The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund uses the principle of leveraged innovation with higher education institutions (HEIs) that demonstrate the greatest commitment and innovation toward increasing study abroad opportunities between the United States and countries in the Western Hemisphere. In applying for the Innovation Fund grants, HEIs will be asked to demonstrate how they will assert leadership in implementing the innovations proposed, how they will address on-campus barriers to student mobility, how they will maintain student engagement, and how they will commit to making concrete changes to expand access to study abroad as sending and/or hosting institutions.

The Department of State and Partners of the Americas reserve the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted. Please refer to the requests for proposal (RFPs) below for a complete statement of goals and expected results of the competitions.

Current Open Competitions

The 100K CLIMA Grant Competition to Build Inclusive, Climate-Action, Student Exchange Programs between the United States and Colombia (2023)

         

Eligibility: All  higher education institutions (HEIs) legally registered in the United States and Colombia. Refer to the Request for Proposals (RFPs) linked below for more details on regional preferences.

Mandatory Partnership: Proposals must include at least one HEI from the U.S. and one HEI from Colombia.

Program Option #1: Proposals focused on innovative, inclusive student/faculty exchanges
Proposed Activities & Eligible Program Areas:
Proposals must describe how the teams of HEIs will use the 100K grant resources to create and implement new models of inclusive student/faculty exchange and training programs between the U.S. and Colombia focused on overall themes of climate action, energy transition, and related areas as noted below.
  • -Agriculture
  • -Climate Technology
  • -Conservation and Reforestation
  • -Decarbonization and Electrification
  • -Design, Architecture, and Construction of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
  • -Renewable Energy
Available Awards: Eleven (11) grants of up to $27,174.
  • *8 grants will be awarded to projects that include Colombian HEIs in one of 19 departments listed on Pages 4-5 of the RFP. 
  •  *3 grants will be awarded to projects focused on cacao or complementary crops value chains. 
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Program Option #2: Proposals that include climate research connected to climate action projects (CAPs) and student/faculty exchange and training programs
Proposed Activities & Eligible Program Areas:
Proposals must describe how participating HEIs will use grant resources to support climate action projects (CAPs), including climate research, and student/faculty exchanges. Proposed projects under this option must be related to overall themes of climate action, energy transition, and related areas as noted below and be strategic in terms of strengthening the cooperation and capacities of HEIs in the U.S. and Colombia to work together to solve climate challenges.
  • -Agriculture
  • -Bioeconomy
  • -Circular Economy
  • -Climate Justice
  • -Conservation and Reforestation
  • -Integrated Management for Sustainable Cities
  • -Public Health and Climate
  • -Sustainable Design, Architecture, and Construction
  • -Sustainable/Electric Transportation
  • -Water
Available Awards: Five (5) grants of up to $50,000.
  • *2-3 grants will be awarded to projects that have the participation of at least one HEI based in the Caribbean region of Colombia. 
  • *2-3 grants will be awarded to projects focused on cacao or complementary crops value chains. 
 
Application Period: October 5, 2023 – January 31, 2024

                                                                       

The 100K Strong North America Grant Competition to Expand Climate-Action, Inclusive Education Exchanges (100K Strong North America CLIMA/IE)

Eligibility: All  higher education institutions (HEIs) legally registered in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Refer to the Request for Proposals (RFPs) linked below for more details on regional preferences.

Mandatory Partnership: Proposals must include a tripartite partnership that consist of at least one HEI from the U.S., one HEI from Canada, and one HEI from Mexico.

Proposed Activities & Eligible Program Areas: Proposals must describe how participating HEIs will use grant resources to support student/faculty exchanges and climate action projects (CAPs). Proposed projects under this option must be related to overall themes of climate action and related areas as noted below and be strategic in terms of strengthening the cooperation and capacities of HEIs in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to work together to solve climate challenges.
 
  • -Biodiversity Protection
  • -Bioeconomy and Sustainable Value Chains
  • -Circular Technology
  • -Climate Justice
  • -Community Conservation Practices
  • -Conservation and Reforestation
  • -Endangered/Threatened Species Management and Protection
  • -Environmental Protection
  • -Green/Climate Finance
  • -Renewable Energy
  • -Natural Resource Management
  • -Protection and Restoration of Oceans and Corals
  • -Public Health and Climate
  • -STEM for Climate Purposes
  • -Sustainable Design, Architecture, and Construction
  • -Sustainable Land Use
  • -Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture and Food Security
  • -Sustainable/Electric Transportation
  • -Water Protection and Restoration

Available Awards: Approximately nine (9) grants of up to $25,000.

Application Period: November 16, 2023 – February 29, 2024

                                 

 

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Click below to begin the application process or to send us your questions on the grant competitions.

Looking for some inspiration?

View Past Competitions