Best Social Science & Humanities Grants

Berks County Community Foundation

Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Since that time, the foundation has grown to manage hundreds of charitable funds. Each year, the funds distribute millions of dollars in scholarships and grants to support local students and nonprofit organizations and causes.

Russell S. Bickel Fund

The Russell S. Bickel Family Fund of Berks County Community Foundation invites proposals from organizations, schools, nonprofits, and local businesses for innovative, community-based projects that create opportunities to open the conversation about death and dying. This funding opportunity seeks to support initiatives that foster dialogue, education, and reflection around this important topic in ways that are accessible, engaging, and culturally sensitive.

This grant opportunity is designed to encourage creative approaches to exploring death and dying in community settings. Projects may include, but are not limited to:

•  Speaker series or lecture events
•  Seminars or workshops
•  Community storytelling or oral history projects
•  Educational campaigns 

Preference will be given to innovative and community-based projects.

Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good

Founded by the College of Arts & Letters in 1984 as the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts and renamed in 2025, the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good helps advance research in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. To accomplish this goal, the institute provides faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students in the College with three main types of support.

• Internal funding
• Proposal development
• Conference support

Research Innovation Collaboratives

Purpose

The Franco Institute invites proposals for Research Innovation Collaboratives to begin work during the 2026-2027 academic year.

These collaboratives encourage research and creative practice outside of departmental and institutional confines so that participants can radically reimagine the way their work can inform, influence, and inspire innovative scholarship. Each collaborative will consist of a group of scholars pursuing a core question (or small set of closely related questions). Collaboratives will foster research, art, teaching, and outreach, deepening connections across disciplines, and bringing the insights of the liberal arts to public life.

Research Innovation Collaboratives will take four forms:

• Humanities Collaboratives, devoted to “big questions” in the humanities approached from transdisciplinary perspectives
• Arts Collaboratives, co-sponsored by the ND Arts Initiative and devoted to collaborative research and creative practice in the arts
• Global Catholic Research Collaboratives, co-sponsored by the ND Global Catholic Research Initiative and devoted to interdisciplinary, collaborative research on global Catholicism
• Sustainability Collaboratives, co-sponsored by the ND Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative and devoted to interdisciplinary, collaborative research at the nexus of sustainability and the humanities.

Applicants will have the opportunity to select all of the above categories for which they would like to be considered.

All projects must follow all relevant college and university policies and procedures.

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides leadership, oversight, funding, support, and accountability for the Commonwealth's approximately 400 school districts that educate close to 1 million public school children each year. We also oversees programs that serve 20,000 adult learners each year.

Civics Teaching and Learning

The purpose of this competitive grant program is to support teaching and learning related to civics, as required by Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018 and emphasized in the 2018 History and Social Science Framework.

This grant supports LEAs to develop and/or select curriculum materials, implement professional development, and design other enriching learning experiences intended to further students' civic knowledge, skills and dispositions. LEAs may propose to collaborate with vendors to support this work. Proposals may include interdisciplinary elements or other opportunities for civic learning beyond the history/social science classroom.

In addition, the grant supports implementation of grade 8 and high school civics projects, the hosting of local civics project showcases, participation in the Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases, and other enrichment activities focused on meaningful civic learning.

For details about the civics projects and other civics instructional information, please visit Civics.

This grant is structured as a two-year program. LEAs awarded funding in FY27 (Year 1) and contingent upon available funds and satisfactory progress awardees may apply only for continuation funding in FY28 (Year 2) to support the next phase of their projects. Continuation funding is not guaranteed. Contingent upon available funds, a new cohort of LEAs may be selected through the FY28 competitive RFP process. FY27 awardees will not be eligible to apply under the new FY28 competitive RFP.

Priorities

DESE seeks to fund civics teaching and learning initiatives that exemplify:

• Equity. Grant-funded projects should increase all students' access to high-quality civics education experiences and work to address historical inequities where they exist. In addition, projects should provide students with culturally and linguistically sustaining learning experiences that value and affirm their identities and linguistic resources, center student and community agency, and develop students' critical perspectives. Supports for multilingual learners should be developed in alignment with the 2020 WIDA English Language Development Framework.

