United States-India Educational Foundation

What United States-India Educational Foundation does

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) is a non-profit foundation established in 1950 that administers the Fulbright Program between India and the United States under the oversight of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices in Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai, USIEF operates a portfolio of 11+ fellowship and exchange programs—including Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research, Postdoctoral Research, Master's, Academic and Professional Excellence, Hubert H. Humphrey, FLTA, Specialist, Scholar-in-Residence, Teaching Excellence and Achievement, and Distinguished Awards in Teaching fellowships—along with the EducationUSA India advisory platform for prospective international students.

USIEF's core technology is administrative rather than product-oriented: the foundation manages the application review, interview, orientation, and grantee-support lifecycle for Fulbright fellowships, while relying on third-party platforms—IIE (apply.iie.org), IREX (fulbright.irex.org), and World Learning (FSP)—for online application intake. The organization does not own proprietary APIs or develop software products; its intellectual property is concentrated in the Fulbright brand, a 75-year operating history, and an alumni community exceeding 21,000 scholars.

USIEF's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: fellowship grants are financed by U.S. government appropriations, with fellows receiving stipends, travel, health insurance, and tuition support rather than paying fees. The foundation does not disclose revenue or budgets publicly, and there is no equity, venture, or public ownership structure. Customer segments span Indian scholars, researchers, professionals, and secondary school teachers on the demand side, and U.S. and Indian higher education institutions on the host side, with the EducationUSA platform extending reach into prospective Indian students considering U.S. study.

Name

United States-India Educational Foundation

Legal name

United States-India Educational Foundation

Website

https://usief.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

USIEF is a non-profit foundation administering Fulbright academic and professional exchange programs between India and the United States, funded by the U.S. Department of State. It serves Indian and U.S. scholars, educators, and professionals through fellowship programs across four Indian offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Support, Matching Platforms & Scholarship Administration Services (EDAIAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding (EDAIAOAF), Country/Region-Specific Scholarships (Inbound/Outbound) (EDAIAOAC), International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration (EDADAHAL)

Keywords

• Educational exchange programs
• Fellowship administration
• Academic exchange
• Scholarship programs
• Cultural exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

USIEF administers Fulbright fellowship and educational exchange programs between India and the United States, providing fully-funded grants for Indian and U.S. scholars, researchers, students, and teachers to undertake research, teaching, and professional development at host institutions in the counterpart country. It also operates the EducationUSA India advisory platform supporting prospective Indian students seeking U.S. higher education.

Product overview

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) operates a portfolio of Fulbright fellowship programs rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings include various fellowship categories for Indian and U.S. citizens: Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships (6-9 months), Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (8-24 months), Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships (4-9 months), International Education Administrators Awards (2-week visits), the FLTA Program (9 months teaching Hindi/Urdu in the U.S.), Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowships, Fulbright Specialist Program (14-42 days), Scholar-in-Residence Program, Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (6 weeks), and Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program (one semester). Additionally, USIEF supports the EducationUSA platform for prospective international students. These programs collectively facilitate academic and professional exchange between India and the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fulbright Program: A U.S. Department of State-funded international educational exchange program designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.
• EducationUSA

