FY2022 U.S. Embassy Tokyo: Fulbright Alumni Awards for U.S. Embassy recognition | TOKYO PAS FY22 01 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for TOKYO PAS FY22 01 02

The FY2022 U.S. Embassy Tokyo: Fulbright Alumni Awards for U.S. Embassy recognition opportunity is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Japan (Public Affairs Section) funding competition designed to mark two milestones: the 70th anniversary of the Fulbright Program in Japan and the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program overall. The central idea is to create and deliver a Fulbright Alumni Award program that publicly highlights how Fulbright alumni have strengthened the U.S.-Japan relationship and advanced shared priorities. By elevating well-known and high-impact alumni as visible examples of what Fulbright can lead to, the Embassy aims to celebrate the program's legacy while also using those stories to drive future interest and participation.

Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to develop an awards initiative that recognizes several prominent Fulbright alumni with an "Ambassador's Award." The selected grantee would be responsible for identifying and gathering information on alumni, documenting and presenting their accomplishments, and then publicizing the awards in ways that resonate with Japanese audiences. A major deliverable implied in the description is a short recruitment-oriented video featuring these Fulbright "Heroes," intended to serve as an ongoing outreach tool that can help attract new applicants and broaden general public awareness of Fulbright in Japan. In practice, this means the program is not only a recognition event, but also a communications campaign that turns alumni impact into compelling, shareable content.

The awards and storytelling elements are expected to align with four priority areas set by the Embassy: (1) the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance and Indo-Pacific multilateral security cooperation, (2) environment and sustainability, (3) women's economic empowerment, and (4) innovation. Proposals are therefore expected to frame alumni achievements through these lenses, showing concrete ways alumni work has supported bilateral cooperation, contributed to resilient and sustainable communities, expanded opportunities for women, or driven technological, scientific, or social innovation. The focus on these themes reflects an effort to connect people-to-people exchange outcomes with current mission priorities, making the case that Fulbright is not only academically valuable but also strategically relevant.

A consistent requirement across proposed activities is the inclusion of an American element. This can take different forms, such as collaboration with U.S. experts, partnerships with American organizations or institutions, or program components that promote understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Another acceptable approach mentioned is featuring Japanese speakers who can draw on their personal experiences in the United States to illustrate the exchange impact. Activities are expected to take place in Japan and to "multiply" the benefits of exchange by reaching beyond individual alumni and influencing broader communities, which points to public-facing programming, media outreach, and dissemination strategies rather than closed, alumni-only recognition.

In terms of intended audiences, the opportunity is explicitly focused on engaging Japanese audiences, with special emphasis on the U.S.-Japan Fulbright program itself. The Embassy is looking for programs that help promote Fulbright, increase the number and diversity of Japanese applicants, and generate wider Japanese public interest. That emphasis on diversity suggests proposals should think carefully about outreach channels, representation among honorees, and how program materials speak to different regions, professions, ages, and backgrounds across Japan.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Japan, with funding instruments listed as cooperative agreement and grant. The opportunity number is TOKYO PAS FY22 01 02, and it was created on February 22, 2022 with an original closing date of April 15, 2022. The award ceiling is $80,000, and the Embassy anticipated making two awards. The funding activity categories are broad and include areas like community development, education, energy, environment, humanities/cultural affairs, regional development, science and technology, and other research and development, which fits the cross-cutting nature of an alumni recognition program that blends events, communications, and policy-relevant public engagement.

Eligibility is also broad and includes state governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories), and other applicants as further clarified by the opportunity. Overall, the grant is structured for organizations capable of identifying strong alumni candidates, producing credible and attractive public-facing content (including video), managing a recognition process, and executing outreach in Japan that connects alumni achievements to U.S.-Japan cooperation and the future of Fulbright participation.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Japan in the community development, disaster prevention and relief, education, energy, environment, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification), regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled " FY2022 U.S. Embassy Tokyo: Fulbright Alumni Awards for U.S. Embassy recognition" 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 Feb 22, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 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 $80,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for TOKYO PAS FY22 01 02

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