• Sustainability. Grant-funded projects should take steps toward long-term enhancements to civics education, including, but not limited to, the development of supportive instructional leadership structures. Investments such as professional development for educators or acquisition of needed instructional materials can provide benefits long past the period of this grant, as opposed to "one-off" activities.

• Civic deeper learning. Grant-funded projects should help students master civic knowledge, skills and dispositions, appropriate to grade-level standards, through creative agency and opportunities to actively "do civics." Civic action should be student-led and meaningful to students as individuals, with relevance to their identities and lived experiences. Civic learning should be an integrated part of the larger curriculum, not isolated experiences, lessons, or units.

The Bergel Institute

The Bergel Institute is dedicated to the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition.

The Institute focuses on six major areas:

• Economics
• Science
• Technology
• Consciousness
• Health
• Culture

The common theme in all of the Institute’s work is the pursuit of what is possible. It brings a commitment to critical thinking and the questioning of accepted norms and approaches to issues that lie at the foundation of what we think and how we live. In every discipline, assumptions are tested against evidence.

In addition to its research and programmatic endeavors, the Institute offers fellowships. Fellowships come with high expectations and are supported with structure and active mentorship.

Bergel Institute Fellowships

The Bergel Institute offers Fellowships to individuals of all ages who wish to spend a year in intensive study and project development in a subject area that aligns with the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition. Each year, the Institute will list specific fellowship topics within these areas. Applicants may pick one or propose a different topic, as long as it aligns with the Institute’s goals.

Fellowships run from June to May and are primarily virtual, with two paid Institute visits (to the home office in Florida) as the only in-person expectations during the Fellowship year. Fellows are expected to work approximately 20 hours per week and to bring a strong intrinsic motivation for the project. They will spend the year conducting intensive research and/or project development, supported by Institute staff, with monthly meetings and quarterly progress reports to help maintain momentum.

The Fellowship is also intended to function as an incubator, providing time, guidance, and structure for work that continues beyond the Fellowship year.

As noted above, Fellows travel to the Institute twice during the Fellowship year to present to leadership: once in August, at the end of Q1, and again in May, at the end of the Fellowship year. The May presentation focuses on what was accomplished during the year and the Fellow’s plans for next steps. Final work may take many forms, including detailed manuscripts, the launch of a business or organization; or a video series, documentary films, etc. Travel and lodging for both presentations are covered by the Institute.

Upon completion of the Fellowship year, all Fellows are required to serve as mentors for future Fellows, ensuring that accumulated knowledge and experiences are passed to their successors.

FE1: Bringing an End to the Poverty-Violence Connection in the U.S.

Economic instability and neighborhood disinvestment are closely linked to disproportionate rates of violence and premature death. This reality has persisted for generations, reflecting a broader failure to value human life equally across places and populations.

This Fellowship is a deep immersion into the poverty–violence relationship, with the aim of developing a credible roadmap to reduce violence through practical, measurable action. Fellows will analyze who is most affected, where violence concentrates, what conditions correlate with risk, and what has and has not worked in past efforts.

Fellows will create a database of all murders, shootings, violent assaults, and knifings across the U.S. and keep a running, up-to-date count that will be part of the Bergel Institute website beyond this Fellowship year. The Fellowship also includes direct engagement with community leaders, service providers, researchers, and relevant public, nonprofit, and private-sector programs to identify effective approaches and develop partnerships that can be tested across communities.

The Bergel Institute

The Bergel Institute is dedicated to the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition.

The Institute focuses on six major areas:

• Economics
• Science
• Technology
• Consciousness
• Health
• Culture

The common theme in all of the Institute’s work is the pursuit of what is possible. It brings a commitment to critical thinking and the questioning of accepted norms and approaches to issues that lie at the foundation of what we think and how we live. In every discipline, assumptions are tested against evidence.

In addition to its research and programmatic endeavors, the Institute offers fellowships. Fellowships come with high expectations and are supported with structure and active mentorship.

Bergel Institute Fellowships

The Bergel Institute offers Fellowships to individuals of all ages who wish to spend a year in intensive study and project development in a subject area that aligns with the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition. Each year, the Institute will list specific fellowship topics within these areas. Applicants may pick one or propose a different topic, as long as it aligns with the Institute’s goals.

