External Funding Opportunities

Major competitive external funding opportunities

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers over 800 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world.  College and university faculty, as well as artists and professionals from a wide range of fields can join over 400,000 Fulbrighters who have come away with enhanced skills, new connections, and greater mutual understanding.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Fulbright Scholar Awards

Fulbright Scholar Awards comprise the bulk of awards offered and include opportunities for professionals, artists, and scholars at all career-levels. Location and eligibility vary across all awards, and some awards may be restricted to certain career levels or types of scholars. This information is outlined in the award description.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards

Distinguished Scholar Awards are viewed as the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Awards are open to scholars who have more than seven years of experience in their discipline or area of expertise, though some awards may further restrict eligibility. Distinguished Scholars are expected to actively engage host institutions in a spirit of promoting mutual understanding and sharing knowledge.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

ACLS is one of the leading private institutions supporting scholars in the humanities and interpretive social sciences at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels. Fellows and grantees in all programs are selected by committees of scholars appointed for this purpose.

FYI: The ACLS Collaborative Research FellowshipFrederick Burkhardt Residential Fellowships for Recently Tenured ScholarsMellon/ACLS Scholars & Society Fellowship and ACLS Digital Extension Grants programs are no longer offered.

ACLS Fellowships

ACLS Fellowships support scholars pursuing research on topics grounded in any time period, world region, or humanistic methodology. ACLS aims to select fellows who are broadly representative of the variety of humanistic scholarship across all fields of study. ACLS invites research proposals from scholars in all disciplines of the humanities and related social sciences. Given the disproportionate effect the pandemic’s social and economic disruptions have had on emerging, independent, and untenured scholars, ACLS will continue in the 2022-23 competition year to offer these fellowships solely to untenured scholars who have earned the PhD within eight years of the application deadline. ACLS welcomes applications from scholars without faculty appointments and scholars off the tenure track.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Luce/ACLS Program in Religion, Journalism & International Affairs Collaborative Programming Grants

Grants made for Luce/ACLS Program in Religion, Journalism & International Affairs Collaborative Programming aim to deepen public understanding of religion by advancing innovative scholarship on religion in international contexts and equipping individual scholars and institutions of higher education with the capacities to connect their work to journalism and the media and to engage audiences beyond the academy.

DEADLINE: to be updated when available; most recent deadline was February 15, 2023 (pending renewal of funding)

ACLS Digital Justice Grants

The ACLS Digital Justice Grant program is designed to promote and provide resources for projects at various stages of development that diversify the digital domain, advance justice and equity in digital scholarly practice, and/or contribute to public understanding of racial and social justice issues.

DEADLINE: December 15, 2023

ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships

ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships place recent humanities PhDs with nonprofit organizations committed to promoting social justice in their communities. Fellows lead substantive projects that draw on the skills and capacities honed in the course of earning the humanities PhD, including advanced communication, research, project management, and creative problem solving. 

DEADLINE: Information about the 2024 Leading Edge Fellowship competition will be available at the end of January 2024.

Institute for Advanced Study

The Institute for Advanced Study is one of the world’s leading centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. The Institute exists to encourage and support fundamental research in the sciences and humanities – the original, often speculative, thinking that produces advances in knowledge that change the way we understand the world. It provides for the mentoring of scholars by Faculty, and it offers all who work there the freedom to undertake research that will make significant contributions in any of the broad range of fields in the sciences and humanities studied at the Institute.

School of Historical Studies

The School of Historical Studies embraces a historical approach to research throughout the humanistic disciplines, from socioeconomic developments, political theory, and modern international relations, to the history of art, science, philosophy, music, and literature. In geographical terms, the School concentrates primarily on the history of Western, Near Eastern, and Far Eastern civilizations, with emphasis on Greek and Roman civilization, the history of Europe (medieval, early modern, and modern), the Islamic world, and East Asia. Support has been extended to the history of other regions, including Central Asia, India, and Africa.

The Faculty and Members of the School do not adhere to any one point of view but practice a range of methods of inquiry and scholarly styles, both traditional and innovative. Uniquely positioned to sponsor work that crosses conventional departmental and professional boundaries, the School actively promotes interdisciplinary research and cross-fertilization of ideas. It thereby encourages the creation of new historical enterprises.

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2023 

School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Science takes as its mission the analysis of contemporary societies and social change. It is devoted to a pluralistic and critical approach to social research, from a multidisciplinary and international perspective. Each year, the School invites approximately twenty-five visiting scholars with various perspectives, methods and topics, providing a space for intellectual debate and mutual enrichment. Scholars are drawn from a wide range of fields, notably political theory, economics, law, psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, philosophy, and literature. Members pursue their own research, and participate in collective activities, including a weekly seminar at which on-going work is presented.

