Virtual U.S. University and Alumni Fair | M NOFO 21 103

Opportunity Information: Apply for M NOFO 21 103

The Virtual U.S. University and Alumni Fair grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number M NOFO 21 103) is a discretionary education grant offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, through PAS Mumbai. The program is designed to support a virtual higher-education outreach effort that promotes U.S. colleges and universities to prospective Indian students while also strengthening U.S.-India people-to-people ties through expanded academic connections. In practical terms, the project centers on organizing and delivering an online university fair that showcases U.S. higher education options and connects students with reliable guidance and alumni perspectives.

The stated goals are clearly outcome-driven. The project is expected to help increase Indian student enrollment at U.S. universities by more than 600 students and to attract at least 3,000 attendees to the virtual fair. These targets suggest the Department of State is looking for a large-scale, well-promoted event with measurable results, not just general awareness-raising. The inclusion of “alumni” in the title also signals that applicants should build in meaningful participation from U.S. alumni networks (for example, alumni panels, mentoring, program-specific Q and A sessions, or country-specific admissions and visa guidance), since alumni engagement can make the event more credible and useful to students and families navigating study-abroad decisions.

Funding is provided as a grant with an award ceiling of $40,000, and the opportunity anticipates making one award. That structure implies a competitive selection process with a single lead implementer expected to plan, market, execute, and report on the entire virtual fair. The assistance listing is associated with CFDA 19.040, which generally aligns with public diplomacy and educational exchange-related programming, reinforcing that the effort is intended to advance educational connections as part of broader bilateral engagement, not simply act as a commercial recruitment event.

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-registered nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). This eligibility range points to a preference for established organizations that can demonstrate experience with large-scale education outreach, student advising, virtual event production, and partnership coordination with universities and alumni communities. A strong application would likely show the ability to recruit participating U.S. institutions, deliver a user-friendly digital platform, conduct targeted outreach across India, and collect credible attendance and enrollment-related metrics that align with the program’s objectives.

Key timeline details show the opportunity was posted on March 26, 2021, with an original closing date of May 25, 2021. While those dates indicate the specific competition window for this announcement, the program description captures the overall intent: to use a virtual fair format to reach thousands of Indian students, convert interest into actual U.S. enrollments at scale, and deepen educational and interpersonal links between the United States and India through structured engagement with universities and alumni. For additional implementation requirements, deliverables, and any compliance or reporting expectations, the announcement notes that further details are available in the full funding notice under the “Related documents” section.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Virtual U.S. University and Alumni Fair" 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 Mar 26, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2021. (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 $40,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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.

Apply for M NOFO 21 103

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