Best History Grants in North Carolina

Public charities focused on Southern history, culture, or historic preservation in the Southeast, including North Carolina, can seek funding for operating support, research, programs, and publication subventions. Watson Brown Foundation awards about US $33,000 for projects such as museum and archive support, educational programming, book subventions, and college-level southern studies initiatives.

History, arts, and cultural organizations in North Carolina can seek project or capital support for programs that enhance community life and preserve regional heritage. Focused on education, healthcare, human and community services, and arts, Philip L Van Every Foundation offers US $10,000 - US $50,000 to established 501(c)(3) public charities in North and South Carolina.

Doctoral students at U.S. universities researching 19th–early 21st century Russian/Soviet history can receive up to US $28,000 for dissertation research or completion, including projects based in North Carolina institutions. With a mission to advance Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies, the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies supports history and gender-focused scholarship through its Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Fellowships.

Doctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars in history and related fields can seek short-term research fellowships to work with North American primary sources. Focus areas include German, European, German-American, and North American history. Based in Washington, the German Historical Institute welcomes applicants from North Carolina universities as part of its broader North American and European eligibility.

Authors and publishers with scholarly books on the history of American law and society can seek recognition through the Littleton-Griswold Prize, which includes US $1,000 and national visibility. Focused on American history, the American Historical Association invites submissions, and North Carolina historians may benefit if their 2025 copyright books meet the prize criteria.

Authors or publishers with a 2025 English-language history book on the United States, Latin America, or Canada can apply for the Beveridge Family Prize, awarding US $1,000 for distinguished historical writing. This American Historical Association prize may benefit North Carolina historians whose work offers new methodological insights or significant reinterpretations.

North Carolina history and history of science researchers can access funding through the Lloyd Library and Museum to conduct on-site work using its specialized collections. Individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree may receive US $2,000 - US $3,000 per month for one to three months of research between January and December 2027.

Students pursuing history-related college, undergraduate, or postgraduate studies, or traditional arts and trades programs, can receive US $1,000 scholarships through the Jay A. Graybeal Scholarship. Focused on history and related fields, Community Foundation of Carroll County invites applicants, including those in North Carolina, studying areas like museum studies, archives, library science, archaeology, or historic preservation.

North Carolina history scholars affiliated with Harvard University can access funding through the Charles Warren Center’s Summer Travel Grant for Dissertation Research. Harvard American history Ph.D. candidates who have passed general exams may receive up to US $3,000 to support necessary summer travel for dissertation research using historical methodologies.

With a mission to support advanced historical research, Harvard University provides American history Ph.D. candidates with term-time dissertation funding through the Charles Warren Center. Eligible Harvard students working on U.S. history topics may receive a one-semester stipend for focused research, which can benefit those based in or studying connections to North Carolina.

Harvard University American history PhD candidates completing their dissertations can receive support to finish their projects without teaching duties. With a mission to advance historical scholarship, Harvard University provides a ten-month Dissertation Completion Grant covering a stipend, facilities fee, and health insurance for eligible students, including those based in North Carolina.

History scholars in North Carolina working on European or British history from the Middle Ages through the eighteenth century can receive a US $500 book prize for outstanding work. The North American Conference on British Studies honors a North American author annually, with nominations accepted from authors or publishers for books published in the previous year.

Scholars working on British history, culture, or society with a focus on gender and sexuality may apply for the Judith R. Walkowitz Article Prize, a US $1,000 award for a published article. Eligible applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada, including those based in North Carolina.

Graduate students in stand-alone M.A. programs producing original research in British history, literature, society, or culture at U.S. or Canadian institutions can receive US $500 for their essays. With a mission to support historical scholarship, the North American Conference on British Studies provides this prize, which may interest North Carolina history students and faculty nominators.

