Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008403
The FY 2022 Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity that supports the design and delivery of a new, six-week exchange program (including travel days) beginning in summer 2022. The program is administered through ECA's Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch, and is intended to be implemented by a single selected organization under a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, this means the awardee would not only run the program logistics and academic content, but would also coordinate closely with ECA during planning and execution to ensure the exchange meets U.S. government public diplomacy and program objectives.
The core purpose of the initiative is to bring together young leaders from the United States and India to explore, in a structured and applied way, the histories and continuing legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exchange is framed around civil rights, social justice, and inclusion, with the expectation that participants will connect these themes to real-world leadership challenges in their communities and professional paths. Beyond historical study, the program is meant to build practical leadership skills and create durable networks across both countries, so that participants leave with relationships, tools, and a shared vocabulary they can use in future civic, academic, and professional work.
The exchange is designed around four integrated components delivered in a blended format. First is a one-week virtual segment that likely serves as an academic and cohort-building on-ramp, allowing participants to begin engaging with key themes, meet one another, and establish expectations before travel. Second is a two-week academic residency in the United States, centered on structured learning and direct engagement with American institutions, communities, and experts. Third is a two-week experiential learning segment in India, emphasizing on-the-ground exposure and applied learning through site visits, community-based activities, and engagement with Indian organizations and leaders connected to the program themes. The final element is a multi-day closing forum, intended to synthesize learning, showcase participant reflections or project concepts, and formalize pathways for continued collaboration after the in-person components conclude.
Participation is expected to include approximately 20 students total, with an even split between the two countries: 10 from the United States and 10 from India. Participants are undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 18 and 25. The structure is deliberately binational and collaborative, emphasizing sustained interaction among Americans and Indians as a key feature rather than a side benefit. The program also explicitly anticipates follow-on engagement after participants return home, suggesting that applicants are expected to propose an alumni or continuation strategy that keeps the cohort connected and active, potentially through virtual programming, mentoring, collaborative projects, or a structured alumni network.
Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions and a range of U.S. nonprofit organizations. This includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status. The announcement specifically highlights that Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged or welcomed, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and both public and private universities. The funding instrument is a discretionary cooperative agreement, and the opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.009. The award ceiling is $400,000, with ECA anticipating a single award.
Key administrative details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number SFOP0008403, an initial posting date of September 23, 2021, and an original application deadline of November 22, 2021. Overall, the grant supports one lead implementer to create a rigorous, binational, multi-participant exchange that blends academic study with experiential learning, centered on Gandhi and King as entry points to deeper work on nonviolent social change, civil rights, inclusion, and leadership development in both the U.S. and Indian contexts.Apply for SFOP0008403
- 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 2022 Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.009.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 23, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 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 $400,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): FY 2022 Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative (SFOP0008403)
What is the FY 2022 Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative?
It is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to support the design and delivery of a new six-week (including travel days) binational exchange program beginning in summer 2022. The program brings together young leaders from the United States and India to explore the histories and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with an applied focus on civil rights, social justice, inclusion, and leadership development.
Which U.S. government office administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered through ECA's Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Study of the U.S. Branch.
What is the main purpose of the exchange program?
The core purpose is to convene young leaders from the United States and India to study and apply the continuing legacies of Gandhi and King to real-world leadership challenges. The program emphasizes civil rights, social justice, inclusion, practical leadership skills, and building durable cross-border networks for future civic, academic, and professional collaboration.
How long is the program and when does it begin?
The exchange is designed as a six-week program (including travel days) beginning in summer 2022.
What are the major components of the program?
The exchange includes four integrated components delivered in a blended format: (1) a one-week virtual segment, (2) a two-week academic residency in the United States, (3) a two-week experiential learning segment in India, and (4) a multi-day closing forum to synthesize learning and support continued collaboration.
What is the purpose of the one-week virtual segment?
Based on the announcement, the virtual portion is intended to serve as an academic and cohort-building on-ramp, helping participants begin engaging with core themes, meet one another, and establish expectations before travel.
What happens during the U.S. academic residency portion?
The two-week U.S. component is described as an academic residency centered on structured learning and direct engagement with American institutions, communities, and experts relevant to the program themes.
What happens during the India experiential learning portion?
The two-week India component emphasizes on-the-ground exposure and applied learning. It is expected to include site visits, community-based activities, and engagement with Indian organizations and leaders connected to the program themes.
What is the closing forum and what is it meant to accomplish?
The multi-day closing forum is intended to synthesize learning across the program, provide a venue to showcase participant reflections and/or project concepts, and formalize pathways for continued collaboration after the in-person components end.
How many participants are expected, and how are they selected by country?
The program anticipates approximately 20 students total, split evenly between the two countries: 10 participants from the United States and 10 from India.
Who are the intended participants (age and education level)?
Participants are undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 18 and 25.
What themes and subject areas should the exchange focus on?
The exchange is framed around the histories and continuing legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., using those foundations to explore civil rights, social justice, inclusion, nonviolent social change, and leadership development in U.S. and Indian contexts.
Is the program designed to be binational and collaborative?
Yes. The structure is deliberately binational, with sustained interaction between U.S. and Indian participants described as a key feature rather than a secondary benefit.
Does the opportunity expect follow-on or alumni engagement after the exchange ends?
Yes. The announcement explicitly anticipates follow-on engagement after participants return home and suggests applicants should propose a continuation strategy, such as virtual programming, mentoring, collaborative projects, or a structured alumni network.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. post-secondary institutions and certain U.S. nonprofit organizations, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status.
Are Minority Serving Institutions encouraged to apply?
Yes. The announcement highlights that Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged or welcomed, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and both public and private universities.
How many awards does ECA anticipate making for this opportunity?
ECA anticipates a single award to one selected organization.
What is the funding instrument type for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
In practical terms, the selected organization is expected to run program logistics and academic content while also coordinating closely with ECA during planning and execution to ensure the exchange meets U.S. government public diplomacy and program objectives.
What is the maximum funding available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the announcement is $400,000.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.009.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0008403.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?
The initial posting date is September 23, 2021, and the original application deadline is November 22, 2021.
What kinds of activities is the grant intended to support?
The grant is intended to support the creation and delivery of a rigorous, binational exchange that blends academic study with experiential learning. The content should be centered on Gandhi and King as entry points to deeper work on nonviolent social change, civil rights, inclusion, and leadership development, with both U.S.-based and India-based components plus a closing forum and follow-on engagement.
Who implements the program if selected for an award?
The program is intended to be implemented by a single selected organization under the cooperative agreement, coordinating closely with ECA throughout planning and execution.
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