Description
The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia’s Public Diplomacy Section is soliciting a not‑for‑profit, think‑tank, or academic institution to plan, execute, and follow‑up on the AEIF 2026 Alumni Summit (“Freedom 250”) in Riyadh. The award is a cooperative agreement valued up to $100,000, with a 12‑month performance period (Oct 2026 – Oct 2027). The grantee will manage three phases: (1) planning and recruitment (Oct‑Dec 2026), (2) a two‑day in‑person summit in Jan 2027 for 70‑90 U.S. exchange alumni, and (3) post‑summit activities (Feb‑July 2027) including a micro‑grant competition (3‑5 grants up to $5,000 each) and the creation of a 10‑member Alumni Advisory Network. The program must align with Freedom 250 themes of leadership, innovation, and civic engagement, and must meet extensive reporting, budgeting, and U.S. State Department oversight requirements.
• Eligible applicants: NGOs, think tanks, civil‑society NGOs, and public/private educational institutions in Saudi Arabia or the U.S.
• Funding: up to $100,000 (minimum $80,000) – includes $25,000 cap for micro‑grants.
• Deliverables: summit agenda, venue contracts, travel logistics, workshop materials, micro‑grant administration, final reports.
• Mandatory elements: alumni‑driven sessions, private‑sector engagement, skills‑building workshops, collaborative project pitches, post‑summit advisory network, six‑month follow‑on activities.
• Evaluation criteria: program idea quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, budget cost‑effectiveness, M&E plan, sustainability.