Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018339
The FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage opportunity is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) discretionary funding competition to select one implementing partner to run a high-profile cultural heritage convening in the United States. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient is expected to work closely with ECA in designing and delivering the program. This initiative is positioned as part of the State Department's programming to mark the United States' 250th birthday and is intended to elevate cultural heritage and cultural property protection as a major diplomatic and security priority.
At the center of the project is a one-to-two-day in-person exchange hosted at an iconic U.S. location that brings together 25 to 40 foreign cultural ministers (or equivalent senior officials or designees) from select key countries. The convening is designed for high-level discussion and practical coordination on protecting cultural heritage, preventing cultural property loss, and strengthening cooperation against art and antiquities trafficking. In addition to the international minister-level participants, the program will include representatives from the U.S. government, U.S. companies, and other American institutions working in heritage preservation and protection, along with U.S. law enforcement entities focused on countering illicit trafficking in cultural objects.
A major emphasis of the agenda is showcasing U.S. models, standards, and best practices in cultural property protection and preservation, including innovation and new technologies from the U.S. private sector and other American organizations. The exchange is also meant to support commercial diplomacy by highlighting American expertise and solutions in the cultural heritage field and creating opportunities for constructive engagement between foreign ministries and U.S. industry and institutions. Another core theme is using cultural heritage to amplify global narratives about America's foundational values, aligning the event with the broader America250 context.
The program is structured to be more than a single event. Two to three virtual sessions with working-level representatives of the selected ministers will take place before the U.S. convening. These sessions are intended to gather input, align priorities among countries, and lock in a focused, actionable in-person agenda. The in-person program itself is expected to produce concrete follow-on steps, not just discussion, with the goal of advancing collaboration after the convening ends and strengthening relationships among key countries active in cultural heritage policy and protection.
From ECA's perspective, the project also has a security and enforcement dimension. By deepening coordination between ECA programming and U.S. law enforcement and by strengthening international cooperation to combat trafficking, the initiative aims to enhance border security and reduce the financial flows associated with trafficked art and antiquities. In practical terms, the program is intended to expose foreign participants to U.S. advancements, encourage alignment on approaches to prevention and enforcement, and support cross-border coordination that can disrupt illicit supply chains.
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible entities as specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.451. ECA expects to make one award, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018339, the opportunity was created on May 12, 2026, and the original application closing date is July 10, 2026.Apply for DFOP0018339
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.451.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-10. (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 $1,000,000.00 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, Others.
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FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage opportunity?
The FY 2026 Stewards of Cultural Heritage opportunity is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) discretionary funding competition to select one implementing partner to run a high-profile cultural heritage convening in the United States.
Which U.S. government office is sponsoring this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA expects to make one award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
What type of award will be made?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient is expected to work closely with ECA in designing and delivering the program.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to elevate cultural heritage and cultural property protection as a major diplomatic and security priority by convening senior international cultural officials and U.S. stakeholders to coordinate on protecting cultural heritage, preventing cultural property loss, and strengthening cooperation against art and antiquities trafficking.
How does this initiative relate to the United States' 250th birthday (America250)?
This initiative is positioned as part of the State Department's programming to mark the United States' 250th birthday, and it is intended to use cultural heritage to amplify global narratives about America's foundational values in that broader America250 context.
What is the central program activity?
At the center of the project is a one-to-two-day in-person exchange in the United States hosted at an iconic U.S. location.
Who is expected to participate in the in-person convening from overseas?
The convening is designed to bring together 25 to 40 foreign cultural ministers (or equivalent senior officials or designees) from select key countries.
Who else is expected to be involved besides foreign ministers and their counterparts?
The program will include representatives from the U.S. government, U.S. companies, and other American institutions working in heritage preservation and protection, along with U.S. law enforcement entities focused on countering illicit trafficking in cultural objects.
What topics will the convening focus on?
The convening is designed for high-level discussion and practical coordination on protecting cultural heritage, preventing cultural property loss, and strengthening cooperation against art and antiquities trafficking.
Is the agenda expected to be practical or primarily discussion-based?
The in-person program is expected to produce concrete follow-on steps, not just discussion, with the goal of advancing collaboration after the convening ends and strengthening relationships among key countries active in cultural heritage policy and protection.
Will there be programming before the in-person event?
Yes. Two to three virtual sessions with working-level representatives of the selected ministers will take place before the U.S. convening.
What is the purpose of the pre-convening virtual sessions?
The virtual sessions are intended to gather input, align priorities among countries, and lock in a focused, actionable in-person agenda.
What role do U.S. models and best practices play in the project?
A major emphasis of the agenda is showcasing U.S. models, standards, and best practices in cultural property protection and preservation, including innovation and new technologies from the U.S. private sector and other American organizations.
How does the project support commercial diplomacy?
The exchange is meant to support commercial diplomacy by highlighting American expertise and solutions in the cultural heritage field and creating opportunities for constructive engagement between foreign ministries and U.S. industry and institutions.
Does ECA describe a security or enforcement dimension to the project?
Yes. From ECA's perspective, the project has a security and enforcement dimension tied to combating trafficking in cultural objects and strengthening international cooperation.
How is the project connected to border security and illicit finance concerns?
By deepening coordination between ECA programming and U.S. law enforcement and strengthening international cooperation to combat trafficking, the initiative aims to enhance border security and reduce the financial flows associated with trafficked art and antiquities.
What practical outcomes is the program intended to encourage among participating countries?
The program is intended to expose foreign participants to U.S. advancements, encourage alignment on approaches to prevention and enforcement, and support cross-border coordination that can disrupt illicit supply chains.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible entities as specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Is this opportunity associated with a CFDA number?
Yes. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.451.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018339.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 12, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is July 10, 2026.
Where will the in-person exchange be held?
The convening will be hosted at an iconic U.S. location. The specific site is not identified in the information provided.
How long is the in-person convening expected to last?
The in-person exchange is expected to be one to two days.
How many foreign participants are expected?
The convening is designed for 25 to 40 foreign cultural ministers (or equivalent senior officials or designees).
What is the recipient expected to do under the cooperative agreement?
Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the implementing partner is expected to work closely with ECA to design and deliver the program.
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