EducationUSA Professional College Counselor Network Program | FY2024VE004

Opportunity Information: Apply for FY2024VE004

The EducationUSA Professional College Counselor Network Program is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the Public Diplomacy Section of the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU). Its main goal is to build a structured, professional network of secondary school college and career counselors in Venezuela who are better equipped to guide students on U.S. higher education options and pathways. The program is designed as both a training and community-building effort, combining formal instruction, recurring professional development, shared resources, and sustained collaboration under the EducationUSA brand.

At the core of the project is the creation of a network of up to 50 trained counselors. The selected implementer would work in partnership with the VAU EducationUSA office to recruit up to 50 Venezuelan secondary school counselors and run a six-month training program for them. The grant expects the implementer to launch the initiative through a mix of in-person and virtual meetings, coordinate the overall training calendar, and develop training materials. While the EducationUSA office will provide reference publications, the grantee is responsible for turning those references into usable training content and products suitable for counselors, and for coordinating delivery and engagement over time.

Beyond the initial training, the program emphasizes ongoing professional development and network maintenance. The grantee would be expected to organize monthly professional development meetings in both in-person and virtual formats to keep the cohort active, strengthen peer-to-peer learning, and reinforce EducationUSA-aligned advising practices. A key deliverable is a sustainability model that explains how the counselor network will continue functioning beyond the grant period, which could include membership structures, partnerships, continuing education plans, or other mechanisms to maintain participation and value. The program also requires producing and distributing an EducationUSA-branded monthly electronic newsletter, intended to keep counselors informed, aligned, and connected while also helping standardize messaging and advising updates across the network.

A major capstone component is an in-person U.S. study tour for up to 12 counselors drawn from the initial group of up to 50. The grant recipient would organize and implement this study tour, which generally implies planning logistics and programming that expose participants to U.S. higher education institutions, advising best practices, and potentially partnerships that counselors can bring back to their schools and communities. The intended audience for all activities is Venezuelan secondary school college and career counselors, with the downstream impact being improved college advising for students considering U.S. study.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 19.040 and is supported by FY-2024 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds. The total funding available is up to USD 50,000, with one award anticipated. The performance period can be up to 18 months, with an anticipated start date of May 1, 2024, and completion expected within 18 months or less. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning the VAU expects to be actively involved in key elements of implementation, including substantial involvement in the final selection of participants and review and approval of promotional and training materials before they are made public. The notice also indicates that continuation funding beyond the initial period may be possible on a non-competitive basis, but only if funds are available, performance is strong, and continued support is judged to be in the Department of State's interest.

Eligibility is focused on Venezuelan entities capable of carrying out education and training programming at a national or multi-site level. Eligible applicants include Venezuelan not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations) as well as public and private educational institutions. Applications were due March 1, 2024, under Funding Opportunity Number FY2024VE004.

• The U.S. Mission to Venezuela in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EducationUSA Professional College Counselor Network Program" 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 2023-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-01. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FY2024VE004

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