Outside Funding Sources

This list was compiled by Joe Figliulo-Rosswurm during the Fall 2012 and Winter 2013 quarters. The categories used for region- and period-specific funding are those used by the American Historical Association for job searches.

I. General Extramural Funding

ACLS fellowships:
ACLS offers a wide variety of fellowships at the doctoral and post-doctoral levels, and in several region-specific fields. The following URL will take you to a representative list of the fellowships offered as of Fall 2015: http://www.acls.org/programs/comps/

American Historical Association (AHA):
The AHA offers five grants to its members. All five are small (up to $1,000); two are for U.S. history, the others for non-U.S. fields:
http://www.historians.org/prizes/Grants.htm * NB: AHA fellowships, with more substantial awards, are listed under the relevant regions.

Boren Fellowship for International Study:
The Boren Awards fund the intensive study of language and culture abroad by U.S. undergraduate or graduate students. All eligible applicants have the option to either apply for a Regional Flagship Language Initiative or select/design their own study program. (excluded areas: Western Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and Canada):
https://www.borenawards.org/eligible-programs

Council of American Overseas Research Centers:
The website for the various American research centers abroad. See each individual center’s website for grants and fellowships (http://www.caorc.org/index.html). There is also a multi-country research fellowship for dissertating and post-doctoral students:
https://www.caorc.org/programs

Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR):
CLIR offers several grants, but the potentially most valuable one for our graduate students is probably the Mellon Fellowships for Dissertation Research in Original Sources. It offers up to $2,000 a month over a period of 9-12 months for original archival research:
https://www.clir.org/fellowships/mellon/

Economic History Association Fellowships:
The EHA offers the Arthur H. Cole Grant (preference is given to Ph.D. recipients) and several Dissertation Fellowships for ABD graduate students. The application, however, is restricted to the organization’s members:
http://eh.net/eha/grants-and-fellowships

Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship:
Intended for groups underrepresented in the Academy; Provides multi-year research grants for a variety of fields:
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/PGA_047958

Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program:
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, these fellowships provide up to $15,000 for graduate students studying foreign languages:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsflasf/index.html
* NB: You can apply to FLAS directly, or to an institution that has been awarded a 4-year grant. Check the following URL to see which institutions currently hold a FLAS grant: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsflasf/awards.html

Fulbright Program:
The Fulbright Program covers a wide variety of countries, typically for nine-month archival research trips abroad: http://eca.state.gov/fulbright
* NB: UCSB holds annual Fulbright Workshop meetings providing information on the application process. Notices of these workshops go out via HistGrad.

Huntington Library, Special Collections Research Grants:
The Huntington Library in Pasadena, CA awards numerous research grants and fellowships annually, for access to their collections (largely British and American history, but their collection is wide-ranging, including artwork):
http://www.huntington.org/WebAssets/Templates/content.aspx?id=566

Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians sponsors or cosponsors awards, prizes, fellowships and grants given in recognition of scholarly and professional achievements in the field of American history.
https://www.oah.org/awards/

Newberry Library Short-term Fellowships:
Chicago’s Newberry Library provides several short-term fellowships, in various disciplines, for graduate students interested in consulting manuscripts within their holdings:
http://www.newberry.org/short-term-fellowships

Social Sciences Research Council (SSRC) (Pre-)Dissertation Fellowships:
There are a variety of SSRC fellowships (https://www.ssrc.org/how-we-work/fellowships/). The following are the most applicable fellowships for graduate students in History:

  • Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship [DPDF]: This pre-ABD fellowship provides “graduate students with support to formulate innovative doctoral dissertation proposals”: http://www.ssrc.org/fellowships/dpdf-fellowship/
  • International Dissertation Research Fellowship [SSR-IDRF]: This post-exams, or ABD only, fellowship supports dissertation-related archival research outside the U.S., averaging $20,000 per fellowship: https://www.ssrc.org/programs/idrf/

Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation:
The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation offers various fellowships in the following fields: Foreign Affairs, Conservation, Women & Gender, Religion & Ethics, and to support “Access & Opportunity.” The following URL will take you to an up-to-date list of available fellowships (as of September 2015): http://www.woodrow.org/fellowships/

II. Region- and/or Period-Specific Extramural Funding

Africa

American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS):
The AIMS offers a variety of grants for U.S. citizens and non-citizens doing work on the Maghrib:
http://aimsnorthafrica.org/

