The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut announces an open competition to implement a program to roll-out the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF), our annual funding opportunity designed to invest in U.S. government-funded exchange participants and programs by helping alumni develop and implement projects that promote shared interests and policy objectives and benefit local communities. We invite you to submit proposals for projects that meet the requirements of the program (discussed in Section C below). Please read this notice carefully before preparing and submitting a funding proposal. 

PDS invites past participants (Alumni) of U.S. government-funded and U.S. government sponsored exchange programs to submit their concept notes for possible funding through the 2026 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF 2026). The concept notes should be comprised of a proposal from teams of at least two alumni that meet all program eligibility requirements below and a budget (see Section D below for required documents). 

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.  

U.S. Embassy Beirut will accept public service projects proposed and managed by teams of at least two (2) alumni that support the following U.S. administration priorities: 1- celebration of American excellence and promotion of Freedom 250, 2- making the United States safer, 3- making the United States stronger, and 4- making the United States more prosperous, or defending freedom of speech.