Products and services

• Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Notre DamecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2026Organized the Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators (IEA) Seminar 2026 in the United States. Twelve Indian higher education administrators participated in the two-week program (April 11-25, 2026) that included visits to over 11 leading U.S. institutions to advance institutional partnerships and collaboration between the U.S. and India.
• U.S. Fulbright Scholars (South and Central Asia)coreOthersUSIEF hosted the 2025 South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference, bringing together Fulbright-Nehru scholars and other U.S. Fulbright participants for research presentations, insight exchanges, and reflections on experiences in the region. Conference featured approximately 80-90 presentations across multiple sessions covering diverse topics.
• U.S. Fulbright-Nehru Student ResearcherscoreOthersUSIEF welcomed 40 U.S. Fulbright-Nehdu Student Researchers to India for 2025-2026. These student researchers participated in a three-day in-country orientation before beginning 9 months of fieldwork across India. Projects span anthropology, history, political science, public health, science & technology, and more.
• U.S. University AdministratorscoreOthersIn March 2025, USIEF hosted 10 senior U.S. university administrators for an immersive two-week program under Fulbright-Nehru Education Administrators Seminar (FNIEAS). The cohort visited approximately 14 universities and colleges in Mumbai, Coimbatore, and Delhi to explore India's academic landscape.
• Purdue UniversityminorOthersOne of over 11 leading U.S. institutions visited during the Fulbright-Nehru IEA Seminar 2026. Institutions are selected for their ability to offer institutional and professional resources for Fulbright Fellows.
• Temple UniversityminorOthersOne of over 11 leading U.S. institutions visited during the Fulbright-Nehru IEA Seminar 2026 for institutional partnership development.
• Drexel UniversityminorOthersOne of over 11 leading U.S. institutions visited during the Fulbright-Nehru IEA Seminar 2026 for institutional partnership development.
• Johns Hopkins UniversityminorOthersOne of over 11 leading U.S. institutions visited during the Fulbright-Nehru IEA Seminar 2026 for institutional partnership development.
• Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll final shortlisted applications are forwarded to FSSB for final approvals. The FFSB is the governing body of the Fulbright Program that ensures compliance with the program's policies and standards.
• U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fulbright Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State. ECA sponsors various Fulbright programs including Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching, Fulbright TEA, and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program to advance U.S. foreign policy goals through educational exchange.
• U.S. Mission to IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducationUSA India is a U.S. Mission-supported platform administered by USIEF that advances U.S. leadership in higher education, research, and innovation. The Mission also supports various Fulbright programs.
• U.S. Host UniversitiescoreOthersU.S. campuses selected through competitive process for hosting Humphrey Fellows, Fulbright Scholars, and other participants. Includes institutions such as Arizona State University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, and many others.
• IIE (Institute of International Education)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIIE manages the online application portal (apply.iie.org) for Fulbright fellowships. Applications for Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral, Postdoctoral, and Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships are submitted through IIE's platform.
• IREXcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIREX manages the online application portal (fulbright.irex.org) for Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program and Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program. Also manages Fulbright Specialist Program portal.
• World LearningcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorld Learning manages the Fulbright Specialist Program Portal (FSP) for hosting institutions to submit project proposals for requesting U.S. Fulbright Specialists.
• Women's Christian College, ChennaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSIEF Chennai partnered with Women's Christian College to organize the 'Leadership in Higher Education' workshop (November 25-27, 2024). Over 40 faculty members from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka participated.
• National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSIEF-New Delhi partnered with NESTS for International Education Week workshop 'Empowering Teachers'. 35 educators from 17 states were nominated by NESTS along with KVS and NVS.
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSIEF partnered with KVS for International Education Week workshop. Educators from 17 states across India nominated through this partnership.
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSIEF partnered with NVS for International Education Week workshop on teachers' professional development.
• Fulbright AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fulbright Association is the U.S. alumni organization of the Fulbright Program, representing 140,000 U.S. alumni. It serves as a hub for Fulbright alumni to connect and supports international education and cultural understanding.
• Exchange Alumni (U.S. State Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange Alumni platform (exchangealumni.state.gov) connects former participants of U.S. government-funded exchange programs, providing tools to advance communities globally.
• Fulbrighter NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive online community platform (fulbrighternetwork.com) for Fulbright alumni and grantees to connect, network, engage, and collaborate with the global community of Fulbrighters.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): DAAD is the German government's flagship academic exchange organization, offering a wide portfolio of scholarships to Indian students and researchers. It is comparable in mission (government-sponsored bilateral academic exchange) and overlaps on applicant demographics, though operating out of Germany rather than the U.S.
• British Council: British Council administers the Chevening Scholarship and other UK government-funded educational exchange programs targeting Indian students and scholars. It is a broad incumbent in the same India-facing educational-diplomacy space and competes for the same top-tier Indian applicants as USIEF's Fulbright offerings.
• EducationUSA (U.S. Department of State): EducationUSA is the U.S. State Department's global advising network for prospective international students, which USIEF administers in India. It is the parent platform for USIEF's EducationUSA India operation and a broad incumbent in U.S.-bound student advising globally.

Direct peers

• World Learning: World Learning manages the Fulbright Specialist Program Portal that USIEF uses for Indian host institutions to request U.S. scholars. It is a direct implementation peer operating adjacent exchange programs (e.g., Experiment in International Living) in the same scholar-exchange domain.
• Fulbright Association: The Fulbright Association is the official U.S. alumni organization for the Fulbright Program, representing 140,000 American alumni. It is a direct peer in the Fulbright ecosystem, focused on alumni engagement and advocacy that complements USIEF's program administration function.
• IREX: IREX manages the application portal (fulbright.irex.org) for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program and Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program used by USIEF, and also operates its own broader portfolio of international exchange programs. It is a direct implementation peer with overlapping teacher-exchange programming.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE is a U.S.-based nonprofit that co-administers the Fulbright Program globally and manages the online application portal (apply.iie.org) used by USIEF for Indian applicants. It is the most direct operational peer, sharing program delivery infrastructure and overlapping on the same scholar pool.

Emerging players

• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is a global nonprofit running intercultural exchange programs, including for Indian secondary students and teachers. It is an emerging player comparable to USIEF's Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Award and teacher exchange programs in scope, though with a more secondary-education focus.
• AIESEC: AIESEC is a global youth-run organization facilitating international exchange and leadership programs, including substantial operations in India. It is an emerging player in international exchange that overlaps with USIEF's youth-focused and cross-cultural mandate, though at a more junior career stage.

Regional players

• Alliance Française India: Alliance Française operates the French government's cultural and educational exchange network in India, including scholarship and teaching assistant programs that mirror USIEF's FLTA model. It is a regional peer in the cultural-diplomacy exchange space, anchored to France rather than the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usief
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedstatesindiaeducationalfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/educationusa-united-states-india-educational-foundation-usief-
• Instagraminstagram.com/fulbrightindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United States-India Educational Foundation