Bernadotte E. Schmitt Grants:
This is an AHA grant, but there isn’t much out there for Africanists specifically. It awards $1,000:
http://www.historians.org/prizes/SchmittGrantInfo.htm

Marcus Garvey Foundation Travel Grants:
Provides $500 stipends for graduate students working on Africa or the African Diaspora:
https://www.garveyfoundation.com/

Ancient

American School of Classical Studies at Athens:
The American School of Classical Studies offers a variety of short- and long-term research fellowships and grants, to American and/or Greek citizens:
http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/

American Academy in Rome:
The American Academy offers the Rome Prize (not exclusive to those studying ancient history), as well as several antique-specific research fellowships in association with other institutions.
Rome Prize: https://www.aarome.org/apply/rome-prize
Affiliated Fellowships: http://www.aarome.org/apply/affiliated-fellowships/

Association of Ancient Historians (AAH):
The AAH, via the Scott R. Jacobs Fund, provides funding for studies of Alexander the Great and his milieu (broadly defined):
http://associationofancienthistorians.org/announcements.html#jacobs

Asia

American Institute of Indian Studies’ (AIIS) Fellowship:
The AIIS offers a Junior Research Fellowship for doctoral students to conduct research in India, under the supervision of an Indian faculty member:
http://www.indiastudies.org/research-fellowship-programs/categories-of-fellowship/

Asian-American Studies Grants and Fellowships Database:
Organized by region (China, Japan, Korea, etc.):
http://www.asian-studies.org/Grants-and-Awards/AAS-Grant-Programs

Asian-American Studies’ Northeast Asia Council (NEAC):
The NEAC offers short-term travel grants for research in Japan, and another one for research travel in the U.S.:
https://www.asianstudies.org/grants-awards/council-grants/aas-northeast-asia-council-japan-studies-grants/

China Scholarship Council Chinese Language Program at Tianjin Polytechnic University:
Sponsored by the Chinese Government, the Chinese Language Program is a language acquisition program for international students:
https://www.chinesescholarshipcouncil.com/tianjin-polytechnic-university-csc-scholarship.html

Kim Foundation:
The Kim Foundation offers postdoctoral and dissertation research fellowships for scholars of the history of science and technology in East Asia, from 1900 to the present:
http://dkimfoundation.org/wp1/

East-West Center Fellowships:
The East-West Center offers a variety of fellowships (some have citizenship restrictions, but most are funded by the U.S. State Department), many for travel to South Pacific or South-East Asian nations:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/scholarships-fellowships/

Taiwan Government Scholarship:
Taiwan’s Ministry of Education awards an annual Taiwan Scholarship for study at Taiwanese universities:
http://www.scholars4dev.com/3103/taiwan-government-scholarships-for-international-students/

Europe

American Research Center in Sofia, Bulgaria Fellowship Program:
The American Research Center in Sofia provides three- and nine-month fellowships for scholarship on Bulgaria or Balkan history:
http://arcsofia.org/projects

Economic History Society:
London’s Economic History Society offers up to five one-year fellowships at the Institute; Candidates must be affiliated with a British university during their fellowship:
http://www.ehs.org.uk/the-society/grants-and-prizes.html

Council for European Studies’ (CES) Dissertation Completion Fellowship:
In conjunction with the Mellon Foundation, the CES awards a $25,000 stipend for doctoral candidates who are completing their dissertations:
http://councilforeuropeanstudies.org/grants-and-awards/dissertation-completion

Cummins Research Grant:
The Cummins Research Grant is intended for research at Georgetown’s Legal Library’s Special collections, awarding $10,000 for doctoral research in its holdings:
http://legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/gws-cummins-legal-history-research-grant.html
* NB: The special collections at Georgetown’s Legal Library feature collections of French, Roman, and other Continental legal commentaries, as well as medieval canon law manuscripts.

Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection (Byzantine, pre-Colombian, and Garden/Landscape Studies):
Dumbarton Oaks awards research grants, in-residence fellowships, and other grants for Byzantinists:
https://www.doaks.org/research/fellowships-and-awards

Einar and Eva Lund Haugen Memorial Scholarship:
Funded by the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study (SASS), this research scholarship is intended for students working on Scandinavian or Scandinavian-American topics in History/Social Sciences. The stipend for 2015-16 is $6,000:
http://www.scandinavianstudy.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=70

European University Institute Max Weber Programme:
The EUI, based in Florence, Italy offers 1- and 2-year Max Weber program fellowships:
http://www.eui.eu/ProgrammesAndFellowships/MaxWeberProgramme/Index.aspx

