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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Center provides funding for UCR faculty and students through our annual calls for projects. Award amounts and call formats vary from year to year.
Event Support
Supplemental funding for events hosted at UC Riverside by CHASS departments and programs. Amounts vary from $300 to $3000, depending on event type. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed on the 1st of each month. Awards are typically announced by the 15th of the month. Applications accepted for events up to one year in advance.
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NEW! CHASS Grants Portal
To submit an application, create an account on our new grants portal.
You’ll only need to create an account the first time you log in.
To create an account, click the button below and enter your email address.
Follow the instructions to set a password and verify your email address.
That’s it! You can then proceed to the application page.
For questions or help with setting up your account, contact Katharine.Henshaw@ucr.edu.
Faculty Support
Eligibility: CHASS faculty (ladder rank and LSOE)
Award Period: 2025 (Winter, Spring or Fall quarter)
Award Amount: $1000
Deadline: Dec 9, 2024
Project Development Awards provide funds to help CHASS faculty members substantially move a project (book manuscript, film, play or substantial creative project) toward completion and submission/production (to a press, film festival, theatre, gallery show, etc.) by creating opportunities to receive input and feedback on works-in-progress.
Proposals may include meetings with scholars or subject matter experts for an open discussion of the faculty member’s work, meetings with community partners, workshops, experimental productions, and other collaborative formats for soliciting feedback on a project. Special consideration will be given to projects that have potential to impact tenure and/or promotion. Applicants must clearly identify how the proposal supports the planned completion or production of the next stage of their project.
Three projects will be awarded for 2025, to be hosted in Winter, Spring or Fall quarter. Awards may cover honoraria for external contributors and/or travel and meeting expenses.
For questions or more information: Katharine.Henshaw@ucr.edu.
Apply Now
Eligibility: PI (lead applicants): CHASS Faculty; CO-PIs (co-applicants): UC faculty, staff or graduate students
Award Period: July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026
Award Amount: Workshops: up to $1500; Symposia or conferences: up $5000
Deadline: Feb 17, 2025
Workshop, Symposia and Conference Awards support skill-building, research development and/or dissemination events hosted at UC Riverside. Though ranging in scale and audience, these events bring a variety of UC, national and international scholars/artists together at UC Riverside (in person or online) for one or more days to learn, share research and explore topics of mutual interest in an interdisciplinary environment.
Of particular interest in these calls are projects that draw upon multiple intellectual traditions and/or interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary fields in order to develop more robust and nuanced understandings of topics than are possible within traditional disciplinary vocabularies, categories, and self-descriptions. Though proposals should demonstrate emphasis on the humanities, special consideration will be given to projects that engage the arts, social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and other fields of study.
Project Types
- Workshops: Public or campus-facing learning experiences that teach skills and develop understanding and/or application of new knowledge.
- Symposia: Smaller scale, public or campus-facing research presentations, typically with 1-2 panels of interlocutors. May also include a keynote speaker.
- Conferences: Larger scale, public facing research presentations, typically over 2 days, and featuring keynote speakers and 3 or more panel presentations. May also include receptions, formal dinners or performances in the conference theme.
Note: CIS awards do not support meetings or annual conferences of professional societies or organizations with paid memberships. All events funded by the Center are free and open to the public.
Apply Now
The Center for Ideas and Society invites applications from faculty (tenure track and Professors of Teaching/LSOE) in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences for one-quarter fellowship residencies to pursue humanities-related projects. Projects may include (but are not limited to) drafting articles and manuscripts, development of major grant proposals, research development, or other work that enhances opportunities for merit or promotion.
The Mellon Foundation has invited UCR to submit one application for consideration to the 2024 Sawyer Seminars program. The Center for Ideas and Society will facilitate an internal review of submissions, led by a committee of CHASS faculty reviewers. Applicants should review the following information and proposal timelines carefully to ensure that, if their proposal is selected, they will be available to complete the application by the various deadlines.
