Opportunity Information: Apply for K NOFO 17 102
The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), is inviting proposals for a public diplomacy grant or cooperative agreement called "U.S. Universities Alumni: The East and Northeast India Connect Program" (Funding Opportunity Number: K NOFO 17 102). The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, and focuses on developing and delivering programs in east and northeast India that support U.S.-India educational engagement. In practical terms, this is funding for organizations that can design activities that connect prospective Indian students with accurate information about studying in the United States, while also leveraging U.S. university alumni networks as trusted messengers and community connectors.
The core purpose of the program is tied to the Consulate's broader interest in education as a bridge between the two countries. The background information highlights the strong and growing interest among Indian students in U.S. higher education, citing the 2016 Open Doors Report: about 166,000 Indian students were studying in the United States at the time, representing a 33 percent increase from the previous year. The announcement also emphasizes the broader impact of international education, noting an estimated 5 billion dollars in U.S. economic activity linked to Indian students and roughly 66,000 American jobs supported. This context signals that the grant is not only about recruitment or advising, but also about reinforcing a longstanding bilateral relationship built through academic exchange and shared professional experiences.
The stated program goals are twofold. First, the grant aims to encourage more Indian students to consider U.S. higher education by promoting EducationUSA and by engaging U.S. university alumni located in east and northeast India. EducationUSA is the U.S. government-supported advising network that provides guidance on accredited U.S. study options and the application process, so projects are expected to amplify that resource rather than replace it. The alumni component suggests programming such as outreach events, mentorship, information sessions, speaker series, school visits, or community-based discussions where alumni can share first-hand perspectives on academics, campus life, career pathways, and practical considerations like admissions, financing, and visas, while staying aligned with EducationUSA messaging and standards.
Second, the opportunity is designed to strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and India by creating channels for exchanging information, experiences, and expertise. This points to programs that do more than provide one-way information; competitive proposals would likely include interactive engagement that builds lasting networks, encourages ongoing dialogue, and creates linkages among students, alumni, institutions, and local communities. The emphasis on east and northeast India is important because it signals a regional focus and a desire to deepen connections in areas that can be underserved in international higher education outreach compared to larger metropolitan hubs.
From an administrative standpoint, the award is categorized as discretionary and can be made either as a grant or a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government may have a more active role in shaping or overseeing implementation under a cooperative agreement format. The funding activity categories include education and community development, and the CFDA number listed is 19.040 (a Department of State public diplomacy-related assistance listing). The maximum funding per award is 60,000 dollars, and the notice anticipated up to 10 awards, indicating relatively modest, program-focused projects rather than large infrastructure or multi-year institutional investments. The original application deadline for the posted notice was June 30, 2017, which is relevant for historical reference, though similar programming themes sometimes reappear in later public diplomacy announcements.
Eligible applicants include legally recognized nonprofit, non-governmental organizations that meet both U.S. and Indian technical and legal requirements, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). Overall, the opportunity is best understood as support for organizations that can credibly convene alumni, partner with advising resources like EducationUSA, and run well-structured public engagement programming that increases awareness of U.S. study opportunities while deepening U.S.-India relationships at the community level in east and northeast India.Apply for K NOFO 17 102
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the community development, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Universities Alumni: The East and Northeast India Connect Program" 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 May 05, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2017. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "U.S. Universities Alumni: The East and Northeast India Connect Program."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is K NOFO 17 102.
Who is issuing this opportunity?
It is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India, through the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata and its Public Affairs Section (PAS).
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The award may be made as either a public diplomacy grant or a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award could be a cooperative agreement?
The notice indicates that under a cooperative agreement, the U.S. government may have a more active role in shaping or overseeing implementation compared to a standard grant.
What is the core purpose of this program?
The program supports U.S.-India educational engagement by funding organizations to develop and deliver programs in east and northeast India that connect prospective Indian students with accurate information about studying in the United States, while leveraging U.S. university alumni networks as trusted messengers and community connectors.
What are the main goals of the program?
The stated goals are: (1) encourage more Indian students to consider U.S. higher education by promoting EducationUSA and engaging U.S. university alumni in east and northeast India, and (2) strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and India by creating channels for exchanging information, experiences, and expertise.
What is EducationUSA, and how is it expected to be used in supported projects?
EducationUSA is a U.S. government-supported advising network that provides guidance on accredited U.S. study options and the application process. Projects are expected to amplify EducationUSA as a resource rather than replace it.
What kinds of activities might a funded project include?
The announcement points to activities that mobilize U.S. university alumni and support accurate advising, such as outreach events, mentorship, information sessions, speaker series, school visits, or community-based discussions. These activities should align with EducationUSA messaging and standards.
What topics are alumni expected to address when engaging prospective students?
Based on the description, alumni engagement may cover first-hand perspectives on academics, campus life, career pathways, and practical considerations such as admissions, financing, and visas, while staying consistent with EducationUSA guidance.
Is the program only about student recruitment?
No. While it supports consideration of U.S. higher education, the notice frames the effort within broader public diplomacy goals, including strengthening long-term U.S.-India ties through academic exchange and shared professional experiences.
What geographic area is the program focused on?
The program focuses specifically on east and northeast India.
Why is there a focus on east and northeast India?
The description signals a regional emphasis aimed at deepening connections in areas that may be underserved in international higher education outreach compared to larger metropolitan hubs.
What is the award size (maximum funding per award)?
The maximum funding per award is USD 60,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The notice anticipated up to 10 awards.
What type of projects does the award size suggest?
The notice characterizes the funding as relatively modest and program-focused, rather than supporting large infrastructure projects or multi-year institutional investments.
What are the funding activity categories?
The funding activity categories listed are education and community development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.040.
Is this funding considered discretionary?
Yes. The award is categorized as discretionary.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include legally recognized nonprofit, non-governmental organizations that meet both U.S. and Indian technical and legal requirements, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Can universities apply?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Can a U.S. nonprofit apply?
Yes. U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are included in the eligible applicant categories.
What types of organizations are this program best suited for?
The notice suggests it is best suited for organizations that can credibly convene U.S. university alumni, partner with advising resources like EducationUSA, and run well-structured public engagement programming in east and northeast India.
What kind of engagement is the program trying to create beyond information sessions?
The opportunity emphasizes people-to-people ties and channels for exchanging experiences and expertise, implying interactive engagement that builds lasting networks, encourages ongoing dialogue, and creates linkages among students, alumni, institutions, and local communities.
What is the application deadline shown in the notice?
The original application deadline for the posted notice was June 30, 2017.
Is the deadline current?
The notice date is provided as historical reference in the description. The provided information does not indicate an updated or current deadline.
What evidence does the notice provide to justify the program focus on education?
The background cites the 2016 Open Doors Report, noting about 166,000 Indian students in the United States at the time (a 33 percent increase from the previous year), and highlights broader impacts including an estimated USD 5 billion in U.S. economic activity and roughly 66,000 American jobs supported.
Does the notice require projects to use alumni networks?
The program design described places a strong emphasis on engaging U.S. university alumni located in east and northeast India as trusted messengers and connectors, making alumni involvement central to the concept presented.
What role does the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata play in this program?
The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata, through its Public Affairs Section, is the entity inviting proposals and serving as the public diplomacy sponsor for this opportunity.
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