French Embassy in the United States’ Chateaubriand Fellowships:
One of the most prestigious fellowships open to U.S. citizens, the Chateaubriand Fellowship is a nine-month award for doctoral students working on any French topic:
http://www.chateaubriand-fellowship.org/

German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C.’s Fellowship in Socio-Economic History:
The German Historical Institute in D.C. offers six to twelve month fellowships for research in European or American social or economic history.
* NB: Preference is given to post-doctoral students): https://www.ghi-dc.org/programs

Society for French Historical Studies (SFHS) Grants and Fellowships:
The SFHS awards several research fellowships and conference presentation grants for any field of French history:
http://www.societyforfrenchhistoricalstudies.net/prizes.html

Medieval Academy Dissertation Grants:
The Medieval Academy facilitates a number of discrete dissertation awards (they’re all for medievalists, hence why they’re not listed individually):
https://www.medievalacademy.org/default.aspx?page=Awards

NACBS British Studies Dissertation Grant:
The North American Council of British Studies awards an $8,000 stipend, with the runner-up receiving $3,000 for travel-related expenses:
http://www.nacbs.org/prizes/nacbs-dissertation-year-fellowship

Renaissance Society of America (RSA) Grants:
The RSA provides several residential grants at the Bodleian Library in Oxford and Venice’s Giorgio Cini Center, as well as several research grants for study in the U.S.:
https://www.rsa.org/page/fellowships

Latin America

Academy of American Franciscan History (AAFH):
The AAFH provides four dissertation fellowships ($10,000 each) for projects involving any aspect of the Franciscans’ activities in the U.S. Borderlands, Mexico, and Central/South America:
https://www.aafh.org/scholarships/

Dumbarton Oaks Fellowships:
Projects incorporating pre-Columbian Mexico, Central America, and Andean South America are eligible for Dumbarton Oaks fellowships:
https://www.doaks.org/research/fellowships-and-awards

Inter-American Foundation Grassroots Development Program Fellowship:
The IAF provides fellowships to PhD candidates whose project objectives align with those of the Foundation:
http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/IAF-Grassroots-Development-Fellowship-Program

Wilson Center Fellowships:
The Wilson Center offers fellowships for research involving public policy and human rights (it’s not Latin American-specific, but it has a discrete Latin American Center):
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/fellowships-grants

Middle East

American Institute of Iranian Studies (AAIS):
The AIIS offers a variety of fellowships for Iranianists, from grants for language acquisition to dissertation research fellowships:
http://simorgh-aiis.org/

American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE):
The ARCE offers several fellowships and RAships for scholars working on all periods of Egyptian history:
http://http://www.arce.org

Ford Foundation Middle East/North Africa Grants:
The Ford Foundation awards several grants; Most of them emphasize some sort of humanitarian/social justice activity in conjunction with, or as opposed to, doctoral research: http://www.fordfoundation.org/regions/middle-east-and-north-africa/for-grant-seekers

Levant Post-Doctoral Fellowship: (NEEDS REVIEW)
Georgetown University offers the Levant Post-Doctoral Fellowship through its Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS): https://ccas.georgetown.edu/resources/opportunities/

U.S./Canada

Center for the History of Business Technology and Society, Hagley Museum and Library:
The Center offers the Henry Belin du Pont Dissertation Fellowship for research on material at the Hagley Museum’s special collections:
http://www.hagley.org/library/center/hbdupontdissfellow.html

Cummins Research Grant:
This grant is for research at Georgetown University’s Legal Library’s holdings, awarding $10,000 for doctoral research special collections:
https://www.cummingsfoundation.org/grants/

Dirksen Congressional Center Research Awards:
The Dirksen Congressional Center awards research fellowships to ABD students studying congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress generally:
http://www.dirksencenter.org/grants-scholarships-and-publications

Gerald Ford Scholars Award:
This $5,000 doctoral research grant is awarded for research at the Gerald Ford Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the history of the U.S. political process:
http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/fsa.asp

John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising and Marketing at Duke University:
Housed in the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Duke, the Center provides several travel grants for collection-specific research:
https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/research/grants-and-fellowships

John E. Rovensky Fellowship in U.S. Business or Economic History:
This fellowship awards $10,000 to two doctoral candidates working in U.S. business/economic history. Note that recipients can’t accept the John E. Rovensky Fellowhsip at the same time as an Economic History Association dissertation research fellowship:
https://thebhc.org/john-e-rovensky-fellowship-2022-2023

