Opportunity Information: Apply for S DR860 26 NOFO 0004
The U.S. STEM Summer Exchange for Youth is a grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic (U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo) designed to deepen Dominican university students' engagement with U.S.-linked pathways in science, technology, engineering, innovation, and higher education. The program responds to a clear gap: STEM interest is rising in the Dominican Republic, but many students still do not have meaningful, first-hand exposure to U.S. universities, innovation ecosystems, and private-sector leaders. By creating highly interactive and public-facing programming, the Embassy aims to connect Dominican youth with U.S. institutions and professionals in fields that are increasingly shaping the global economy, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, and digital innovation. The larger intent is both practical and strategic: build people-to-people ties, expand awareness of U.S. education and exchange options, and position the United States as a leading and accessible partner for Dominican talent in STEM and innovation.
The primary target audience is Dominican university students currently enrolled at Dominican institutions, specifically undergraduate and graduate students ages 18 to 30 who are pursuing STEM degrees. The program is expected to use immersive formats that typically have strong impact on student decision-making and career planning, such as technology and science fairs, innovation showcases, workshops, mentorship sessions, networking events, university visits, and engagement with EducationUSA. These activities are meant to be hands-on and relationship-driven, reflecting lessons from past Embassy-supported programs showing that direct interaction with U.S. experts and institutions can significantly increase student interest in U.S.-linked opportunities.
The grant outlines a set of measurable objectives that applicants are expected to build into their program design and evaluation plan. First, the program must increase awareness of U.S. leadership in STEM, innovation, and higher education by engaging at least 15 Dominican university students through interactive activities, with at least 75 percent of participants demonstrating increased knowledge of U.S. academic, exchange, and career opportunities in post-program evaluations. Second, it must strengthen ties to U.S. academia and industry by facilitating engagement with at least one U.S. university and three U.S. companies or industry representatives through panels, mentorship, networking, demonstrations, or similar interactions; the goal is that at least 75 percent of participants report increased interest in follow-on actions such as EducationUSA advising, exchange programs, internships, or academic applications within six months. Third, it must increase exposure to U.S. innovation ecosystems and best practices in STEM education, entrepreneurship, and private-sector collaboration through hands-on learning, with at least 70 percent of participants reporting greater confidence in pursuing U.S.-connected STEM study or careers. Fourth, it must expand understanding of U.S. higher education by involving at least 15 participants in EducationUSA-supported activities and requiring them to conduct multiplier sessions back at their Dominican universities, generating at least 50 new EducationUSA leads or follow-on engagements and showing at least 70 percent of participants improve their understanding of U.S. study opportunities and admissions or exchange processes through pre- and post-assessments.
Administration is structured as a grant with limited but defined Embassy involvement to ensure alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities and local coordination. The Embassy will help coordinate with Dominican universities and academic stakeholders, provide final approval of selected student participants to confirm eligibility and fit with program goals, offer appropriate guidance on the U.S. visa process consistent with U.S. government rules, and coordinate with EducationUSA to support higher education outreach. The recipient organization carries the bulk of responsibility for execution, including designing and delivering the full program, recruiting and managing applications, coordinating partners such as U.S. universities, companies, and speakers, providing participant preparation and logistical support, and organizing follow-up engagement so the experience leads to sustained next steps. The recipient must also monitor and evaluate outcomes, collect data, submit required programmatic and financial reports, and ensure compliance with award terms such as branding and visibility, financial management standards, and participant safety requirements.
From a funding and eligibility standpoint, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number S-DR860-26-NOFO-0004 under an education activity category (CFDA 19.040), using a grant instrument. The award ceiling is $80,000, with an estimated 10 awards expected. The original closing date is 2026-06-24, and the opportunity was created on 2026-05-29. Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private educational institutions as well as not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations. Overall, the program is designed to produce tangible near-term outcomes (increased knowledge, connections, confidence, and EducationUSA engagement) while also encouraging longer-term pipelines into U.S. study, exchanges, internships, and professional networks for Dominican STEM students.Apply for S DR860 26 NOFO 0004
- The U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. STEM Summer Exchange for Youth" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-24. (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 $80,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: U.S. STEM Summer Exchange for Youth (U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic)
1) What is the U.S. STEM Summer Exchange for Youth grant?
It is a grant opportunity from the U.S. Mission to the Dominican Republic (U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo) intended to deepen Dominican university students' engagement with U.S.-linked pathways in science, technology, engineering, innovation, and higher education. The program is designed to address a gap in first-hand exposure to U.S. universities, innovation ecosystems, and private-sector leaders, using highly interactive and public-facing programming.
