together on activities that address shared goals/challenges through sustained partnerships, practices, outcomes, and measurable impact; and

• Celebrate/promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (Freedom250) through programs that:

• Showcase American excellence, best practices, and innovation in business, entrepreneurship, workforce development, leadership, artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies, energy, space exploration, medical research, sports, music, film, and other cultural exports, with an emphasis on applied solutions that can be locally adopted.

• Reinforce core American values, including freedom of speech and digital freedom

• Promote American prosperity through forging sustainable economic, educational, and commercial partnerships, demonstrating the benefits of studying in the United States, adopting U.S. technologies and standards, building partnerships with U.S. firms, and supporting workforce readiness and entrepreneurship in strategic sectors.

• Strengthen U.S.-Bulgaria energy cooperation, including improving energy security, strategic infrastructure, civil nuclear workforce development, and emerging technologies, consistent with U.S. norms and best practices.

• Share the American story/experience by spotlighting key historical milestones linked to America’s global leadership, highlighting American contributions to Bulgaria and Bulgarian-American contributions to the United States, and connecting Freedom250 commemorations to forward-looking cooperation, innovation, and shared prosperity.

APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Applications and budgets must be submitted using the official AEIF 2026 application and budget forms provided on the website or linked below.

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• Applications and budgets are submitted using the official AEIF 2026 application and budget forms linked below.

• The proposal addresses all questions in the official AEIF 2026 application form;

• All documents are in English

• The budget is in U.S. dollars and is submitted using the designated AEIF 2026 budget form;

• All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various, required forms.

The following documents are required:

2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal Form (Download Here)

About Your Project: Please provide information on the title of your project, the requested budget total, and the primary location of the project. Projects need to take place outside of the U.S. or its territories.

Project Team Information: At least two exchange alumni team members are required for a project to be considered for funding. Applications need to provide the name and contact information, describe the role each team member will have in the project, and their experience, qualifications, and ability to carry out that role. Applicants need to indicate what proportion of the team member’s time will be used in support of the project.

Project Description:

Project Summary: Describe the specific need or challenges the project will address and how you will address it.

Project Goals and Objectives: Project Objectives: Applicants must propose clear, measurable objectives. Competitive proposals will include objectives similar in structure and rigor to the examples below:

Objective 1: Strengthen Alumni Engagement and Institutional Partnerships: Engage at least [X] U.S. government exchange alumni in structured professional collaboration activities (e.g., workshops, mentorship programs, joint initiatives), resulting in at least [X%] of participating alumni reporting new or strengthened partnerships with U.S. institutions or Embassy-supported initiatives within X months of project completion.

Objective 2: Increase Adoption of U.S. Best Practices and Standards: Provide targeted training, roundtables, or applied workshops to at least [X] professionals in priority sectors (e.g., energy, AI, entrepreneurship, education), resulting in at least [X%] of participants demonstrating intent to adopt at least one U.S.-aligned practice, standard, or technology within six months, as measured by follow-up surveys or documented action plans.

Objective 3: Promote U.S. Education, Innovation, and Economic Partnership Opportunities: Increase awareness of U.S. education programs, commercial partnerships, or workforce development models among at least [X] participants, with at least [X%] demonstrating increased understanding of opportunities to study in the United States, partner with U.S. firms, or adopt U.S. technologies, as measured through pre- and post-program assessments.

Project Design and Methods: A description of how the project is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal/s. This should include a description of the project’s direct and indirect beneficiaries as well as a plan on how to continue the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. The proposed timeline for the project activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Applicants may also submit proposed workshop or training agendas and materials.

Project Timeline: A timeline of your project activities.

• Beneficiaries/Audiences: An estimated number of direct and indirect beneficiaries of your proposed project. Proposals should define specific target audiences when defining objectives. For instance, audiences could include exchange project alumni in Bulgaria, emerging leaders and young professionals, and sector-specific stakeholders (i.e. energy/civil nuclear professionals, educators/school administrators, media professionals, entrepreneurs and SME leaders, etc.) Applicants may define additional audiences as appropriate provided objectives are tailored and measurable.

Local Project Partners: A list of partners who will support the proposed project, if applicable.

Communication and Outreach Plan: The communication plan should include a communication and outreach strategy for promoting the proposed project. It may include social media, websites, print news, or other forms of media intended to use to share information about the project to beneficiaries and the public. Communications should include AEIF 2026, Exchange Alumni, and U.S. Embassy branding. (Note: Branding instructions will be provided to winning/selected applicants.)

Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The Monitoring and Evaluation component of the proposal should outline in detail how the proposal’s activities will advance the program’s goals and objectives. This should include any outcomes showing a change in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes; improved quality of services; increased capacity at a school, group; etc. Proposals should also include how the grantee will measure the impact of planned activities.

2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Budget Form with Budget Justification Narrative (Download Here).

Important:

• Applicants should refer to the “Important Budget Guidance” tab for additional instructions on how to complete this budget form.

• The Budget Justification portions of the form are mandatory. If this is not filled out, we require a separate budget justification narrative to accompany the detailed line-item budget.

Other Mandatory application forms

SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at grants.gov.

SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov.

SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov.

Additional Attachments

Key Personnel Resumes: A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume, not to exceed one page in length, should be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Director and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

Letters of support from program partners (if applicable): Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package

Application forms required above are available at Sofia Embassy’s website, and where noted, grants.gov.

Department of State Contacts

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: SofiaGrants@state.gov.

Required Registrations/Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov):

Foreign Organizations or Foreign Public Entities (FPEs):

• Full SAM.gov registration is no longer required for foreign organizations or FPEs receiving an award less than $500,000 that will be performed outside the United States. However, per the guidance above, you still need to acquire a UEI number via www.SAM.gov.