Fellowships run from June to May and are primarily virtual, with two paid Institute visits (to the home office in Florida) as the only in-person expectations during the Fellowship year. Fellows are expected to work approximately 20 hours per week and to bring a strong intrinsic motivation for the project. They will spend the year conducting intensive research and/or project development, supported by Institute staff, with monthly meetings and quarterly progress reports to help maintain momentum.

The Fellowship is also intended to function as an incubator, providing time, guidance, and structure for work that continues beyond the Fellowship year.

As noted above, Fellows travel to the Institute twice during the Fellowship year to present to leadership: once in August, at the end of Q1, and again in May, at the end of the Fellowship year. The May presentation focuses on what was accomplished during the year and the Fellow’s plans for next steps. Final work may take many forms, including detailed manuscripts, the launch of a business or organization; or a video series, documentary films, etc. Travel and lodging for both presentations are covered by the Institute.

Upon completion of the Fellowship year, all Fellows are required to serve as mentors for future Fellows, ensuring that accumulated knowledge and experiences are passed to their successors.

FE2: Building a Fully-Resourced Community

This Fellowship gives you the opportunity to identify one place in the United States and focus on ensuring it has the resources required for residents to gain economic stability and independence. The work is practical and coalition-driven. Rather than debating systems in the abstract, Fellows will begin immediately by recruiting and securing community partners, which may include healthy food manufacturers or grocery stores, health care providers, financial institutions, and local employers. Depending on the community, the Fellowship may also include the initial steps required to build a recreation center or implement apprenticeship programs in local businesses.

Fellows will use The Bergel Institute’s Poverty Action Guide as a foundation to identify the barriers keeping families in poverty and to design an implementation-ready plan. The work will focus on the conditions that most directly shape long-term stability, including employment, education, basic needs, transportation, child care, health, housing, savings, and safety. Fellows will work with leaders from each sector in the community, building partnerships among existing institutions and recruiting new providers where gaps exist.

By the end of the Fellowship, the Fellow will produce a pilot model and roadmap that can be adapted and replicated in other communities. Because this work requires coordination and follow-through, the Fellow will work closely with Bergel Institute staff throughout the Fellowship year.

The Bergel Institute

The Bergel Institute is dedicated to the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition.

The Institute focuses on six major areas:

• Economics
• Science
• Technology
• Consciousness
• Health
• Culture

The common theme in all of the Institute’s work is the pursuit of what is possible. It brings a commitment to critical thinking and the questioning of accepted norms and approaches to issues that lie at the foundation of what we think and how we live. In every discipline, assumptions are tested against evidence.

In addition to its research and programmatic endeavors, the Institute offers fellowships. Fellowships come with high expectations and are supported with structure and active mentorship.

Bergel Institute Fellowships

The Bergel Institute offers Fellowships to individuals of all ages who wish to spend a year in intensive study and project development in a subject area that aligns with the advancement of human knowledge and the human condition. Each year, the Institute will list specific fellowship topics within these areas. Applicants may pick one or propose a different topic, as long as it aligns with the Institute’s goals.

Fellowships run from June to May and are primarily virtual, with two paid Institute visits (to the home office in Florida) as the only in-person expectations during the Fellowship year. Fellows are expected to work approximately 20 hours per week and to bring a strong intrinsic motivation for the project. They will spend the year conducting intensive research and/or project development, supported by Institute staff, with monthly meetings and quarterly progress reports to help maintain momentum.

The Fellowship is also intended to function as an incubator, providing time, guidance, and structure for work that continues beyond the Fellowship year.

As noted above, Fellows travel to the Institute twice during the Fellowship year to present to leadership: once in August, at the end of Q1, and again in May, at the end of the Fellowship year. The May presentation focuses on what was accomplished during the year and the Fellow’s plans for next steps. Final work may take many forms, including detailed manuscripts, the launch of a business or organization; or a video series, documentary films, etc. Travel and lodging for both presentations are covered by the Institute.

Upon completion of the Fellowship year, all Fellows are required to serve as mentors for future Fellows, ensuring that accumulated knowledge and experiences are passed to their successors.

FT1: Using AI to Expand Economic Opportunity

During the past ten years, many in the U.S. and around the world have worried that AI and AI-related technologies will reduce the need for human labor, shrink the number of jobs, and push more people into economic instability. The Bergel Institute has a different perspective: rapid improvements in communications and access to information can expand economic opportunity and open new entryways into the mainstream economy.

