6 US programs currently accept applications directly from Ukrainians, and each one has a concrete, open submission date. This roundup is for scholars, faculty, and journalists who live and work in Ukraine (not the diaspora abroad).
The map of US funding for Ukraine changed sharply in 2025. USAID closed, and some State Department programs were reviewed or paused. So many well-known donors now either accept applications on an ongoing basis without a fixed deadline, or sit between annual cycles. We gathered the programs whose deadline is confirmed and open as of July 2026, and where Ukrainians can be the lead applicants.
Three tracks follow: academic research, exact sciences, and journalism. At the end, we explain which large US donors deserve separate monitoring and why they did not make the main list.
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Fulbright grants for scholars and faculty
Fulbright, the US government exchange program, has run in Ukraine since 1992. The Institute of International Education (IIE) administers it, and its office works in Kyiv. Right now, two competitions for the 2027–2028 academic year are open for Ukrainian researchers, and both fund research at US universities.
Citizens of Ukraine who live in Ukraine can apply, and so can those who left because of the full-scale invasion after 24 February 2022. Every participant travels on a J-1 visa and returns to Ukraine for at least 2 years afterwards.
Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
Who can apply
Scholars and faculty with an academic degree (Kandydat Nauk, PhD, Doctor of Sciences), plus researchers and professionals affiliated with academic, research, or cultural institutions, museums, archives, or NGOs. Professionals without a degree may apply if they hold 10 or more years of professional experience.
What it offers
First, it gives a research grant for 3–9 months at US universities, research centers, libraries, or museums. Eligible fields include humanities and social sciences, hard sciences, technology, and engineering. Applicants from Ukraine apply for the research category only.
Deadline
15 October 2026, 23:59 Kyiv time. Recommended candidates move to review by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in December 2026.
Official page
Fulbright Research and Development Program
Who can apply
Young faculty and researchers under 45 who hold at least 2 years of professional experience. The office accepts applications from candidates currently in Ukraine, and from those who left because of the war after 24 February 2022.
What it offers
A research program for 6–9 months at US universities. The format resembles the Visiting Scholar track, so it fits scholars at the start of their careers.
Deadline
1 November 2026. The competition for 2027–2028 is already open.
Official page
fulbright.org.ua/en/fulbright-research-and-development-program-en
The Fulbright Graduate Student Program (master’s study in the US) closed its intake for this cycle on 16 May 2026, so the next round should open in spring. The US Student Program to Ukraine, which brings American students into the country, remains suspended.
CRDF Global grants for exact-science researchers
CRDF Global, a US nonprofit, has supported international scientific cooperation since 1995. Its regional office for Eastern Europe and Eurasia sits in Kyiv. Two grant lines are open now for Ukrainian scientists, and both draw funding from the US State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation.
Both lines target citizens of Ukraine who hold a PhD and work in defined fields. Specifically, both cover civilian research. Applicants send materials for either line by email to uascience@crdfglobal.org.
CRDF Global: conference travel support
Who can apply
Citizens of Ukraine with a PhD who work in aeronautics, materials science, and nuclear science. The research they present must be civilian in nature.
What it offers
Up to 2,500 dollars for travel and presentation of results at national or international conferences. The application covers trips that take place between 1 February and 15 December 2026. You must also include an acceptance letter for a paper or poster.
Deadline
So CRDF accepts applications until 1 October 2026. The team advises applying at least 65 days before the conference starts.
Official page
CRDF Global: article publication support
Who can apply
Citizens of Ukraine with a PhD in aeronautics, artificial intelligence, materials science, nuclear science, or quantum. All coauthors must also be citizens of Ukraine, and the research you publish must be civilian.
What it offers
Up to 2,500 dollars to cover publication costs in peer-reviewed international journals. One grant goes to one publication regardless of the number of authors. You must also attach an official confirmation letter from the journal.
Deadline
In fact, CRDF accepts applications on an ongoing basis through 2026. The team advises applying at least 65 days before the publication payment date.
Official page
Grants for journalists
Two US media organizations currently accept applications with concrete dates. Both reach journalists from Ukraine, yet they set different conditions on topic and place of publication, so read them closely before you apply.
IWMF: Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism
Who can apply
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is based in Washington. The Kari Howard Fund is open to women and nonbinary journalists worldwide, including those from Ukraine. Applicants can be print journalists or print journalists leading a multimedia team. Projects reported and published in English anywhere in the world are eligible.
What it offers
A grant for narrative journalism, which averaged around 5,000 dollars in previous years. The funds cover reporting costs.
Deadline
Applicants submit through Submittable by 31 July 2026.
Official page
Fund for Investigative Journalism
Who can apply
The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) is a US nonprofit, and it is open to journalists from any country, including Ukraine. One condition matters: the story must carry a strong US angle (American citizens, government, or business), and it must be published in English in a US outlet.
What it offers
Regular grants up to 10,000 dollars for investigations in print, online, broadcast, books, documentaries, or podcasts. A full application needs a letter of commitment from an outlet ready to publish the story.
Deadline
As a result, the next round closes 14 September 2026, 23:59 US Eastern time. Decisions arrive roughly 6 weeks after the deadline.
Official page
| Program | Who | Amount | Deadline | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Visiting Scholar | Scholars with a PhD, all fields | 3–9 months of research in the US | 15 October 2026 | fulbright.org.ua |
| Fulbright Research and Development | Researchers under 45, 2+ years of experience | 6–9 months of research in the US | 1 November 2026 | fulbright.org.ua |
| CRDF Global: conferences | PhD scientists: aeronautics, materials, nuclear science | up to 2,500 dollars | 1 October 2026 | crdfglobal.org |
| CRDF Global: publications | PhD scientists: aeronautics, AI, materials, nuclear science, quantum | up to 2,500 dollars | through 2026 | crdfglobal.org |
| IWMF Kari Howard Fund | Women and nonbinary journalists (print) | around 5,000 dollars | 31 July 2026 | iwmf.org |
| Fund for Investigative Journalism | Journalists (story with a US angle) | up to 10,000 dollars | 14 September 2026 | fij.org |
Need advice on your application?
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US funding in 2026: what to keep in mind
Several well-known US donors did not make the main list because they lack a fixed open deadline right now. These donors still operate, but they lack a single fixed date right now, so they deserve separate monitoring.
Accepting applications on an ongoing basis
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) funds nongovernmental organizations, including Ukrainian ones, in human rights, independent media, and the rule of law. Applications come in continuously, and review happens quarterly before board meetings, without a single date. The US budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 floated the idea of ending NED funding, so check the program status directly on ned.org.
The Open Technology Fund (OTF), funded by the US Congress, supports technology projects in internet freedom and digital security. Ukraine appears on its list of eligible countries. So OTF accepts concept notes for the core Internet Freedom Fund on an ongoing basis.
The small-grant programs of the US Embassy in Kyiv (Democracy Small Grants, Media Development Fund) for Ukrainian organizations run as open-ended competitions without a fixed deadline. Check the current status on the embassy page ua.usembassy.gov.
Between annual cycles
The research fellowships of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) already closed intake for 2026–2027 (the deadline fell in January), so the next competition is expected in winter. The CEC ArtsLink arts fellowships selected their 2026 fellows, and a new intake opens closer to winter. The German Marshall Fund program for Ukraine (U3R) has concluded.
The general advice is simple: in the current situation, deadlines for US programs shift faster than usual. So before you apply, always verify the date on the donor’s official page rather than on aggregators.
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