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 United States-Brazil Climate/Inclusive Education Grant Competition
(100K Strong U.S.-Brazil CLIMA/IE)

Mandatory: Proposals must include a team of at least one eligible institution from each category below:

  • HEIs in the United States: HEIs located and legally registered in the U.S., including four-year degree-issuing institutions (public and private), with special emphasis on Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs); community colleges; and other post-secondary institutions with credit-bearing programs.
  • SENAI institutions in Brazil: SENAI Innovation Institutes (Institutos SENAI de Inovação) and SENAI Higher Education Schools (Escolas de Ensino Superior do SENAI).

Recommended additional Brazilian Institution as a 3rd Partner: Proposals may also present a tripartite alliance between a (1) U.S. HEI, a (2) SENAI Innovation Institute or Higher Education School, and a (3) Brazilian post-secondary institution located and legally registered, including:

  • Private and public universities (universidades privadas e públicas de todos as esferas da federação – estaduais/federais),
  • Federal institutes/centers for technological education (Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia – IFETs e Centros Federais de Educação Tecnológica – CEFETs),
  • Professional technical institutes (institutos técnico-profissional),
  • Research centers (centros de pesquisa), and
  • Other post-secondary institutions.

Proposed Activities and Eligible Themes: Proposals must include innovative partnerships between HEIs that result in (1) inclusive education solutions, participant exchange and training programs, and (2) climate action projects (CAPs) that contribute to climate-action solutions between the U.S. and Brazil.

Environment and Climate Solutions

  • Biodiversity Protection
  • Bio-economy and Sustainable Value Chains
  • Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS)
  • Climate Justice
  • Climate Technology
  • Community Conservation Practices
  • Conservation and Reforestation
  • Decarbonization
  • Digital and Sustainable Industrial Production Chains
  • 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
Inclusive Education
  • Professional Training
  • Adaptive Learning
  • Inclusive TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Technologies
  • Information Technology as a Tool for Inclusion
  • Artificial Intelligence in Inclusive Education

Available Awards: Up to seven (7) grants of up to $40,000

Application Period
April 24 – July 31, 2024

Download Requests for Proposals below.

Join the Innovation Network to receive updates on new competitions, upcoming webinars, and more.
**Before applying for an Innovation Fund grant, please join the Innovation Network for free!**

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

Looking for some inspiration?

View Past Competitions