This Fellowship will explore where AI can remove long-standing obstacles to stability, including translation issues on forms, limited English proficiency when searching and applying for jobs online, navigating cost-of-living differences across regions, and making informed relocation decisions by comparing pay to real-world expenses.

The Fellowship will also examine applications that expand opportunity by reducing shocks and removing barriers to stability. AI and satellite imagery may improve mapping relative to who is living in poverty so providers of aid and assistance can reach towns, villages, or households missed by traditional survey methods, helping families access support sooner and re-enter the mainstream economy faster. AI tools can also strengthen disaster relief and recovery so households are not impacted as intensely or for as long, protecting livelihoods, savings, and continuity of work and school. Given that many people in poverty around the world live and work on small farms, AI can help identify crop issues and disease and optimize production, strengthening household income. In education and skill development, new platforms can deliver quality, affordable education to remote areas, reducing geographical and transportation obstacles and expanding pathways into better-paying work.

By the end of the Fellowship, the Fellow will produce a credible roadmap for what can be built, who must be involved, what barriers to adoption exist, and what can be implemented in the near term.

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.

The Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Endowment, established by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, aims to enhance the educational experience in the arts and humanities for students in the Germantown Central School District. Grants ranging from $100 to $2,500 support projects initiated by teachers, parents, and community members, fostering creativity and academic excellence while ensuring that public funding remains intact.

The Graduate Student Conference Support Fund, provided by the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, aims to assist ABDs and recent PhDs in attending the Annual Meeting. This fund offers free or reduced registration for eligible students. Each year, the number of awards depends on contributions to the fund. Membership in ASECS is required for eligibility, and only one award can be granted to each recipient, ensuring broad access to this valuable support.

The Cuesta Foundation, established in 1962, focuses on funding organizations that create a lasting impact in the Tulsa, Oklahoma community. Their mission emphasizes support for Arts and Humanities, Education, Social Services, and Community Needs. Preference is given to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to helping those in need and fostering self-improvement. This grants program seeks to uplift communities through charitable contributions that align with its philanthropic vision.

The New Lebanon Arts and Humanities Fund, managed by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, aims to enrich the arts and humanities experiences for students and teachers in the New Lebanon School District. Grants ranging from $100 to $4,000 support diverse projects like extracurricular activities, visiting speakers, and professional development. The fund encourages community involvement while maintaining a strict non-discrimination policy. Applications are welcomed from all community members, fostering creativity and excellence in education.

The Northwestern University Publication Subvention Grants support eligible faculty and graduate students with production costs or translation expenses for published works. Applicants must have a formal publication contract for a book or journal article. Priority is given to tenure-track assistant professors, and only one grant is allowed per year. Non-allowable expenses include travel, advertising, and the purchase of copies. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.

The American Research Institute in Turkey and the Türk-Amerikan Ilmi Arastırmaları Derneği are pleased to announce the Ilse Böhlund Hanfmann, George Maxim Anossov Hanfmann, and the Machteld Johanna Mellink Fellowships for 2026. The purpose of these fellowships is to enable nationals of the Republic of Türkiye who are PhD students at Turkish universities working on their PhD theses, or recent PhD holders and currently in Türkiye working towards a career in Türkiye, to conduct research in affiliation with universities or research institutions abroad (in North America or elsewhere) for a period ranging from three to nine months.

The Harris Foundation Grant invites proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations in Oklahoma, focusing on religious, charitable, educational, benevolent, or scientific initiatives. Founded by Vernon V. Harris in 1938, the foundation aims to support public welfare and community service. Preference is given to organizations in Central Oklahoma and Enid. Applicants must submit an online application detailing their funding needs, with decisions communicated following the review of submissions.

The Lafayette Fellowship, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, offers funding for one year of master’s study in France to 30 exceptional American students. Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the program partners with top French institutions across various fields. Participants engage in the French-American Leadership Program, enhancing transatlantic ties through lectures, mentorship, and cultural immersion, while addressing global challenges in health, technology, and social equity.

