FY 2026 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

Background
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is announcing an open competition for proposals to administer the FY 2026 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program. The NSLI-Y program aims to increase the number of American youth (ages 15 to 18) learning critical foreign languages, thereby bolstering U.S. national security, promoting economic prosperity, and fostering mutual understanding with key regions worldwide. The award will support approximately 275 American teens to study critical languages through intensive overseas programs and virtual programming.

Grant Details
The NSLI-Y program will fund approximately 275 American high school students to study Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, or Russian in overseas summer and academic year programs or virtually. The award recipient must design and implement programs that focus on language acquisition and cultural immersion. This includes structured classroom instruction, cultural activities, host family experiences, and community service opportunities. The applicant may propose directly implementing overseas programs or managing qualified organizations as sub-recipients. Each proposed summer program should last six to eight weeks, while academic year programs should last eight to ten months. Programs must include a minimum of 120 hours of classroom language instruction for summer programs and an average of ten hours per week for academic year programs. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all NSLI-Y overseas programs maintain program standards and meet all requirements set by ECA.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include U.S. not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations, as well as public and private educational institutions. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov and demonstrate at least four years of experience in conducting international exchanges to be eligible for awards exceeding $130,000 in ECA funding.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is expected to last between 30 to 33 months, with the anticipated award date on July 1, 2026.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is approximately $5,000,000 with one anticipated award.

Place of Performance
Programs will take place in various countries where the target languages are widely spoken; specific locations are subject to annual ECA approval.