Foreign or U.S. Individuals

• If the award will be issued to an individual, vice a foreign entity, you are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Submission Dates and Times

Submission Deadline: All applications must be received by May 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Sofia time. This deadline is firm and is not a rolling deadline. If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above their application will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Funding Restrictions

This opportunity will not support:

Projects relating to partisan political activity;

Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support

Construction projects;

Projects that support specific religious activities;

Fund-raising campaigns;

Lobbying for specific legislation or programs

Scientific research or surveys;

Commercial projects;

Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

Projects that duplicate existing projects;

Illegal activities

Additional Restrictions:

Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA): None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Certification Regarding Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws” If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;

It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. A program promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means a program whose purpose is to promote preferences based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origins, such as in training or hiring.

Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities

(a) Definitions.

American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity means an entity included on a list developed and maintained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) and published in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov

FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by an American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity.

Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft .

Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

(b) Prohibition. Recipients of funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (including subawards and subcontracts issued by the recipient) will be prohibited from:

(1) delivering any FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system, which includes unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and associated elements;

(2)Operating a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system in the performance of the award; and

(3) Using Federal funds for the purchase or operation of a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system .

c) Exemptions, exceptions, and waivers. The prohibitions described above will not apply if the agency determines that an exemption, exception, or waiver applies and the award indicates that such a determination has been made. [See sections 1823 through 1825 and 1832 of Public Law 118-31 ( 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.) for statutory requirements pertaining to exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.].

Pre-Award Costs: Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.

Construction: Any award made as a result of this NOFO will not allow for construction activities or costs.

Direct Social Services: Costs that cover and provide direct social services, such as welfare, charity, health or economic relief, are unallowable. Medical assistance, such as costs to include medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists to participate in the project activities are not allowed.

Other Submission Requirements: Copyrights and Proprietary Information

If any of the information contained in your application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary. Applicants should also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.

Applicants must acquire all required registrations and rights in the United States and Bulgaria. All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the United States and Bulgaria.

Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and Bulgarian requirements described above.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Review Criteria

Each proposal will be evaluation and rated bated on the criteria below:

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea/Relevance to Embassy Priorities (See Project Themes, Section C) – 30 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives that align directly with the priorities and requirements of the NOFO. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline, and the project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Finally, the proposal aligns with the following:

The project clearly demonstrates a direct contribution to current U.S. foreign policy priorities.

The project will positively impact America’s reputation among foreign government partners.

The project will positively impact American’s reputation among foreign publics.

The proposal does not include any activities contrary to the following Executive Orders:

• Executive Order 14173: "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

• Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens”

• Executive Order 14168: Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

Applicants’ Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:

The project proposal demonstrates that the applicants have sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project, including internal controls in place to manage federal funds.

The applicants demonstrate that they have a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.

The applicants demonstrate capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system, a bank account, and if applicable, satisfactory audit findings.

Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations, including the Award Provisions and Standard Terms and Conditions.

Where partners are described, the applicants detail each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate.

Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 20 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the applicants have devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

Monitoring and Evaluation - 10 points: There is a complete and thorough draft submission of a M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). This will include a list of proposed project activities, corresponding milestone, output, and outcome indicators, a description of data collection methods, and a timeline for collecting such information. The proposal presents a clear theory of change on how the program will address that problem. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

Sustainability – 5 points: The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.

Review and Selection Process

A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. U.S. Embassy Sofia will conduct the initial review and Washington D.C. will make the final funding determinations. Only selected proposals will be notified.

Risk Review

Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a Federal Award the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:

Financial stability

Management systems and standards

History of performance

Audit reports and findings

Ability to effectively implement project requirements

Records of previous grants

AWARD NOTICES

The award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and counter-signature. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method:

Recipients will be required to request payments by completing form SF-270—Request for Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer and Grants Officer Representative.

Recipients may not draw down funds without the affirmative authorization of the Department of State. In addition, recipients must submit, with each SF-270 payment request, a detailed explanation justifying the request.

POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following:

Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 89 FR 30046 on April 22, 2024, particularly on:

Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),

Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),

Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and

Terminating agreements pursuant to the U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, including, to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340). For the avoidance of doubt, the Department has sole discretion over the determination that an award no longer effectuates program goals or agency priorities, and this provision permits awards to be terminated at the Department’s convenience, including when it determines that the award no longer advances the national interest.

2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Recipients must comply with all applicable Executive Orders. A searchable list can be found in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/ .

Reporting

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit program and, in for non-fixed awards, financial reports. The award document will specify what reports are required and how often these reports must be submitted.

All reports are to be submitted electronically.

• Branding and Marking

The Department of State, its programs, and U.S. Government funding and assistance should be easily identifiable to the Department's global audiences.

Recipients of federal assistance awards must follow the branding guidance published at Guidance for Contracts and Grants - U.S. Department of State Brand System. Branding policy exceptions are outlined in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual 10 FAM 416, Policy Exceptions.

For more information, visit: https://brand.america.gov/

OTHER INFORMATION

1. Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $10,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $10,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Alcoholic Beverages:  Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages and other entertainment related expenses.

For more detailed budget guidance, please refer to the AEIF budget form.

2. STEP Enrollment

U.S. citizens who travel to Bulgaria are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) available at: https://step.state.gov/step/. Enrollment enables citizens to receive security-related messages from the Embassy and makes it easier for us to locate you in an emergency. The Embassy also recommends that all travelers review the State Department's travel website at travel.state.gov for the Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Bulgaria Specific Information.

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Proposal Template

2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal Form

To be completed by exchange alumni team leaders or U.S. Embassy/Consulate

All sections in this form need to be completed in order for the proposal to be eligible for submission.

Application Form Guidance is provided at the end of this form.

Application Form Guidance