Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS FRANCE FY2024 04
Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2025 is a U.S. Embassy France (Public Diplomacy Section) funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State to support a U.S.-based exchange program for up to 30 French high school students. The selected organization will implement a 15-day program in the United States in October and/or November 2025. The overall aim is to help French youth ages 15 to 17 strengthen leadership skills, deepen their understanding of U.S. society and the U.S. education system, and become more active and effective contributors in their own communities through civic engagement and volunteer service.
The program builds on an initiative created in 2008 that prioritizes students from underserved backgrounds across France, including the French Caribbean. While the grant recipient designs and runs the U.S. portion of the exchange, the broader effort is described as yearlong leadership development. Participants will also attend two pre-departure training sessions between January and June 2025 and a post-return debriefing in France, which will be organized by a separate French implementing NGO working in coordination with the U.S. program implementer and the Embassy. This structure is meant to prepare students for the exchange, reinforce learning outcomes, and support follow-on engagement once they return home.
The U.S. exchange itself is framed around practical exposure to American civic life and democratic institutions, combined with hands-on community service and sustained peer-to-peer contact. Students will begin in Washington, D.C. for initial programming, then split into subgroups placed in three different U.S. host communities. In these cities they will stay with vetted American host families and spend time with American students their age, with an emphasis on meaningful, sustained interaction rather than brief or ceremonial meetings. After the host community portion, participants return to Washington, D.C. for debriefing and evaluation and will also visit the U.S. Department of State and the French Embassy in the United States.
Programming is expected to be substantive and youth-centered, combining leadership workshops, interactive trainings and facilitated discussion groups, site visits tied to program themes, volunteer/service opportunities, visits to educational institutions, and local cultural activities. Homestays are a core component, and because all participants are minors, the opportunity stresses safeguarding requirements: participants must be accompanied by facilitators, and host families must be validated by the recipient organization.
The stated objectives focus on expanding opportunity and civic participation while strengthening Franco-American ties. Key goals include promoting equal opportunities and intercultural dialogue, increasing youth awareness of volunteerism and civic engagement, reinforcing Franco-American friendship through people-to-people exchange and soft diplomacy, and equipping participants to represent their peers and contribute to civic initiatives abroad. The program also aims to cultivate self-confidence, independence, intercultural sensitivity, and leadership among young people from underserved communities, with the long-term expectation that alumni will become positive local leaders who organize peers around constructive activities, promote tolerance, and build alliances with American counterparts to drive community change.
For applicants, the Embassy is looking for organizations that can demonstrate strong capacity to run international exchanges in the United States, manage youth-focused programming across multiple geographic regions, and deliver leadership training connected to real policy or community challenges. The recipient will also be responsible for oversight and management of any sub-awards under the cooperative agreement. The Embassy notes it can adjust the project configuration, budget, regions, and participant numbers depending on program needs and available funding.
The award is a discretionary cooperative agreement with an award ceiling of $150,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including those with or without 501(c)(3) status (as specified in the notice), other than institutions of higher education. The application deadline listed in the opportunity is May 31, 2024, under Funding Opportunity Number PDS FRANCE FY2024 04 (CFDA 19.040), administered by the U.S. Mission to France. Budget planning must cover round-trip international travel for up to 30 participants, domestic travel within France for up to 25 metropolitan participants to/from Paris and their home cities, and the requirement that one staff member accompanies the group on international travel. It must also include U.S. in-country travel and local transportation, lodging, meals, activities, insurance, and ESTA costs for all participants.
The primary audience served is up to 30 high-performing French high school students ages 15 to 17, many from underprivileged backgrounds, who show leadership potential and a clear commitment to civic engagement. Applicants are directed to review the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDS-France-FY2024-04) and the U.S. Embassy in France grants webpage for complete requirements, and questions can be sent to GrantsFrance@state.gov, with the caveat that the Embassy will not provide pre-consultation on questions already addressed in the notice.Apply for PDS FRANCE FY2024 04
- The U.S. Mission to France in the arts, community development, education, humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2025" 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 2024-04-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-31. (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 $150,000.00 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 2025 (U.S. Embassy France)
1) What is the Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2025 grant opportunity?
Youth Ambassadors for Community Service 2025 is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Embassy France (Public Diplomacy Section), under the U.S. Department of State, to support a U.S.-based exchange program for French high school students focused on leadership, civic engagement, and community service.
2) Who is the funder and which office is administering this opportunity?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State. The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Mission to France through the U.S. Embassy France (Public Diplomacy Section).
3) What is the purpose and overall aim of the program?
The program aims to help French youth ages 15 to 17 strengthen leadership skills, deepen their understanding of U.S. society and the U.S. education system, and become more active and effective contributors in their own communities through civic engagement and volunteer service.
4) Who are the intended participants?
The primary audience is up to 30 high-performing French high school students ages 15 to 17, many from underprivileged or underserved backgrounds, who demonstrate leadership potential and a clear commitment to civic engagement.
5) Does the program prioritize any specific populations within France?
Yes. The program builds on an initiative created in 2008 that prioritizes students from underserved backgrounds across France, including the French Caribbean.
6) How many students can the exchange include?
The exchange supports up to 30 French high school participants.
