Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS FRANCE FY2022 04
Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2023 is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to France) grant opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy France Public Diplomacy Section. It funds one organization (or a lead organization working with partners) to design and deliver a short-term U.S. exchange experience for a cohort of 30 to 40 French high school students, ages 15 to 18, for roughly 10 to 15 days in July and/or August 2023. The core aim is to deepen participants understanding of the United States while building practical leadership capacity, confidence, and a strong habit of civic engagement and volunteer service, particularly among youth from underserved backgrounds across France, including the French Caribbean.
The program sits within a broader, yearlong leadership pipeline created in 2008 that emphasizes volunteerism, self-confidence, intercultural awareness, and independence. The selected grantee is expected to coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Paris and work alongside a French implementing NGO that separately handles participant pre-departure preparation and post-return debriefing. In other words, the exchange trip is the centerpiece of a longer developmental track, and applicants need to show they can integrate their U.S.-based programming into that larger structure so students come prepared and return home ready to apply what they learned.
The planned exchange follows a hub-and-spoke model. Students begin in Washington, D.C. for initial orientation and programming focused on American democratic institutions and civic life. After that, they split into subgroups and travel to multiple host communities in different U.S. cities or regions, where they stay with vetted American host families and spend time with U.S. peers of similar age. The design must deliberately create repeated, meaningful peer-to-peer interaction rather than one-off meetings. At the end, participants return to Washington, D.C. for a wrap-up that includes debriefing and evaluation and typically visits to the U.S. Department of State and the French Embassy to the United States.
Programming is expected to be active and applied, not lecture-based. The embassy outlines a menu of appropriate activities that can be mixed and matched to fit the communities and themes chosen by the grantee: leadership and community service workshops, community site visits aligned to the program themes, interactive discussions and training groups, hands-on volunteer opportunities, visits to educational institutions to learn about the U.S. education system, local cultural activities, and structured homestay experiences. A key expectation is that the exchange equips participants with tools and concrete ideas they can take back to France, with follow-on activities positioned as essential so students can plan and implement community projects at home and sustain momentum after the trip.
The stated objectives emphasize both individual development and broader relationship-building. The program aims to promote equal opportunity and intercultural dialogue between French and American youth, increase awareness of civic engagement and volunteerism, and strengthen Franco-American ties through people-to-people connections and soft diplomacy. It also seeks to develop young leaders from underserved communities into positive community anchors who can organize peers around constructive activities, promote tolerance and achievement, and build alliances with American counterparts to create positive change.
From an implementation standpoint, applicants must show they can run youth-centered international exchanges in the United States across multiple geographic regions and deliver substantive leadership training tied to real-world policy or community challenges. The award recipient carries full responsibility for oversight and management, including any sub-awards or partner components. Because the participants are minors, the program must include appropriate adult supervision (facilitators), and host families must be validated by the recipient organization, reflecting a strong duty-of-care and safeguarding requirement.
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State anticipates close collaboration with the recipient during implementation. The award ceiling listed is $249,000, with one expected award. Proposed budgets need to cover the major cost drivers of a multi-site youth exchange: international travel for 30 to 40 participants; domestic travel within France for many metropolitan participants to connect through Paris; one staff member accompanying the group for the international travel; and U.S. in-country transportation, lodging, meals, activities, insurance, and ESTA fees. The embassy also notes it may adjust program configurations, budgets, regions, or participant numbers depending on program needs and available funds.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations, including U.S. nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and the competition is open to both U.S. and French organizations. The funding opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040 and is associated with activity areas that include arts/cultural affairs, community development, education, and humanities. The opportunity number is PDS FRANCE FY2022 04, created May 20, 2022, with an original closing date of July 18, 2022. Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity and the U.S. Embassy in France Grants Programs page for detailed submission rules, and questions are routed to GrantsFrance@state.gov, with the caveat that the embassy will not provide pre-consultation on issues already answered in the official notice.Apply for PDS FRANCE FY2022 04
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to France in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), community development, education, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2023" 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 May 20, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 2022. (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 $249,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2023 (U.S. Embassy France)
What is the Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2023 grant opportunity?
Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2023 is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Mission to France (U.S. Embassy France), Public Diplomacy Section. It funds one organization (or a lead organization working with partners) to design and deliver a short-term U.S. exchange experience for French high school students focused on leadership, civic engagement, and volunteer service.
Who is the funder and which office runs the program?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State. The program is run through the U.S. Embassy France Public Diplomacy Section (U.S. Mission to France).
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
What type of award is this?
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which means the Department of State anticipates close collaboration with the recipient during implementation.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $249,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations. This includes U.S. nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The competition is open to both U.S. and French organizations.
Are universities or institutions of higher education eligible?
No. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded from eligibility.
Can a consortium or partnership apply?
Yes. The opportunity may fund one organization or a lead organization working with partners. The award recipient remains responsible for oversight and management, including any sub-awards or partner components.
What is the program trying to accomplish?
