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Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - International Visitor Leadership Program
ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world.
Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today.
ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society ? including young people, women, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals ? increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans.
The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) facilitates short-term visits to the United States for current and emerging leaders from around the world to exchange best practices with American counterparts in a broad range of professional fields directly tied to U.S.
foreign policy priorities.
Interagency staff at U.S.
embassies worldwide nominate and select participants in government, politics, business, education, the media, the arts and other fields for the program; there is no application process.
Over 500 alumni of the IVLP went on to become Chiefs of State or Heads of Government in their countries.
IVLP projects provide opportunities for participants to explore issues in the U.S.
context, meet with their American professional counterparts, experience U.S.
society, and understand American values.
Participants meet with representatives of the private sector and civil society, as well as with government officials at all levels.
The IVLP partners with a network of non-government, non-profit organizations, including about 90 community-based organizations and 40,000 volunteers across the country.
These ?citizen diplomats? host the International Visitors and share the American way of life by bringing them into their places of work, schools, communities, and homes.
Americans, in turn, benefit from the opportunity for first-hand, in-person exchange with current and emerging leaders from around the world.
The IVLP broadens international understanding and supports the local economy in both rural and urban communities throughout the United States.
Virtually the entire IVLP budget is spent within the United States in support of program partners and local businesses.
- FY 2018 International Visitor Leadership Program
- FY 2017 International Visitor Leadership Program Collaborative Services Award
- FY 2016 International Airport Arrival and Departure Program
- FY 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program Assistance Award
- International Visitor Leadership Program Assistance Award
The Department of State strives to create a more secure, democratic and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.
Selected Recipients for this Program
| Recipient | Amount | Start Date | End Date | |
| Meridian International Center | $ 187,107 | 2019-09-30 | 2022-09-30 | |
| Zabondon Learning Center | $ 8,835 | 2020-01-09 | 2021-12-31 | |
| Individual Recipient | $ 60 | 2019-10-23 | 2020-10-20 | |
| Individual Recipient | $ 60 | 2020-01-17 | 2020-03-30 | |
| Individual Recipient | $ 60 | 2020-01-17 | 2020-03-30 | |
| Individual Recipient | $ 4,577 | 2017-07-14 | 2019-11-30 | |
| Meridian International Center | $ 96,000 | 2011-10-03 | 2012-10-01 | |
| Gold Peer Education Development Agency | $ 100,000 | 2011-09-30 | 2012-09-29 | |
| Cercle Jefferson | $ 9,900 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-09-30 | |
| Individual Recipient | $ 27,546 | 2010-09-17 | 2010-09-25 |
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016: 4,466 International Visitors participated in 579 projects. Fiscal Year 2017: An estimated 5,600 International Visitors will participate in 670 projects. Fiscal Year 2018: No Current Data Available.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funding is provided for nonprofit organizations to support their work in planning, organizing, and directing programs of travel, observation, consultation, study, and practical experience for foreign visitors from countries throughout the world selected and assigned by the Department.
Programs are intended to bring U. S. embassy selected International Visitors into contact with influential Americans and representative organizations and institutions across the United States, with the intention of increasing communication and mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
Recipients are responsible for insuring that programs are balanced, non-political, non-partisan, and representative of the diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs seeks balance and diversity in terms of itinerary, geography and community-size; the range of opinions to which visitors are exposed; the professional backgrounds of those commenting on the issues; the ethnic, socio-economic and age diversity of the American people; and other factors which may be of particular relevance to the particular subject or particular visitor(s) for whom programming is being arranged.
Please refer to the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcement for further information.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S.
Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions.
Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).
Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.
Please refer to the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcement for further eligibility criteria.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiaries include recipient organizations, educational institutions, other non-government organizations (NGOs) that meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), as well as sponsored participants, the American people and the people of participating countries who interact with the international participants.
Credentials/Documentation
Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act), the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcement for further eligibility criteria. OMB Guidance 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E Cost Principles under Special Considerations for States, Local Governments, and Indian Tribes applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600 entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audi Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Announcements are posted on the Grants.gov and Department of State's website: http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding or GrantSolutions.gov website for organizations meeting eligibility requirements. Announcements are made as necessary during the fiscal year. The application procedures are described in the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcement.
Award Procedures
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau?s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed/validated by an authorized Grants Officer, and sent via GrantSolutions.gov to the recipient?s responsible officer identified in the application.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Authorization
The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended., Public Law 87-256, 22 U.S.C 2451.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
As stated in the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcements.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
As stated in the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is awarded/released through the Department's central financial management database.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Financial and Program Reporting requirements are described in the Grants.gov announcement.
Cash reports are not applicable.
As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.
As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.
As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Guidance 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F Audit Requirements, a nonfederal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity?s fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific ?audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. The Recipient must comply with the OMB audit requirements. For all DOS awards, regardless of business type, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in OMB audit requirements. Please refer to the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx) for additional guidance.
Records
The Recipients must maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to an award for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. Please refer to the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx) for additional guidance.
Financial Information
Account Identification
19-0201-0-1-154.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 16 $60,560,608; FY 17 est $60,560,608; and FY 18 est $60,560,608
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$300,000 to $17,648,362.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
As stated in the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcements. In addition, organizations should be familiar with OMB Circular 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600 entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audi Requirements for Federal Awards.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Tom Rathburn Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of International Visitors Community Resources Division 2200 C Street, NW SA-05, Room 03BB06, Washington, District of Columbia 20037, Washington, District of Columbia 20037 Email: rathburntg@state.gov Phone: (202) 632-9384
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
As stated in the Grants.gov or GrantSolutions.gov announcements.
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