Made possible by gifts from Emory’s family and friends, the Emory Elliott Book Award honors the book published by a CHASS faculty member during the previous academic year that, in the judgment of the selection committee, best exemplifies the values that characterized Professor Elliott and his contributions to life and letters.
Nominations and self-nominations from CHASS faculty are accepted each fall for books published in the preceding academic year. For example, a book published between July 2021 and June 2022 is eligible for the 2022 award.
Support for collective work
Eligibility: Conveners must be UCR Faculty or Graduate Students
Award Period: Varies by quarter
Award Amount: Book Club award provides one book for each participant (up to $300 total per club)
Deadline by quarter: Sept 30 (Fall 2024), Dec 9 (Winter 2025), March 14 (Spring 2025) or June 13 (Summer 2025)
Stay engaged with colleagues this quarter through Academic Book Clubs. Invite a group of 4 or more colleagues and select a book – it’s that easy!
Book Club awards cover the purchase of books for groups of faculty and/or graduate students who agree to meet in-person or online to discuss the book at least 4 times over the coming quarter. Though we ask that at least half the participants be CHASS faculty and/or graduate students, other participants may be from other UCR departments, UC campuses, local institutions or community organizations.
Club leaders convene meetings via Zoom or on the UCR campus. All required campus COVID-19 protocols, including wellness checks, vaccinations and masking, must be followed for in-person gatherings.
Book groups should select titles that have the potential to engage multiple perspectives, disciplines and methods in critical inquiry. Inclusive, cross-disciplinary groups are encouraged. At the end of the quarter, group members will be asked to respond to a short survey on their experiences.
*****
NEW! CHASS Grants Portal
To submit an application, create an account on our new grants portal.
You’ll only need to create an account the first time you log in.
To create an account, click the button below and enter your email address.
Follow the instructions to set a password and verify your email address.
That’s it! You can then proceed to the application page.
For questions or help with setting up your account, contact Katharine.Henshaw@ucr.edu.
Grants Portal
Eligibility: UCR Faculty and Graduate Students (with significant participation from CHASS faculty and graduate students)
Award Period: Varies by quarter
Award Amount: $25 book awards for participants (up to $300 per quarter, per group)
Deadline by quarter: Sept 30 (Fall 2024), Dec 9 (Winter 2025), March 14 (Spring 2025) or June 13 (Summer 2025)
Stay on-track with your writing goals and be productive this quarter through remote Writing Groups! Peer writing groups can provide much needed accountability and support during times of stress and isolation.
Writing Group awards provide $25 gift cards to participants who attend a majority of scheduled meetings. Groups of 4-8 participants agree to meet at least five times over the quarter. Though we ask that at least half the participants be CHASS faculty and/or graduate students, conveners and other group members may be from any school or college at UCR. Up to 50% of the group may be from other UC campuses.
Group leaders convene meetings via Zoom or other online meeting room services. At the end of the quarter, groups will be asked to provide feedback on their experiences.
***
NEW! CHASS Grants Portal
To submit an application, create an account on our new grants portal.
You’ll only need to create an account the first time you log in.
To create an account, click the button below and enter your email address.
Follow the instructions to set a password and verify your email address.
That’s it! You can then proceed to the application page.
For questions or help with setting up your account, contact Katharine.Henshaw@ucr.edu.
Grants Portal
Eligibility: PI (lead applicants): CHASS Faculty; CO-PIs (co-applicants): UC faculty, staff or graduate students
Award Period: July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026
Award Amount: CIS Awards of up to $3000
Deadline: Feb 17, 2025
Interdisciplinary Working Group Awards enable cross-departmental groups of faculty and graduate students to explore a theme or subject matter of common interest over the course of an academic year. Working group goals might include development of cross-disciplinary expertise, research related to potential grant applications, consultation with subject matter experts to support new UCR initiatives, or other creative outcomes that arise from transdisciplinary engagement.