The core aim is to deepen participants' understanding of the United States while building practical leadership capacity, confidence, and a strong habit of civic engagement and volunteer service. The program also seeks to promote equal opportunity and intercultural dialogue between French and American youth, increase awareness of civic engagement and volunteerism, and strengthen Franco-American ties through people-to-people connections.
Who are the participants and what ages are they?
Participants are French high school students ages 15 to 18.
How many students should the exchange serve?
The exchange is designed for a cohort of 30 to 40 students.
When does the exchange take place and how long is it?
The exchange is planned for roughly 10 to 15 days in July and/or August 2023.
Does the program prioritize any specific student populations?
Yes. A strong emphasis is placed on youth from underserved backgrounds across France, including the French Caribbean.
Is this exchange a standalone trip or part of a longer program?
The exchange is the centerpiece of a broader, yearlong leadership pipeline created in 2008. That pipeline emphasizes volunteerism, self-confidence, intercultural awareness, and independence. Applicants are expected to integrate the U.S.-based exchange programming into that larger yearlong structure so students arrive prepared and return home ready to apply what they learned.
What is the role of the U.S. Embassy in Paris during implementation?
The selected grantee is expected to coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Because this is a cooperative agreement, close collaboration with the Department of State is anticipated during implementation.
Is there a French implementing partner involved?
Yes. The U.S. exchange trip is expected to be delivered alongside a French implementing NGO that separately handles participant pre-departure preparation and post-return debriefing.
Where in the United States does the exchange begin and end?
The planned exchange follows a hub-and-spoke model that begins in Washington, D.C. for initial orientation and programming. Participants return to Washington, D.C. at the end for wrap-up activities, including debriefing and evaluation.
What happens during the Washington, D.C. portion of the program?
In Washington, D.C., the program includes initial orientation and programming focused on American democratic institutions and civic life. The final Washington, D.C. segment includes wrap-up, debriefing, evaluation, and typically visits to the U.S. Department of State and the French Embassy to the United States.
What is meant by a "hub-and-spoke" model?
It means the group starts together in Washington, D.C., then splits into subgroups that travel to multiple host communities in different U.S. cities or regions, and later reconvenes in Washington, D.C. for closing activities.
Are homestays required?
Yes. Students are expected to stay with vetted American host families in host communities as part of structured homestay experiences.
Do participants interact with U.S. students their age?
Yes. The exchange includes time with U.S. peers of similar age, and the design is expected to create repeated, meaningful peer-to-peer interaction rather than one-off meetings.
What kinds of activities should the program include?
Programming is expected to be active and applied, not lecture-based. The embassy lists appropriate activities that can be mixed and matched, including leadership and community service workshops, community site visits aligned to program themes, interactive discussions and training groups, hands-on volunteer opportunities, visits to educational institutions to learn about the U.S. education system, local cultural activities, and structured homestay experiences.
Is volunteer service a required element of the exchange?
Yes. The program emphasizes civic engagement and volunteer service and includes hands-on volunteer opportunities as a core expectation.
What outcomes are expected after students return to France?
The exchange is expected to equip participants with tools and concrete ideas they can take back to France. Follow-on activities are described as essential so students can plan and implement community projects at home and sustain momentum after the trip.
What experience should applicant organizations demonstrate?
Applicants must show they can run youth-centered international exchanges in the United States across multiple geographic regions and deliver substantive leadership training tied to real-world policy or community challenges.
Who is responsible for program oversight and partner management?
The award recipient carries full responsibility for oversight and management, including any sub-awards or partner components.
What safeguarding and duty-of-care requirements apply?
Because participants are minors, the program must include appropriate adult supervision (facilitators). Host families must be validated by the recipient organization, reflecting strong duty-of-care and safeguarding expectations.
What costs should the budget cover?
Proposed budgets should cover major costs of a multi-site youth exchange, including: international travel for 30 to 40 participants; domestic travel within France for many metropolitan participants to connect through Paris; one staff member accompanying the group for the international travel; and U.S. in-country transportation, lodging, meals, activities, insurance, and ESTA fees.
Can the program design, budget, or participant numbers change after award?
Yes. The embassy notes it may adjust program configurations, budgets, regions, or participant numbers depending on program needs and available funds.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity number is PDS FRANCE FY2022 04. The listing includes CFDA 19.040.
What activity areas does this opportunity relate to?
The opportunity is associated with activity areas including arts/cultural affairs, community development, education, and humanities.
When was the opportunity created and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was created May 20, 2022, with an original closing date of July 18, 2022.
Where should applicants look for full application and submission rules?
Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the U.S. Embassy in France Grants Programs page for detailed submission rules.
How can questions be submitted, and what limits apply?
Questions are routed to GrantsFrance@state.gov. The embassy notes it will not provide pre-consultation on issues already answered in the official notice.
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Previous opportunity: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program—Expansion Grants Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.411A
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PDS FRANCE FY2022 04) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2024 Apply for PDS FRANCE FY2023 03 Funding Number: PDS FRANCE FY2023 03 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to France Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Community Development, Education, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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