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2023

John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation provides fellowships for advanced professionals in all fields (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, creative arts) except the performing arts. The fellowships are awarded to men and women who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts. The Foundation consults with distinguished scholars and artists regarding the accomplishments and promise of the applicants and presents this evidence to the Committee of Selection. Appointments are ordinarily made for one year, and in no instance for a period shorter than six consecutive months. The amounts of the grants will be adjusted to the needs of the Fellows, considering their other resources and the purpose and scope of their plans.

DEADLINE: to be updated when available; most recent deadline was September 16, 2022

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States.

Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.

Media Projects

The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series  that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical. Media Projects offers two levels of funding: Development and Production.

DEADLINE: AUGUST 9, 2023

Humanities Connections

Humanities Connections Implementation Grants and Planning Grants seek to expand the role of the humanities in the undergraduate curriculum at two- and four-year institutions, offering students in all academic fields new opportunities to develop the intellectual skills and habits of mind that the humanities cultivate. Grant projects focus on connecting the resources and perspectives of the humanities to students’ broader educational and professional goals, regardless of their path of study. 

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Dialogues on the Experience of War

The Dialogues on the Experience of War program supports the study and discussion of important humanities sources about war, in the belief that these sources can help U.S. military veterans and others to think more deeply about the issues raised by war and military service. The humanities sources can be drawn from history, philosophy, literature, and film—and they may and should be supplemented by testimonials from those who have served. The discussions are intended to promote serious exploration of important questions about the nature of duty, heroism, suffering, loyalty, and patriotism.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Collaborative Research Grants

Collaborative Research Grants support interpretive humanities research undertaken by a team of two or more scholars, for full-time or part-time activities for periods of one to three years. Support is available for various combinations of scholars, consultants, and research assistants; project-related travel; field work; applications of information technology; and technical support and services. 

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 29, 2023 (anticipated)

Scholarly Editions and Translations Grants

Scholarly Editions and Translations grants support the preparation of editions and translations of pre-existing texts and documents of value to the humanities that are currently inaccessible or available in inadequate editions. These grants support full-time or part-time activities for periods of one to three years. Projects must be undertaken by a team of at least one editor or translator and one other staff member. Grants typically support editions and translations of significant literary, philosophical, and historical materials, but other types of work, such as musical notation, are also eligible.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Public Scholar Program

The Public Scholar Program supports well-researched books in the humanities intended to reach a broad readership. Although humanities scholarship can be specialized, the humanities also strive to engage broad audiences in exploring subjects of general interest. They seek to deepen our understanding of the human condition as well as current conditions and contemporary problems. The Public Scholar Program aims to encourage scholarship that will be of broad interest and have lasting impact.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Faculty Fellowships

Faculty Fellowships support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources in the humanities. Projects may be at any stage of development.

Follow the link above to find the most recent free online information session. The webinar for administrators and prospective applicants introduced the program, described the application process and eligibility criteria, and offered application-writing suggestions. 

DEADLINE: APRIL 10, 2024 (anticipated)

Digital Projects for the Public

Digital Projects for the Public grants support projects that significantly contribute to the public’s engagement with the humanities. Digital platforms—such as websites, mobile applications and tours, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual environments—can reach diverse audiences and bring the humanities to life for the American people. All projects should demonstrate the potential to attract a broad, general, nonspecialist audience, either online or in person at venues such as museums, libraries, or other cultural institutions. Applicants may also choose to identify particular communities and groups, including students, to whom a project may have particular appeal. The program offers three levels of support for digital projects: grants for Discovery projects (early-stage planning work), Prototyping projects (proof-of-concept development work), and Production projects (end-stage production and distribution work). 

DEADLINE: JUNE 12, 2024 (anticipated)

NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication

Through NEH-Mellon Fellowships for Digital Publication, the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation jointly support individual scholars pursuing interpretive research projects that require digital expression and digital publication. To be eligible for this special opportunity, an applicant’s plans for digital publication must be integral to the project’s research goals. That is, the project must be conceived as digital because the research topics being addressed and methods applied demand presentation beyond traditional print publication. Successful projects will likely incorporate visual, audio, and/or other multimedia materials or flexible reading pathways that could not be included in traditionally published books, as well as an active distribution plan.

DEADLINE: APRIL 17, 2024 (anticipated)

Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan

The Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan program is a joint activity of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The program aims to promote Japan studies in the United States, to encourage U.S.-Japanese scholarly exchange, and to support the next generation of Japan scholars in the U.S. Awards support research on modern Japanese society and political economy, Japan's international relations, and U.S.-Japan relations. The program encourages innovative research that puts these subjects in wider regional and global contexts and is comparative and contemporary in nature. Research should contribute to scholarly knowledge or to the general public’s understanding of issues of concern to Japan and the United States. Appropriate disciplines for the research include anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Awards usually result in articles, monographs, books, e-books, digital materials, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources.

