Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP) | DOS SAU PD 2207

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS SAU PD 2207

The Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Affairs Section to fund one organization to design and deliver a three-week exchange in the United States for English-speaking Saudi undergraduate students and recent graduates during Summer 2023. The overall purpose is to strengthen mutual understanding between Americans and Saudis while developing a cohort of young Saudi leaders who are prepared to engage constructively in their communities. The program is framed around community engagement that promotes peace and prosperity, leadership development, respect for diversity, tolerance of religious beliefs, and deeper cultural understanding, with an expectation that the impact continues after participants return home.

The exchange is planned for a total of 30 participants traveling from Saudi Arabia to the United States, potentially split into up to two delegations and, if helpful, smaller cohorts during parts of the program to improve participant support, safety, and monitoring and evaluation. A key feature of the U.S.-based portion is a homestay component with American families, alongside structured programming that exposes participants to civic engagement, pluralism, and practical leadership skills. The program is intended not just as a study tour, but as a leadership and values-based exchange that equips participants with tools they can apply in real community settings.

SYLEP has been running in some form since 2014, and this funding round emphasizes strengthening elements tied to peacebuilding, prosperity, tolerance, and cultural understanding. The program objectives include building U.S.-Saudi people-to-people ties; preparing young leaders to promote tolerance and cross-cultural understanding back in their home communities; encouraging social entrepreneurship that addresses concrete community needs (with examples such as inclusion of persons with disabilities, responses to unemployment and underemployment, and support for underprivileged groups); and teaching conflict analysis and conflict resolution techniques. The grant recipient is expected to weave these objectives into an integrated experience rather than treating them as separate topics.

A major requirement is that the program does not end when the delegation leaves the United States. The selected implementer must support follow-on activities in Saudi Arabia after the exchange, including alumni engagement and projects that promote peaceful coexistence and social entrepreneurship. In practice, this means helping participants stay organized as an alumni network, guiding them as they design or implement local initiatives, and coordinating with the Embassy and Consulates that will remain involved in alumni support.

Funding is expected to be issued as a single cooperative agreement, which signals substantial involvement by the U.S. government in program oversight and coordination. The anticipated total award is about $350,000, with awards expected to range from $300,000 to $350,000 depending on the proposal and available funds. The performance period is expected to be 9 to 12 months, with an anticipated start around June 2023, and all activities should be completed within 12 months or less. Embassy funding is described as supporting planning and implementation of the U.S.-based program, including homestays and international travel for participants, while the implementer is responsible for delivering the program design, logistics, participant support, and follow-on structure in close coordination with the Public Affairs Section.

Roles are split between the awardee and the U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Embassy Riyadh and the U.S. Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran will recruit, screen, and select the final participants and will also handle core government-facing steps like pre-departure briefings and visa process facilitation, plus oversight of alumni projects. The award recipient, however, must conduct an initial screening and then recommend roughly 50 to 75 top candidates for the Embassy and Consulates to consider, after which the U.S. Mission makes final selections. The implementer must also consult regularly with the Embassy Public Affairs Section, coordinate international travel details, prepare materials used for pre-departure briefings, and provide follow-on support to participants once they return to Saudi Arabia.

Eligibility is limited to U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education as an eligibility category in this listing) that have the administrative prerequisites to receive federal funding, including a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration. The opportunity stresses that organizations should have strong experience working with international audiences, especially youth, and a demonstrated track record in running exchange programs and leadership development initiatives. Relevant experience areas highlighted include economics, entrepreneurship, healthcare, STEAM, volunteer and community service, capacity-building, and leadership skills development. Only one proposal per organization is allowed; submitting more than one makes all submissions from that organization ineligible.

Cost sharing is not required, and there is no set minimum or maximum match. Even so, the Embassy encourages cost sharing and in-kind contributions, which can strengthen a proposal by showing added commitment and helping extend program reach, as long as those contributions are credible and well-documented.

Applications were due by midnight Eastern Time on August 15, 2022, with an anticipated award decision timeline around September 1, 2022, subject to funding availability. Applications could be submitted by email to RiyadhGrants@state.gov and also via Grants.gov, and a point of contact at the Embassy (the Deputy Cultural Attache) was provided for technical questions about the solicitation.

Proposals are evaluated primarily on the quality of the project goals and implementation plan (70 points), which includes how clearly the applicant links activities to program objectives, the feasibility and timeline of delivery, how outcomes will be measured, and whether the program’s impact is likely to continue after the funding period ends. Organizational capability accounts for 15 points, focusing on whether the applicant has the staffing, experience, systems, and partnerships to deliver a youth exchange safely and effectively. The remaining 15 points cover appendices, with specific attention to budget realism, allowability, allocability, and alignment with the narrative, as well as the qualifications of the project director (via resume or position description). Final selection is made through a peer review process involving Department of State, U.S. Embassy Riyadh, and other experts as appropriate, with awards based on best value considering both technical merit and cost.

An additional, explicit priority is alignment with U.S. government equity goals. Proposals are expected to show how the program advances equity and meaningfully engages underserved communities, considering factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. Reviewers look for concrete, credible plans showing that equity considerations are integrated into program design and administration, not treated as an add-on, and that doing so strengthens the overall exchange experience and the program’s leadership and community impact goals.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program (SYLEP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.021.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 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 $350,000.00 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.

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