Miller Center National Fellowship:
The University of Virginia’s Miller Center offers up to eight $20,000 fellowships for a year of research and writing in the broad categories of: American politics, public policy, foreign relations, global affairs’ impact on the U.S., or media and politics:
https://millercenter.org/experts/national-fellowship-program

National Archives and Research Administration (NARA):
The NARA offers a variety of grants and fellowships, available through two main agencies:

Center for Legislative Archives Fellowship:
This is a doctoral fellowship for research using the records of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:
Not active – http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/fellowship.html

Organization of American Historians
The Organization of American Historians sponsors or cosponsors awards, prizes, fellowships and grants given in recognition of scholarly and professional achievements in the field of American history.
https://www.oah.org/awards/

O’Donnell Travel Grant for Research at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library:
Awards vary from $300-$2,500; Research has to include, but isn’t restricted to, work in the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library:
http://bush.tamu.edu/scowcroft/grants/odonnell/

The Tobin Project’s Democracy & Markets Graduate Research Fellowship:
The Tobin Project pursues initiatives in developing non-military ways to advance U.S. national security interests, and offers several dissertation research fellowships:
http://www.tobinproject.org/

 

III. UC-Specific Funding

Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation European Studies Fellowship for Dissertation Research:
The Borchard Foundation offers up to $4,000 to support pre-dissertation research in Europe in any field of European history:
http://borchardfoundation.org/

All-UC Group in Economic History:
The All-UC group in Economic History offers several grants for UC students:
http://allucgroup.ucdavis.edu/prizes-and-awards.html

Inter-Humanities Center [IHC] List of UC-Wide Funding:
This is a list of UC-wide humanities funding; Most of the fellowships provided require some sort of inter-disciplinary component:
http://www.ihc.ucsb.edu/uc-wide-humanities-funding/

Steve and Barbara Mendell Graduate Fellowship in Cultural Literacy:
Intended to advance “the goals of broad-based cultural literacy and high ethical standards in our participative democracy,” this is open to UCSB graduate students:
https://www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu/fellowships

UCLA Asia Institute’s Monbusho Scholarship:
Funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education, this fellowship sponsors graduate research at Japanese universities:
http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia/article.asp?parentid=17344

UC Pacific Rim CNSI Center for Nanotechnology’s Advanced Graduate Research Fellowship:
The Pacific Rim Research Center provides funding for research on the Pacific Rim Nations, open to all UC campuses:
http://pacrim.ucsc.edu/* Discontinued as of January 2015.

UCSB’s Graduate Division:
These fellowships, some of which require a departmental nomination while others are self-nominated, are dispensed annually by GradDiv. See Darcy Ritzau for additional information regarding the History Department’s application schedule:
https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/financial/central-campus-fellowships

UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC):
The institute offers two fellowships for ABD students, one for global security, the other for international nuclear security:
https://igcc.ucsd.edu/funding/index.html* NB: You can’t apply for both simultaneously.

UC-Mexus/CONACYT:
This program supports postdoctoral research for UC researchers or those at Mexican institutions of higher education:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210302161837/http://www.uccnrs.ucsb.edu/funding_opportunities/uc-mexus-resident-scholars-program

 

IV. Funding Search Engines

University of California Search Engines

UCLA’s GRAPES:
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/grapes/search.asp

UCSB’s GradPost:
This is not necessarily a conventional search engine, but rather a tremendously helpful aggregation of current funding, updated monthly. Also note GradPost’s occasional Finding Funding workshops:
http://www.gradpost.ucsb.edu/money

Extramural Search Engines

http://foundationcenter.org/find-funding/

https://candid.org/?fcref=lr

A Google search is also useful, but you have to know what your specific criteria are — i.e. A dissertation fellowship? A travel grant? Etc.

 

V. Proposal-Writing Guides

UC Berkeley’s College of Letters & Sciences Grant Writing Resources:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210118193709/https://ls.berkeley.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/grant-writing-resources

Center for Participatory Change, “Writing a Grant Proposal:”
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/format-and-write/write-your-application.htm

National Science Foundation’s “Guidelines for Writing Grant Proposals”:
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/bcs/ling/guidelines.jsp

The SSRC’s “Art of Writing Proposals”:
https://www.ssrc.org/publications/the-art-of-writing-proposals/

UNC’s Grant Proposals Guides:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/grant-proposals-or-give-me-the-money/