IHS provides funding and mentorship when they matter most for early-career researchers. We support dissertations, first publications, and transitions to the next stage.
Our grant funding and cross-disciplinary network supports rigorous, independent scholarship and helps it reach the practitioners who need it most.
IHS provides funding for faculty to introduce undergraduate students to the core themes of the liberal tradition.
IHS issues focused requests for proposals on research questions where rigorous liberal scholarship is most urgently needed. Awarded scholars may receive up to $20,000. Larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects.
IHS invites applications from academic scholars whose research pertains to deliberative democracy. We are especially interested in proposals that bridge disciplines. Research deliverables can include peer-reviewed publications, policy white papers, or shareable research databases, among other things.
IHS seeks to fund research that examines these transformations with a particular eye towards emergent news institutions, journalistic innovations, and truth-seeking mechanisms in the future information ecosystem. We are especially interested in proposals that bridge disciplines, build community, or demonstrate potential real-world impact.
IHS invites applications from academic scholars whose research sheds light on foundational questions about the nature of liberal civic virtue. We are especially interested in collaborative research projects that aim to develop a new methodology for identifying and grounding liberal civic virtues.
IHS invites applications from scholars whose research or scholarship applies liberal principles to contemporary American civil rights issues. We’re interested in supporting peer-reviewed scholarship—articles, book chapters, and books—as well as shareable data sets. Projects must include plans to disseminate the work to the public in print and multimedia.
IHS invites applications from scholars seeking to share their research with the public in print or multimedia formats. We’re interested in projects that produce or disseminate rigorous content geared to a general audience—articles, blog posts, trade books, or podcasts—as well as projects that build a personal platform or brand by, for example, launching a Substack or podcast, securing media appearances, or organizing your own events.
IHS invites applications from academic scholars whose research pertains to how AI influences employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity, and innovation over time. We are especially interested in proposals that bridge disciplines. Research deliverables can include peer-reviewed publications, policy white papers, or shareable research databases.
Funding for PhD Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
Up to $10,000 for PhD Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
Up to $8,000 for PhD Students for the 2026-2027 Academic Year
Up to $5,000 in Research Funding
For Undergraduate Programming
Support for Research That Strengthens a Free Society
Preview a curated selection of funding, programs, and resources for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Sign in to ScholarsEdge to explore the full list, personalized to your stage and interests.
IHS offers fellowships, research grants, and program support tailored to different career stages. You can find funding opportunities here.
Applications vary by program. Follow the application instructions provided for each fellowship or grant.
Yes. ScholarsEdge provides research tools and easy connections with the other members of our community. IHS offers many resources to all members of our network.
No. IHS funds rigorous inquiry within the liberal tradition, and awarded scholars retain full independence over research design, analysis, and publication.
IHS follows the wisdom of Frederick Douglass: “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.” That’s why we work with more than 1,500 individual donors and foundations from across the liberal spectrum—left, classical, and conservative—all with the aim of advancing the principles of freedom and human flourishing. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, IHS maintains its own governance and leadership structure, and no donor controls IHS's research agenda, scholar selection, or institutional direction.
Have other questions? Check out the Funding FAQ page.
"IHS trusted me before I'd proved myself. That first survey taught me how to be a quantitative researcher. Maybe I wouldn't have applied to Harvard. It seemed like such a long shot."
"IHS always put me in the rooms with people asking really difficult questions that challenge me to think harder about myself and my research."
"I always recommend my students reach out to IHS. I tell them, 'if these ideas are something you want to continue exploring, there's this wonderful resource.'"
