Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0006298
The FY 2020 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 is an open, competitive grant program that supports international sports exchange projects that connect the United States with select countries through reciprocal exchanges. The central idea is to use sports as a practical platform for "Sport for Social Change," using team-based activities and coaching to build leadership, strengthen communities, and create positive cross-cultural engagement.
ISPI is designed specifically to reach underserved youth and/or the adults who shape youth sports environments, such as coaches and sports administrators who manage youth programs. The program emphasizes working with groups that can be difficult to reach through traditional diplomacy, including at-risk youth, women and girls, minorities, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and other marginalized populations. A core requirement is that programs focus on both male and female youth participants (and/or the coaches and administrators who work with them), reflecting an expectation of gender inclusion in program design and participation.
The exchange activities funded under ISPI are expected to use sports to produce broader developmental outcomes. The announcement highlights goals such as helping youth develop leadership skills, supporting academic success, promoting tolerance, encouraging respect for diversity, and enabling participants to contribute positively to both their home communities and the communities they visit. In practice, this means proposals should not treat sports as an end in itself; sports should be the vehicle for structured learning and community impact, with intentional programming that links athletic participation to education, civic engagement, inclusion, and mutual understanding.
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means the Department of State expects an active partnership role during implementation, not just a hands-off grant. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under CFDA 19.415. The expected number of awards is four, with an award ceiling of $550,000 per award.
Eligibility includes U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The funding opportunity number is SFOP0006298. The opportunity was posted on December 5, 2019, with an original application deadline of February 27, 2020.Apply for SFOP0006298
- 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 2020 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 Dec 05, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 27, 2020. (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 $550,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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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FY 2020 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) FAQ
What is the FY 2020 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI)?
The FY 2020 International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI) is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), administered through the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division. It supports international sports exchange projects that connect the United States with select countries through reciprocal exchanges.
What is the main purpose of ISPI?
ISPI uses sports as a practical platform for "Sport for Social Change." The intent is to use team-based activities and coaching to build leadership, strengthen communities, and create positive cross-cultural engagement between participants in the United States and select countries.
Is this a competitive grant program?
Yes. ISPI is described as an open, competitive grant program.
Who runs and administers this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and run through the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division.
What kinds of activities does ISPI fund?
ISPI funds international sports exchange projects that involve reciprocal exchanges. The programming is expected to use sports-based engagement as a tool to achieve broader developmental and community outcomes, rather than treating sports as the end goal.
What does "reciprocal exchanges" mean in this opportunity?
Based on the announcement description, reciprocal exchanges refer to exchange activities that connect the United States with select countries in a two-way manner, supporting engagement between participants/communities in both directions.
What does "Sport for Social Change" mean in the context of ISPI?
In this opportunity, "Sport for Social Change" refers to using sports, coaching, and team-based activities as a structured platform to develop leadership, strengthen communities, and promote positive cross-cultural engagement and understanding.
Who is the program designed to reach?
ISPI is designed specifically to reach underserved youth and/or the adults who shape youth sports environments, such as coaches and sports administrators who manage youth programs.
Which participant populations are emphasized?
The program emphasizes groups that can be difficult to reach through traditional diplomacy, including at-risk youth, women and girls, minorities, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and other marginalized populations.
Is gender inclusion required?
Yes. A core requirement is that programs focus on both male and female youth participants (and/or the coaches and administrators who work with them). This reflects an expectation of gender inclusion in program design and participation.
Can a project focus only on girls or only on boys?
The announcement states a core requirement that programs focus on both male and female youth participants (and/or the coaches and administrators who work with them). Based on that requirement, proposals are expected to include both genders in the participant focus.
Does the program only support youth participants?
No. In addition to underserved youth, ISPI is designed to reach adults who shape youth sports environments, including coaches and sports administrators who manage youth programs.
What outcomes is ISPI trying to achieve beyond sports?
The opportunity highlights outcomes such as helping youth develop leadership skills, supporting academic success, promoting tolerance, encouraging respect for diversity, and enabling participants to contribute positively to both their home communities and the communities they visit.
Are proposals expected to treat sports as the main goal?
No. The announcement emphasizes that proposals should not treat sports as an end in itself. Sports should be the vehicle for structured learning and community impact, with intentional programming linking athletic participation to education, civic engagement, inclusion, and mutual understanding.
What is the award type for this opportunity?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
The opportunity notes that cooperative agreements typically mean the Department of State expects an active partnership role during implementation, rather than a hands-off approach.
How many awards are expected?
The expected number of awards is four.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $550,000 per award.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under CFDA 19.415.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
The provided eligibility list includes U.S. public and private nonprofits meeting 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) requirements and certain institutions of higher education. For-profit eligibility is not indicated in the provided information.
Do institutions of higher education qualify?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included in the eligibility description.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0006298.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 5, 2019.
What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was February 27, 2020.
What bureau and office within the Department of State is connected to this program?
The program is under the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is run through the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy Division.
What is the core program approach expected in funded projects?
Funded projects are expected to use sports (including team-based activities and coaching) as a tool to achieve social and developmental outcomes, with intentional programming that supports inclusion, education-linked learning, civic engagement, leadership development, and cross-cultural mutual understanding.
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