2024 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TRANSATLANTIC FELLOWSHIP
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for the FY 2024 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship.
Purpose: The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship, initiated in 2006, commemorates the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth. Franklin, an iconic American statesman and diplomat, traversed the Atlantic Ocean, fostering greater understanding between Americans and Europeans. This fellowship seeks to inspire today’s young citizens by exploring Franklin’s career, interests, and use of diplomacy and media to enhance information exchange. The program aims to cultivate relationships among young Americans and Europeans, promoting shared values awareness and investigating how youth engage with media as consumers and producers, emphasizing freedom of expression rights and responsibilities.
Goals: The fellowship aims to:
- Develop civic responsibility and cooperation among youth.
- Foster relationships among youth from diverse backgrounds.
- Promote mutual understanding between the United States and Europe.
- Cultivate a cadre of young leaders sharing knowledge and skills through positive action.
Funding Information:
- Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024 – $250,000 base year funding; FY 2025 – $250,000 NCC year-one; FY 2026 – $250,000 NCC year-two (pending successful performance and fund availability).
- Approximate Total Funding: $750,000.
- Approximate Number of Awards: One.
- Approximate Average Award: $250,000.
- Minimum “Floor” of Award: $250,000 (pending fund availability).
- Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000 (pending fund availability).
- Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2024.
- Anticipated Award Completion Date: December 31, 2027.
Outcomes: Successful outcomes include improved understanding between European and American participants, identification and resolution of misunderstandings, development of critical thinking skills, enhanced understanding of international relations and media roles, and empowerment to be literate consumers and creators of media.
Program Specific Guidelines: The program occurs on a U.S. university or college campus, involving an intensive four-week exchange with housing on campus and homestays with local American families. It explores global issues through interactive activities, fostering democratic practices, volunteer service, conflict resolution, critical thinking, tolerance, youth leadership, and media engagement.
Participants: Approximately 55 students aged 16-18 from Europe and the United States, with a strong interest in global issues, diplomatic relationships, press roles, freedom of expression, public or community service, will be selected. The program includes one fellow from each European country and ten U.S. participants.
Eligible Applicants: U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, exchange-of-persons, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting IRS section 501(c)(3) may apply.
Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate at least four years of experience in international exchanges for awards exceeding $130,000 in ECA funding. Organizations without this experience are ineligible for this competition. Compliance with NOFO, POGI (if applicable), and PSI requirements is mandatory. Non-compliance renders proposals technically ineligible.
Deadline: 16-Apr-2024
For more information, visit Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
From the Source on Fellowship: fundforNGOs