7) When will the U.S. portion of the exchange take place?
The selected organization is expected to implement a 15-day program in the United States in October and/or November 2025.
8) How long is the U.S. exchange program?
The U.S. portion is expected to be 15 days.
9) Is this just a short trip, or part of a larger leadership program?
While the grant recipient designs and runs the U.S. portion of the exchange, the broader effort is described as yearlong leadership development with structured preparation and follow-on components in France.
10) What activities happen in France before and after the U.S. exchange?
Participants will attend two pre-departure training sessions between January and June 2025 and a post-return debriefing in France. These are organized by a separate French implementing NGO working in coordination with the U.S. program implementer and the Embassy.
11) Who organizes the pre-departure trainings and post-return debriefing?
A separate French implementing NGO will organize the two pre-departure sessions and the post-return debriefing, coordinating with both the U.S. program implementer and the U.S. Embassy.
12) What is the general structure of the U.S. exchange itinerary?
Students begin in Washington, D.C. for initial programming, then split into subgroups that are placed in three different U.S. host communities. After the host community portion, they return to Washington, D.C. for debriefing and evaluation.
13) What happens during the Washington, D.C. portions of the program?
The program includes initial programming in Washington, D.C., and later a return to Washington, D.C. for debriefing and evaluation. Participants will also visit the U.S. Department of State and the French Embassy in the United States.
14) How are host communities used in the program?
After the initial Washington, D.C. component, students split into subgroups placed in three different U.S. host communities for a deeper local experience centered on civic life, community service, and sustained peer interaction.
15) Are homestays part of the program?
Yes. Homestays with vetted American host families are a core component of the program.
16) Who is responsible for vetting and validating host families?
The recipient organization is responsible for validating host families.
17) What safeguarding requirements apply since participants are minors?
Because all participants are minors, the opportunity stresses safeguarding requirements, including that participants must be accompanied by facilitators and that host families must be validated by the recipient organization.
18) What types of programming are expected during the exchange?
Programming is expected to be substantive and youth-centered and may include leadership workshops, interactive trainings and facilitated discussion groups, site visits tied to program themes, volunteer/service opportunities, visits to educational institutions, and local cultural activities.
19) What themes or learning goals are emphasized?
The exchange is framed around practical exposure to American civic life and democratic institutions, hands-on community service, and sustained peer-to-peer contact, with broader goals related to equal opportunity, intercultural dialogue, civic participation, and Franco-American ties.
20) How important is interaction with American peers?
Meaningful, sustained interaction with American students of similar age is emphasized, rather than brief or ceremonial meetings.
21) What outcomes does the program aim to build in participants?
Intended outcomes include increased self-confidence, independence, intercultural sensitivity, and leadership capacity, along with greater awareness of volunteerism and civic engagement and the ability to represent peers and contribute to civic initiatives.
22) What longer-term impact is expected after participants return to France?
The long-term expectation is that alumni become positive local leaders who organize peers around constructive activities, promote tolerance, and build alliances with American counterparts to drive community change.
23) What type of award is being offered?
The award is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
24) What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $150,000.
25) How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The opportunity states an expectation of one award.
26) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including those with or without 501(c)(3) status (as specified in the notice), other than institutions of higher education.
27) Are institutions of higher education eligible applicants?
No. The eligibility statement specifies nonprofit organizations other than institutions of higher education.
28) What capacity is the Embassy looking for in applicant organizations?
The Embassy is looking for organizations that can demonstrate strong capacity to run international exchanges in the United States, manage youth-focused programming across multiple geographic regions, and deliver leadership training connected to real policy or community challenges.
29) Will the recipient organization have responsibilities related to sub-awards?
Yes. The recipient will be responsible for oversight and management of any sub-awards under the cooperative agreement.
30) Can the Embassy change the program design or scale after an award?
Yes. The Embassy notes it can adjust the project configuration, budget, regions, and participant numbers depending on program needs and available funding.
31) What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?
The application deadline listed is May 31, 2024.
32) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PDS FRANCE FY2024 04. The CFDA listing provided is 19.040.
33) What costs must be included in the budget?
Budget planning must cover round-trip international travel for up to 30 participants, domestic travel within France for up to 25 metropolitan participants to/from Paris and their home cities, and the requirement that one staff member accompanies the group on international travel. It must also include U.S. in-country travel and local transportation, lodging, meals, activities, insurance, and ESTA costs for all participants.
34) Does the budget need to include domestic travel within France?
Yes. The budget must include domestic travel within France for up to 25 metropolitan participants to/from Paris and their home cities.
35) Is staff travel required as part of the project budget?
Yes. The budget must account for the requirement that one staff member accompanies the group on international travel.
36) Are ESTA costs included in allowable/required budgeting per the notice summary?
Yes. The summary specifies that the budget must include ESTA costs for all participants.
37) Where should applicants look for complete requirements?
Applicants are directed to review the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (PDS-France-FY2024-04) and the U.S. Embassy in France grants webpage for complete requirements.
38) How can applicants submit questions, and what limitation is noted?
Questions can be sent to GrantsFrance@state.gov. The Embassy notes it will not provide pre-consultation on questions already addressed in the notice.
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