Endowed Research Grants

The American Philosophical Society is one of the preeminent organizations in the nation offering grants and fellowships on a competitive basis for scholarly research. The Society has a long and distinguished tradition of research and exploration, dating back to the founding era. Since 1933 the APS has provided grants and fellowships to more than 16,000 scholars—many of them younger scholars at critical stages in their careers. In the last decade alone, the Society has awarded some 1,500 research grants to early-career scholars in more than 600 colleges and universities.

Donors may endow and name a research grant for a minimum contribution of $50,000 in the programs listed below, or they may establish general endowments for research grants, allowing the Society to apply the funds as needed in programs such as those listed below. Donors will receive annual reports on the recipients of grants supported by the income from their respective endowed funds.

Franklin Grants provide funds in any discipline for research that is often travel-related, usually to museums and libraries abroad. There are few, if any, comparable programs on this scale offering grants that are fully portable (i.e., not tied to a specific research center or discipline). These grants are generally awarded to postdoctoral scholars and typically support the cost of research leading to publication.

Lewis and Clark Grants for Exploration and Field Research were established in 2004 in honor of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. (The APS co-sponsored their journey and its Library is home to their journals.) The Lewis and Clark Grants support field research in any discipline—largely scientific (astrobiology, biology, ecology, geography, geology, oceanography, paleontology, etc.), but also in fields such as anthropology and archaeology.

Library Resident Research Fellowships provide support for one or two months for scholars from outside the region, enabling them to use the resources of the APS Library on site. Recipients come from all over the world. The Library is internationally recognized for its holdings in early American history and culture; the history of science, medicine, and technology; and Native American anthropology.

Please contact Nanette Holben at 215-440-3434 or nholben [at] amphilsoc [dot] org for further details.