Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0007532
The FY 2021 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity run through the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division. It supports sports-based international exchange projects that connect the United States with select countries through reciprocal programming. The main purpose is to use sports as a practical platform for "Sport for Social Change," reaching underserved youth and the adults who support them (such as coaches and youth sports administrators). The program is framed as a public diplomacy tool that advances U.S. foreign policy goals by building relationships and engagement with communities that can be difficult to reach through traditional programming.
At the heart of the opportunity is the idea that sports can be more than competition. ISPI-funded exchanges are expected to help young people develop leadership and life skills, strengthen academic engagement and success, encourage tolerance, and build respect for diversity. Projects should be designed so that participants can bring value back to their home communities, while also contributing positively to their host communities during the exchange. ECA emphasizes the role of sports diplomacy in engaging at-risk youth and other groups often underrepresented in international programs, including women and girls, minorities, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers. A core requirement is that programming must include and focus on both male and female youth and/or the coaches and administrators who work with them.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of State expects to have an active role in shaping or overseeing key elements of the project during implementation, rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal involvement. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding under CFDA number 19.415. The competition anticipated making one award, with an award ceiling of $2,100,000, meaning proposals could request up to that amount but should be constructed to clearly justify costs in relation to activities and outcomes.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. organizations. Applicants may include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (as well as certain additional eligible applicant types referenced in the full announcement). Proposals must center on youth sports exchange programming for underserved populations and/or the practitioners who run youth sports programs. Importantly, proposals that are primarily designed to train elite athletes or elite coaches are not eligible, since the program is not intended to serve high-performance sports development but rather social impact and community-oriented outcomes through sports.
Key administrative details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number SFOP0007532, a posting date of January 7, 2021, and an original application deadline of March 11, 2021. The responsible agency is the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For applicants, the most critical takeaway is that competitive proposals would need to present a well-structured, reciprocal exchange model tied clearly to social change objectives, demonstrate meaningful inclusion of both genders, prioritize underserved participants, and show how sports-based activities translate into measurable leadership, educational, and community benefits rather than elite athletic advancement.Apply for SFOP0007532
- 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 2021 International Sports Programming Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 07, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 11, 2021. (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 $2,100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: FY 2021 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI)
What is the FY 2021 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI)?
ISPI is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity that supports sports-based international exchange projects. It is run through ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division, and is designed to connect the United States with select countries through reciprocal programming.
Which U.S. government office runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), through the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division.
What is the main goal of ISPI-funded projects?
The central goal is to use sports as a practical platform for "Sport for Social Change" by reaching underserved youth and the adults who support them (such as coaches and youth sports administrators). The exchanges are intended to build leadership and life skills, strengthen academic engagement and success, encourage tolerance, and build respect for diversity.
How does ISPI relate to public diplomacy and U.S. foreign policy?
ISPI is framed as a public diplomacy tool that advances U.S. foreign policy goals by building relationships and engagement with communities that can be difficult to reach through traditional programming.
What types of activities or outcomes are expected from projects funded under ISPI?
Projects are expected to go beyond competition and use sports-based exchange programming to support measurable social impact outcomes. The announcement emphasizes leadership and life skills development, academic engagement and success, tolerance, and respect for diversity, with benefits intended both for participants' home communities and for the host communities during the exchange.
Who is the primary target audience for ISPI programming?
The program targets underserved youth and/or the adults who support youth sports, including coaches and youth sports administrators. The program also emphasizes engagement with at-risk youth and other groups often underrepresented in international programs.
Which underserved or underrepresented groups does ISPI emphasize?
ECA highlights engagement with groups often underrepresented in international programs, including women and girls, minorities, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers.
Is gender inclusion required in ISPI projects?
Yes. A core requirement is that programming must include and focus on both male and female youth and/or the coaches and administrators who work with them.
What does "reciprocal programming" mean in this opportunity?
The opportunity calls for a reciprocal exchange model that connects the United States with select countries through exchange programming. Proposals are expected to clearly present a reciprocal model tied to social change objectives.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates that the Department of State expects to have an active role in shaping or overseeing key elements of the project during implementation, rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal involvement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding under CFDA 19.415.
How many awards were anticipated?
The competition anticipated making one award.
What is the maximum amount an applicant could request?
The award ceiling is $2,100,000. Proposals could request up to that amount and should clearly justify costs in relation to activities and outcomes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants may include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status. The announcement also references certain additional eligible applicant types in the full announcement.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
The information provided states eligibility is limited to U.S. organizations and lists organizational categories (higher education institutions and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status), so the opportunity is presented as organization-focused rather than individual-focused.
What kinds of projects are considered responsive to ISPI?
Responsive proposals must center on youth sports exchange programming for underserved populations and/or the practitioners who run youth sports programs. Competitive proposals would need to show a well-structured, reciprocal exchange model clearly tied to social change objectives, meaningful inclusion of both genders, and a clear connection between sports-based activities and measurable leadership, educational, and community benefits.
Are projects focused on elite athletes or elite coach training eligible?
No. Proposals that are primarily designed to train elite athletes or elite coaches are not eligible. The program is not intended for high-performance sports development; it is intended for social impact and community-oriented outcomes through sports.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0007532.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date listed is January 7, 2021.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was March 11, 2021.
Which agency is responsible for the program?
The responsible agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
What is the single most important design principle applicants should take from this announcement?
Proposals should prioritize underserved participants, demonstrate meaningful inclusion of both genders, and show how sports-based exchange activities translate into measurable leadership, educational, and community benefits, rather than focusing on elite athletic advancement.
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