Possible uses of the funds include but are not limited to guest lectures, panel discussions, works-in-progress workshops and public-facing or community-engaged projects. Up to $500 may be spent on internal working group meetings. Modest participation stipends ($300-$500) may be provided to graduate student presenters.
Apply Now
Graduate Student Support
Eligibility: Current UCR graduate students (humanities emphasis)
Award Period: May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026*
Award Amount: Awards of up to $1500 for research and research-related travel
Deadline: Feb 3, 2025
Funded by the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the Center for Ideas and Society, the Humanities Graduate Student Research (GSR) Grants assist graduate students in the humanities, arts, and humanistically-oriented social sciences. We consider the humanities, broadly construed, as academic disciplines and activities that illuminate the ways in which human beings create and explore a distinctly human life.
The GSR grants are typically reserved for those who have advanced (or will soon advance) to candidacy. Awards are made in varying amounts, but will not exceed $1500 per student. Awards may be used for travel expenses (transportation, lodging, etc) and materials needed to complete the dissertation/MFA. Proposals unrelated to the completion of the dissertation or MFA will be considered only if funds permit. Students who have received previous grants are welcome to re-apply. Recipients of prior awards that are still current due to an award extension are not eligible in this grant cycle. The GSR awards do not support conference travel or presentations.
Selection
Selection will be based on the conception, originality, clarity, and organization of the project proposal, the strength of the faculty endorsement, and the justification of the proposed expenses as they relate to the completion of the project. Priority will be given to applicants who have advanced to candidacy (ABD) or who are further along in their program. Final awards are based on available funding. In order to support as many students as possible, award amounts offered may be less than requested. Lower awards do not reflect on the quality or importance of the work being conducted.
Award Guidelines
Expenses must be incurred within the award period. Extensions of the grant timeframe should be requested in writing in advance. Awards terminate upon leaves of absence, filing fee status, withdrawal, or graduation. You must be registered in the spring quarter to use the award in the summer months.
Expenditures must be within the categories listed in the proposal budget. Written permission is required for budget adjustments or changes to the project scope prior to spending funds. Major purchases of non-expendable equipment, stipends, tuition or fees, alcohol, or expenses related to the preparation of the thesis copy (printing, charts, photographs, etc) are not covered by this award. Reusable supplies and equipment purchased with these funds remain the property of UCR.
Proposals that involve personal interviews or experiments with human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board prior to use of award. Such proposals should indicate the status of the IRB process at the time of application. Confirmation that approval has been granted is required before funds may be used for travel. For forms and details, visit or.ucr.edu/ORI.aspx.
Apply Now
Eligibility: Current UCR ABD graduate students with dissertation topics grounded in humanities fields/methods
Award Period: July 1 – September 2025
Award Amount: Fellowship of $8000 for summer 2025
Deadline: March 3, 2025
Summer Dissertation Writing Fellowships provide a $8000 summer stipend to advanced UCR graduate students in Ph.D. programs in the humanities who need dedicated time to complete – or make substantial progress toward completing – their dissertation over the summer. Office space is available for fellows who prefer to work on campus in the summer months.
Special consideration will be given to students with feasible plans to complete the dissertation over summer 2025.
How to Apply
Submit the online application form and all required documentation by 11:59 pm on the deadline. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
The online application will require:
- Project title and abstract (250-word limit)
- Statement of Dissertation’s Significance and Contribution to the Field (250-word limit)
- Outline of Dissertation Chapters. Indicate progress made on each chapter (complete, drafted, not started, etc). (500-word limit)
- Timeline for Summer 2025: Outline the work to be completed over summer 2025 and the target date for completion of the dissertation. (250-word limit)
Statement of Support
Evaluation and assessment (1-2 pages) from your dissertation director or faculty mentor that reviews your progress to date and the feasibility and timeline of the work proposed over the summer. The statement should also confirm that you are an active/enrolled student and that you have advanced to candidacy (ABD status).