2) What is the overall purpose of this opportunity?
The program aims to build people-to-people ties, expand awareness of U.S. education and exchange options, and position the United States as a leading and accessible partner for Dominican talent in STEM and innovation. It emphasizes practical outcomes (knowledge, connections, confidence) and longer-term pipelines into U.S. study, exchanges, internships, and professional networks.
3) Who is the target audience for program activities?
The primary target audience is Dominican university students currently enrolled at Dominican institutions, specifically undergraduate and graduate students ages 18 to 30 who are pursuing STEM degrees.
4) What types of activities are expected under this grant?
The opportunity calls for immersive, hands-on, relationship-driven formats that tend to influence student decision-making and career planning. Examples listed include technology and science fairs, innovation showcases, workshops, mentorship sessions, networking events, university visits, and engagement with EducationUSA.
5) What STEM fields or themes are emphasized?
The Embassy highlights fields shaping the global economy, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, and digital innovation. The broader focus is STEM, innovation, and higher education pathways connected to U.S. institutions and professionals.
6) What are the minimum participant numbers and learning targets?
The program must engage at least 15 Dominican university students through interactive activities. At least 75 percent of participants must demonstrate increased knowledge of U.S. academic, exchange, and career opportunities in post-program evaluations.
7) What U.S. academic and industry engagement is required?
The program must facilitate engagement with at least one U.S. university and three U.S. companies or industry representatives. Engagement can take the form of panels, mentorship, networking, demonstrations, or similar interactions.
8) What follow-on interest outcomes are expected after the program?
The grant sets a goal that at least 75 percent of participants report increased interest in follow-on actions such as EducationUSA advising, exchange programs, internships, or academic applications within six months.
9) What outcomes are expected related to confidence in U.S.-connected STEM pathways?
The program must increase exposure to U.S. innovation ecosystems and best practices in STEM education, entrepreneurship, and private-sector collaboration through hands-on learning. At least 70 percent of participants should report greater confidence in pursuing U.S.-connected STEM study or careers.
10) What is required related to EducationUSA?
The program must expand understanding of U.S. higher education by involving at least 15 participants in EducationUSA-supported activities. Participants are also required to conduct multiplier sessions back at their Dominican universities.
11) What are the expected results of the multiplier sessions?
The multiplier sessions should generate at least 50 new EducationUSA leads or follow-on engagements. The program should also show at least 70 percent of participants improve their understanding of U.S. study opportunities and admissions or exchange processes through pre- and post-assessments.
12) How is program success expected to be measured?
The opportunity expects applicants to build measurable objectives into program design and an evaluation plan. Measurement elements include post-program evaluations, participant self-reported interest in follow-on actions within six months, confidence measures, and pre- and post-assessments tied to understanding U.S. study options and processes.
13) What role will the U.S. Embassy play during implementation?
Embassy involvement is limited but defined for alignment and coordination. The Embassy will help coordinate with Dominican universities and academic stakeholders, provide final approval of selected student participants to confirm eligibility and fit with program goals, offer appropriate guidance on the U.S. visa process consistent with U.S. government rules, and coordinate with EducationUSA to support higher education outreach.
14) What responsibilities does the recipient organization have?
The recipient organization is responsible for execution, including designing and delivering the full program, recruiting and managing applications, coordinating partners (such as U.S. universities, companies, and speakers), providing participant preparation and logistical support, organizing follow-up engagement, monitoring and evaluating outcomes, collecting data, submitting required programmatic and financial reports, and ensuring compliance with award terms (including branding and visibility, financial management standards, and participant safety requirements).
15) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is S-DR860-26-NOFO-0004.
16) What is the assistance listing / CFDA reference?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
17) What type of award instrument is being used?
The opportunity uses a grant instrument.
18) How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $80,000.
19) How many awards are expected?
The opportunity estimates that 10 awards are expected.
20) Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations.
21) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date is 2026-06-24.
22) When was this opportunity posted/created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-05-29.
23) Is the program designed only for Dominican students, or does it include others?
Based on the description provided, the primary target audience is Dominican university students enrolled at Dominican institutions (ages 18 to 30) pursuing STEM degrees, and the stated objectives and metrics are built around that participant group.
24) Does the program need to be public-facing?
Yes. The Embassy specifically describes the approach as highly interactive and public-facing programming, intended to connect Dominican youth with U.S. institutions and professionals.
25) Are there compliance expectations beyond program delivery?
Yes. The recipient is expected to ensure compliance with award terms, including branding and visibility requirements, financial management standards, and participant safety requirements, in addition to reporting and evaluation responsibilities.
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