The Clinton Presidential Research Fellowship, offered by the Clinton Presidential Library and the Clinton Foundation, supports graduate students and early career academics in the humanities and social sciences. This fellowship enables research into President Clinton's administration and its legacy. Annual funding ranges from $1,250 to $5,000 USD, encouraging students and scholars to delve into American history and presidential legacies. Applications are invited from current graduate students or those who have earned a PhD within the last eight years.

The Book Festival Grants, offered by Florida Humanities, support public humanities programs at various book festivals across Florida. Since 2022, these grants have facilitated literary events that promote reading and engage communities through author talks, workshops, and family activities. Eligible Florida-based nonprofits and governments can apply for funding up to $10,000 to enhance audience reach and accessibility via diverse programming. This initiative celebrates Florida's literary heritage while fostering connections between authors and readers.

The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) program by the Social Science Research Council offers Individual Research Fellowships to enhance independent African research on peacebuilding. In 2026, up to nine fellowships worth $12,000 each will be awarded to African scholars, policy analysts, and practitioners. The program promotes impactful research, workshops for skill development, and networking opportunities, aiming to foster community and advance peacebuilding knowledge across the continent.

The ACLS Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future program offers summer opportunities for current PhD students in the humanities and social sciences to engage with organizations addressing the evolving American religious landscape. This initiative aims to cultivate future leaders by providing practical experiences that demonstrate the value of doctoral training beyond academia. Supported by the Templeton Religion Trust, the internships encourage collaboration between fellows and community organizations, fostering a deeper understanding of spiritual infrastructures.

The ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant in Women and Gender Studies provides funding for graduate students conducting doctoral research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Offering up to $6,000, applicants must be PhD candidates with appropriate language skills and ASEEES membership. The grant encourages research in various eligible countries, while considering the complexities posed by current geopolitical situations. This grant aims to support innovative scholarship across disciplines, fostering a deeper understanding of women and gender issues in the region.

The ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant, offered by the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, provides up to $6,000 for graduate students conducting dissertation research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Open to all disciplines, applicants must be enrolled in a PhD program in the U.S., have ABD status, and be ASEEES members. Research in eligible countries is encouraged, with special considerations for the current geopolitical climate affecting Russia and Ukraine.

The ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant, named after Maya K. Peterson, supports doctoral research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia across various disciplines, with a maximum stipend of $6,000. This grant is available to graduate students who have achieved PhD candidacy and are ASEEES members. Applications are encouraged to explore diverse environmental studies topics and must commence research travel by January 31 of the following year. Note that funding excludes tuition and fees.

The ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant in Ukrainian Studies supports graduate students conducting research on any aspect of Ukrainian studies. With a maximum stipend of $6,000, it aims to facilitate research outside the US in eligible countries. Applicants must be ABD status, proficient in relevant languages, and ASEEES members. The grant promotes engagement with the complexities of Ukrainian culture, history, and society, encouraging innovative research that contributes to the understanding of this vital region.

The ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant, specifically the James Bailey Dissertation Research Grant in Folklore Studies, supports PhD students across various disciplines conducting research in folklore. It offers up to $6,000 for research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, encouraging applications from students with ABD status who are ASEEES members. Research in eligible countries, including Ukraine and Russia, is allowed, although caution is advised due to the current geopolitical situation.

The Virginia W. Kettering Foundation Grant supports charitable initiatives in eight Ohio counties and select organizations like Kettering University and the Cincinnati Zoo. Established in 2003, this foundation prioritizes arts, education, health, and human services. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, with strict guidelines on funding purposes. Notably, requests for religious, capital construction, or multi-year projects are rarely considered. This grant exemplifies a commitment to community development and support.

The Kettering Family Foundation, established in 1956, supports diverse charitable activities across various sectors, including arts, education, health, and human services. Applicants must have a valid 501(c)(3) status and discuss proposals with foundation staff before applying. Only one application is allowed per year, and specific exclusions apply, such as for religious purposes and individual grants. The foundation emphasizes meaningful community impact, making it a vital resource for eligible organizations.

The Cooke Foundation Grants support impactful community initiatives in Hawai`i, focusing on arts, culture, humanities, education, environment, and human services. The foundation prioritizes proposals within these areas but may consider others at the Trustees' discretion. Multi-year funding is possible, contingent on satisfactory progress reports. Grants aim to foster significant improvements in the welfare of the community, reflecting the family's commitment to making a lasting difference.