Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2026 - Brazil

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil 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 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 – Brazil. 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 via the designated form at https://forms.gle/ZBaTuM6xgWrU6MK19 by February 18, 2026, by 11:59PM (Brasilia Time). 

Program Objectives:  
 
AEIF provides alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. This year, all AEIF projects must celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America (Freedom250) and align with relevant executive orders and administration policy goals such as making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, defending freedom of expression, and/or highlighting U.S. innovation, excellence, and positive impact to global culture. Additionally, all AEIF projects must include at least one of the following: 

Convene alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand an alumni network capable of working together on common interests and increasing regional and global collaboration of alumni. Every project proposal should include at least two exchange alumni or involvement of an alumni association.
Strengthen the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government to work together on activities that address shared goals and challenges. 
Support alumni as they develop their leadership capacity and implement projects in their communities for maximum impact. 

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil 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 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) 2026 – Brazil. 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 via the designated form at https://forms.gle/ZBaTuM6xgWrU6MK19 by February 18, 2026, by 11:59PM (Brasilia Time). 

Program Objectives:  

 

AEIF provides alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and facilitated exchange programs with funding to expand on skills gained during their exchange experience to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges facing their community. Since its inception in 2011, AEIF has funded nearly 500 alumni-led projects around the world through a competitive global competition. This year, all AEIF projects must celebrate and promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America (Freedom250) and align with relevant executive orders and administration policy goals such as making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, defending freedom of expression, and/or highlighting U.S. innovation, excellence, and positive impact to global culture. Additionally, all AEIF projects must include at least one of the following: 

• Convene alumni from different exchange programs to build or expand an alumni network capable of working together on common interests and increasing regional and global collaboration of alumni. Every project proposal should include at least two exchange alumni or involvement of an alumni association.


• Strengthen the relationship between alumni and the U.S. government to work together on activities that address shared goals and challenges. 


• Support alumni as they develop their leadership capacity and implement projects in their communities for maximum impact. 

The following individuals are eligible to apply: Applicants must be alumni of a U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange program or a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program (https://j1visa.state.gov/). Projects teams must include teams of at least two (2) alumni and need to specify a team lead. Alumni who are U.S. citizens may not submit proposals, but U.S. citizen alumni may participate as team members in a project. U.S. citizen alumni cannot be team leads on projects. Alumni teams may be comprised of alumni from different exchange programs and different countries, but must have at least one participant from Brazil. Applications must be submitted by exchange alumni or alumni associations of USG exchange alumni. If the proposal is submitted by an alumni association, the alumni association needs to identify a team lead for the proposed project. No other organizations are eligible to apply. 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 the individual alumni or the partner organization.