Founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin to “promote useful knowledge,” the American Philosophical Society is the oldest learned society in the United States. Today, the society sustains this mission by honoring and engaging leading scholars, scientists, and professionals; supporting research and discovery; and serving scholars through a research library of manuscripts and other collections internationally recognized for their enduring historical value.
The organization invites applications for its Franklin Research Grants program, through which grants of up to $6,000 will be awarded in support of travel costs to libraries and archives for research purposes; the purchase of microfilm, photocopies, or equivalent research materials; costs associated with fieldwork; or laboratory research expenses to scholars.
Franklin grants are made for noncommercial research and are not intended to meet the expenses of attending conferences or publication costs. The society does not pay overhead or indirect costs to any institution, and grant funds are not to be used to pay income tax on the award. Grants will not replace salary during a leave of absence or earnings from summer teaching, pay living expenses while working at home, cover the costs of consultants or research assistants, or purchase permanent equipment such as computers, cameras, tape recorders, or laboratory apparatus.
The October 2, 2023, deadline is for a January 2024 decision to conduct work from February 2024 through January 2025.
Applicants must have a doctorate or have published work of doctoral character and quality. PhD candidates are not eligible to apply. American citizens and residents of the United States may use their Franklin awards at home or abroad. Foreign nationals not affiliated with a U.S. institution must use the awards for research in the U.S.
Please contact Gwen Allouch if you are interested in applying to this opportunity.