2024-25 EdUSA Opportunity Funds Program for Graduate Study | FY2024VE005

Opportunity Information: Apply for FY2024VE005

The 2024-25 EdUSA Opportunity Funds Program for Graduate Study (Funding Opportunity Number FY2024VE005, Assistance Listing 19.040) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Venezuela grant opportunity run through the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU) Public Diplomacy Section. Its core purpose is to expand access to U.S. graduate education for high-achieving Venezuelan students who have strong academic profiles and a realistic chance of receiving full financial aid from U.S. universities, but who cannot afford the upfront costs that often block qualified candidates from even applying. The program is specifically focused on prospective graduate students in Agricultural STEM and Public Health fields, and all activities must be directed toward Venezuelan audiences and carried out in Venezuela and the United States.

The award is designed as a cooperative agreement, meaning VAU Public Diplomacy expects to be substantially involved in key aspects of implementation. That involvement includes reviewing the recruitment approach, the final student selection process, and the content of EducationUSA programming delivered to participants. The total funding available is up to USD 75,000, with one award anticipated. The performance period can be up to 24 months, with an anticipated start date of May 1, 2024, and continuation funding beyond the initial period may be considered on a non-competitive basis depending on funding availability, progress, and U.S. government interest. Funding is provided through FY24 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds, and the notice notes that the award depends on available appropriations.

A key feature of this opportunity is that the grantee is not simply providing scholarships for tuition; instead, the project covers practical, high-impact expenses that enable students to successfully pursue U.S. graduate admissions and ultimately enroll. These costs can include standardized test fees, application fees, visa fees, SEVIS fees, international and domestic airfare, and a settling-in allowance. The overall concept is to remove financial barriers at the exact points where talented, low-resource students commonly drop out of the pipeline, while pairing financial support with structured EducationUSA advising that strengthens their applications and improves admissions outcomes.

The selected organization will work in partnership with the Venezuela EducationUSA Network to identify, select, and advise up to 25 Opportunity Funds students. The work is organized into two main phases. Phase one centers on the application preparation process and requires the grantee to coordinate and pay for required standardized admission tests for qualified prospective students. During this phase, the grantee is also expected to provide logistical and operational support to EducationUSA advisers delivering advising sessions for Opportunity Funds participants. These sessions are expected to be comprehensive and practical, covering topics such as navigating the U.S. admissions process, understanding financial aid and awards, writing application essays, securing recommendation letters, strengthening extracurricular and volunteer profiles, and handling transcripts and credential equivalencies. The notice also indicates that if capacity allows, other EducationUSA scholars who are not part of the Opportunity Funds cohort may be allowed to attend these virtual sessions, expanding the broader public diplomacy impact.

Phase two focuses on the transition from admission to arrival and requires the grantee to manage the travel and onboarding logistics for approximately 15 to 20 students. This includes coordinating and paying for visa and SEVIS-related expenses, arranging international and domestic travel, and distributing settling-in allowances and other related costs. The grantee is expected to communicate closely with students and advisers, help coordinate visa appointments at the appropriate U.S. consulate, and ensure payments and reimbursements are processed accurately and on time. The notice emphasizes that the successful applicant must demonstrate strong capacity for financial management, logistics coordination, and timely disbursement and reconciliation of funds, since the effectiveness of the program depends heavily on operational reliability.

Implementation can be done virtually, with regular web- and phone-based counseling and advising. The target participants are prospective Venezuelan graduate students in Agricultural STEM and Public Health who are interested in studying in the United States and are competitive for substantial institutional funding but need assistance to cover early-stage and relocation-related costs. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (such as civil society organizations, NGOs, and think tanks) as well as public and private educational institutions. The application deadline listed in the narrative is March 1, 2024, and the award ceiling is USD 75,000, with one award anticipated for a project lasting up to two years.

• The U.S. Mission to Venezuela in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2024-25 EdUSA Opportunity Funds Program for Graduate Study" 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 2023-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-01. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FY2024VE005

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