DEADLINE: APRIL 24, 2024 (anticipated)

Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions

The Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions program supports institutions that provide fellowships for advanced humanities research in the United States and abroad, foster communities of intellectual exchange among participating scholars, and provide access to resources that might otherwise not be available to the participating scholars.  Fellowship programs may be administered by independent centers for advanced study, libraries, and museums in the United States; American overseas research centers; and American organizations that have expertise in promoting humanities research in foreign countries. Individual scholars apply directly to the institutions for fellowships.

DEADLINE: AUGUST 9, 2023

Institutes for Higher Education Faculty

NEH Institutes for Higher Education Faculty are professional development programs that convene higher education faculty from across the nation in order to deepen and enrich their understanding of a variety of topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching.

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Institutes for K-12 Educators

NEH Institutes for K-12 Educators are professional development programs that convene K-12 educators from across the nation in order to deepen and enrich their understanding of a variety of topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching.  

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 14, 2024

National Humanities Center

The National Humanities Center is a residential institute for advanced study in history, languages and literature, philosophy, and other fields of the humanities. Each year the Center awards fellowships to scholars of demonstrated achievement and to promising younger scholars. 

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 5, 2023

Russell Sage Foundation

The Russell Sage Foundation’s Visiting Scholars Program provides a unique opportunity for select scholars in the social, economic and behavioral sciences to pursue their research and writing while in residence at the foundation’s New York headquarters.

DEADLINE: to be announced; most recent deadline was June 27, 2023

Huntington Library

The Huntington Library awards over 150 research fellowships annually. The Huntington is a collections-based research institute, which promotes humanities scholarship on the basis of its library holdings and art collections.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15, 2023

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University

With its fellowship program, CASBS @ Stanford brings together deep thinkers from diverse disciplines and communities to advance understanding of the full range of human beliefs, behaviors, interactions, and institutions. A leading incubator of human-centered knowledge, CASBS facilitates collaborations across academia, policy, industry, civil society and government to collectively design a better future.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 3, 2023

Carnegie Corporation of New York

The process of determining likelihood of funding for an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship begins with a letter of inquiry; please see website. If you believe that your project aligns with the Carnegie Corporation’s priorities and funding strategies as outlined in the program descriptions, a link to start an online application can be found on each Focus Area page within the Programs section of this website.

DEADLINE: ROLLING

Harvard Radcliffe Institute

The Radcliffe Fellowship Program awards 50 fellowships each academic year. Applicants may apply as individuals or in a group of two to three people working on the same project. We welcome proposals relevant to the Institute’s focus areas, which include 1) Law, education, and justice; 2) Climate change and its human impacts, especially projects that address the disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis on marginalized or under-resourced communities; 3) Legacies of slavery; and 4) Reflecting Radcliffe’s unique history and institutional legacy, we welcome proposals that focus on women, gender, and society or draw on the Schlesinger Library’s rich collections. 

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

American Academy in Berlin

The American Academy in Berlin seeks to enrich transatlantic discussion in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and public policy through the development and communication of projects of the highest merit through its residential fellowship, the Berlin Prize. Past recipients include anthropologists, historians, literary and legal scholars, philosophers, writers of fiction and nonfiction, journalists, translators, musicologists, sociologists, economists, political scientists, diplomats, and public policy experts. While the academy supports projects from a wide range of disciplines, some fellowships are granted to projects covering specific topics, including those seeking innovative solutions to major global issues such as climate change or armed conflict; projects in political economy; biotechnology and public health; Jewish studies; and migration and social integration. Approximately two dozen Berlin Prizes are conferred annually.

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

Additional External Funding Resources

You may find additional external funding opportunities by checking out the links below for SPIN, hosted by Washington University’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, and web pages maintained by other universities.

SPIN

SPIN provides intuitive and easily customizable access to the most extensive research funding opportunity database on earth. Tools are provided that are geared towards both individual and administrative users, and SPIN provides both active searching as well as automated, daily opportunity notifications.

https://research.wustl.edu/funding/identify-funding/

Boston University Humanities Fellowships and Grants

This list of fellowships, grants, and awards is intended as a resource for faculty searching for opportunities and assistance with research relating to the humanities.

https://www.bu.edu/cas/faculty-staff/faculty-staff-handbook/research/research-resources/humanities-fellowships-and-grants-deadlines/

Competitive Fellowship Leave Guidelines

The Arts & Sciences Competitive Fellowship Leave (CFL) program is intended to promote the award of qualifying fellowships granted by the most prestigious and highly competitive national or international programs. The policy provides for a salary match and leave time, which is not counted against the regular sabbatical eligibility clock. 

https://wustl.app.box.com/s/e46l6tga8941gsszepise126loilzkp7 

Competitive Fellowship Leave Application

To facilitate planning and to determine eligibility for salary supplement, this form must be submitted in advance of any formal application for a fellowship under the Competitive Fellowship Leave policy.

https://wustl.app.box.com/s/oo4wgr3q8t7uf1vm89th5gsn1a7z00nm