Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF). This year’s grant cycle was the most competitive yet, receiving hundreds of applications and producing 19 winners.
The winning teams represent 25 different U.S. Government exchange programs, including the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange (CBYX), the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS), the English Language Specialist Program, the Fulbright Program, the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program, the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), and the Peace Corps.
Teams were selected for their demonstrated application of their exchange program skills and expertise, and their commitment to advancing U.S. influence, excellence, and innovation through citizen diplomacy. Over the next few months, the recipients will implement projects in the United States and around the world that promote English language learning, support the rights of individual citizens, promote entrepreneurship, and foster peace.
The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and implemented under a cooperative agreement with Global Ties U.S. in partnership with the Office of Alumni Affairs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
CDAF was launched in 2019 to address key U.S. policy priorities by harnessing the expertise of U.S. citizen alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs (U.S. Exchange Alumni) through policy-inspired community service projects. To date, more than 350 U.S. Exchange Alumni have participated in 296 CDAF projects that support their communities and build on skills gained during their exchange programs. CDAF showcases the unique skills and abilities of U.S. Exchange Alumni by providing them the tools and resources needed to advance U.S. policy priorities and increase the effectiveness of U.S. Department of State exchange programs.
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Global Ties U.S. is the national leader for connecting people and communities in the United States with global leaders through international exchange programs. Since 1961, Global Ties U.S. has powered a community-based network of 80+ nonprofit organizations that serve all 50 U.S. States and implement the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a wide variety of other international exchange and public diplomacy programs. The work of Global Ties U.S. advances U.S. strategic priorities abroad and boosts prosperity at home by harnessing the diplomatic potential of our country’s greatest asset: our people.
The Office of Alumni Affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs: The Office of Alumni Affairs cultivates and extends the impact of U.S. government funded and sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs through continued engagement with alumni of these programs. This dynamic global network of millions of Exchange Alumni includes more than 600 current and former heads of state, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Olympic athletes, award-winning artists, and untold numbers of business and community leaders around the world.
The Office of Alumni Affairs collaborates with U.S. embassies and consulates abroad to leverage the expertise, energy, and enthusiasm of exchange alumni in support of shared goals. Domestically, The Office of Alumni Affairs works with implementing partners to support U.S. citizen alumni in leveraging the impact of their exchange experience after returning to the United States.