Cultural Property Agreements Implementation Grants

Background
The Cultural Heritage Center (CHC) in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is announcing the 2026 program cycle for Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grants (CPAIG). This initiative aims to protect cultural property from looting, theft, and trafficking in countries with cultural property agreements or emergency import restrictions. Eligible countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Yemen. Note that eligibility for Afghanistan is restricted to U.S.-based nonprofits or institutions of higher education working outside the country to support emergency import restrictions imposed by the U.S.

Grant Details
The CPAIG program supports projects that protect cultural property through various activities:
1) Training foreign law enforcement and cultural property managers;
2) Supporting the creation of centralized digital inventories of cultural objects;
3) Implementing site security measures for archaeological sites and museums;
4) Conducting public education and outreach to prevent looting and trafficking.

The application process consists of two rounds: Round 1 involves submitting concept notes by February 27, 2026; Round 2 invites selected embassies to submit full applications by May 1, 2026. The total available funding is $500,000 with individual awards ranging from $25,000 to $150,000.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include foreign institutions of higher education; foreign-based NGOs; foreign public entities; public international organizations; U.S. institutions of higher education; and U.S. non-profit organizations (IRS section 501(c)(3)). All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov and a valid registration in SAM.gov.

Period of Performance
The performance period for projects ranges from 12 to 60 months.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is $500,000 with individual awards ranging from $25,000 to $150,000.

Place of Performance
Projects will be performed in eligible countries as listed above.