Award Guidelines
A fellowship of $8000 will be awarded to a CHASS graduate student, competitively selected from applicants to this call. Awards will be paid through financial aid and students are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to receive the award. Fellowships cannot be deferred or transferred.
Apply Now
Undergraduate Student Support
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) is a two-year program that provides financial support, research mentorship, and assistance with graduate school applications. The Mellon Mays program at UC Riverside is administered by the Center for Ideas and Society and is funded by an annual grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Visit UCR’s MMUF website for more information on student eligibility and benefits:
mellonmays.ucr.edu
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RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS
Opportunities with humanities and interdisciplinary research organizations
As a grantmaking organization, the UC Humanities Research Institute funds UC faculty and graduate students who participate in innovative research and projects that engage a variety of disciplines and stakeholders. Funding opportunities include faculty fellowship, multi-campus working groups, graduate student dissertation support and much more.
The Center for Ideas and Society works in conjunction with UCHRI to develop and promote humanities projects through the UC Humanities Network. Contact Katharine at katharine.henshaw@ucr.edu for more information on how CIS can support your proposal and help administer your project.
Learn More:
UCHRI funding calls
Foundry – online publishing platform
The Imagining America consortium (IA) brings together scholars, artists, designers, humanists, and organizers to imagine, study, and enact a more just and liberatory ‘America’ and world. Working across institutional, disciplinary, and community divides, IA strengthens and promotes public scholarship, cultural organizing, and campus change that inspires collective imagination, knowledge-making, and civic action on pressing public issues.
MEMBERSHIP: UCR faculty and students are eligible to participant in the IA National Gathering and a host of other creative programs through the Center for Ideas and Society’s membership, sponsored by the Decolonizing Humanism(?) initiative.
Learn more:
Collaborative Research and Learning Programs
PAGE Fellowships for publicly engaged graduate students
Joy of Giving Something (JGS) Fellowships for undergrads in photography and digital media
The Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes is a global forum that strengthens the work of humanities centers and institutes through advocacy, grant-making, and inclusive collaboration. CHCI advances cross-institutional partnerships, recognizes regional humanities cultures, and mobilizes the collective capacity of the humanities to engage the most pressing issues in society today.
MEMBERSHIP: Through the CIS membership, UCR faculty and students are invited to participate in CHCI Annual Meeting at reduced cost and can apply for fellowships and research opportunities through their extensive network.
Formed in 1919, ACLS is a nonprofit federation of 78 scholarly organizations. As the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and related social sciences, ACLS holds a core belief that knowledge is a public good.
MEMBERSHIP: UC Riverside joined the ACLS Research University Consortium in 2022.
Learn More:
Fellowships and Grants programs
MEMBERSHIP: UC Riverside joined the Social Science Research Council’s College and University Fund for the Social Sciences in 2022.
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The National Humanities Alliance (NHA) is a nationwide coalition of organizations advocating for the humanities on campuses, in communities, and on Capitol Hill. Together, we promote the value of studying the humanities, make the case for the public value of the humanities, and cultivate support for federal funding for the humanities.
MEMBERSHIP: UC Riverside is a member of the NHA.
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California Humanities is an independent nonprofit organization and a partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities that produces, funds, creates, and supports humanities-based projects and programs, eye-opening cultural experiences and meaningful conversations. For more than 45 years, California Humanities has awarded over $38 million in grants across the state, reaching every Congressional district.
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Founded in 1982 as a “forum for interdisciplinary exchange”, the Western Humanities Alliance promotes innovative research in humanistic fields related to current social, cultural and scientific issues. With on-going cooperation between distinguished universities, the Western Humanities Alliance (WHA) emphasizes the importance of the humanities in the western United States and Canadian provinces, and is dedicated to the idea that humanities research has a central role to play in shaping the world in the 21st century.
MEMBERSHIP: CIS is a long-standing member of the WHA.