Undergraduate students at U.S. or Canadian colleges who wrote history or British studies essays during the 2025–26 academic year can apply for the NACBS Undergraduate Essay Prize, with awards of US $100. Grants from the North American Conference on British Studies help recognize outstanding work in history, literature, and cultural studies, including students based in North Carolina.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications for the Scholarly Editions and Translations program, aimed at supporting teams that edit and translate crucial humanities texts. This year's focus is on projects related to American history and culture or Western civilization, addressing the need for accessible editions or translations of foundational works essential for new scholarship.

North Carolina historians publishing English-language books on Italian history, Italian cultural history, or Italo-American cultural relations may be eligible for this $1,000 prize. The American Historical Association’s Helen & Howard R. Marraro Prize honors outstanding 2024 copyright works by North America–based historians; authors or publishers can submit entries for consideration.

The Bergel Institute Fellowship - FS1: Cutting Edge or Pseudoscience? invites individuals to explore the intersection of science and human potential. This immersive program seeks to rigorously analyze over a century of scientific advancement, examining theories from quantum mechanics to consciousness. Through intensive research and mentorship, fellows will develop a comprehensive study that aims to redefine the applications of validated scientific theories, fostering public understanding and contributing to the evolution of human knowledge.

Authors or publishers of distinguished books in European intellectual and cultural history can receive recognition and US $1,000 for works on Europe since 1500. The American Historical Association awards the George L. Mosse Prize annually; North Carolina historians with 2025 copyrights may be eligible to submit.

The Award for Graduate Study in American History, offered by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois (NSCDA-IL), provides $3,000 annually to a graduate student. This award supports research that enhances understanding of America's development from colonial times to the present, with a preference for those intending to teach. NSCDA-IL fosters appreciation for our national heritage through educational initiatives and historic preservation.

Researchers, historians, educators, and 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organizations documenting the history of family medicine in the U.S. can apply for up to US $3,000 to conduct oral history interviews. Grants from American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation help North Carolina and other U.S. history of science projects cover travel, lodging, and related research expenses.

U.S. citizens pursuing or already in secondary teaching of American history, government, or civics can apply for James Madison Memorial Fellowship Program awards up to Up to US $24,000 for a Constitution-focused master’s degree. Fellows then teach grades 7–12, including in North Carolina, fulfilling a service obligation in these subjects.

Research institutions and other eligible organizations in the U.S. territories, including those in North Carolina, can apply for FDA’s Efficient and Innovative Natural History Studies program, with awards up to US $600,000 to support rare disease natural history studies. Projects should generate high-quality, interpretable data that advance medical product development and address unmet needs.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History offers $3000 short-term research fellowships for doctoral candidates, faculty, and independent scholars in American history. Founded in 1994, this nonprofit enhances history education through diverse programs in all 50 states, providing access to over 60,000 historical documents. The fellowships support research at New York City archives, fostering scholarship and recognition by esteemed organizations, ultimately benefiting thousands of teachers and millions of students.

The AMS Graduate Fellowship in the History of Science, offered by the American Meteorological Society, supports graduate students completing dissertations on atmospheric or related sciences. With a stipend of $20,000 for one year, this fellowship encourages close collaboration between historians and scientists. It aims to enhance diversity by welcoming applications from women, minorities, and disabled students traditionally underrepresented in these fields, fostering a more inclusive academic environment.

The American Institute of Physics offers Grants-in-Aid to support research in the history of the physical sciences. Aimed primarily at graduate students, the program also welcomes applications from undergraduates, postdoctoral researchers, and established scholars. Grants up to $2,500 are provided on a reimbursement basis for expenses such as travel and research assistance. Applications for research conducted globally are encouraged, including visits to the Niels Bohr Library & Archives.

The HTR Foundation Grant supports the preservation of American Civil War sites and educational projects related to this heritage. Grants are available to tax-exempt organizations and government agencies, focusing on land acquisition and public engagement while excluding endowments, individual support, and local interest projects. This initiative promotes the historical, cultural, and environmental legacy of the United States, ensuring the continued education and awareness of the Civil War's significance.