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    5. American Council of Learned Societies
    American Council of Learned Societies logo

    American Council of Learned Societies

    ActiveArts, Culture & Humanities
    NEW YORK, NYWebsite2126971505

    About American Council of Learned Societies

    The American Council of Learned Societies supports the creation and circulation of knowledge that advances understanding of humanity and human endeavors in the past, present, and future, with a view toward improving human experience.

    Focus Areas

    humanitieshumanistic scholarshipfellowships and grantspublic engagementdoctoral training and career pathwaysdigital scholarship

    Who They Fund

    individual fellows/stipend recipients

    Funding Style

    fellowship/stipend fundingdirect individual supportprofessional development support

    Topics

    About American Council of Learned Societies

    The American Council of Learned Societies funds individual scholarship at scale, with its recent grants dominated by stipends and fellowships to universities and research organizations across the United States. In the latest grants list, the largest award went to United Negro College Fund Inc. for $1,008,000 in 2024, and the next tier includes major awards to the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of California Los Angeles. That pattern points to a funder that uses fellowship support to move scholarly work through graduate training, dissertation stages, and faculty development rather than project-only grants. Their portfolio centers on the humanities and social sciences, with programs that include ACLS Fellowships, HBCU faculty fellowships, dissertation fellowships in Buddhist studies, public scholar awards related to Buddhism, digital justice grants, and travel grants in China studies. The foundation also supports graduate internships tied to spiritual infrastructure topics and collaborative work in China studies. Across these programs, the American Council of Learned Societies emphasizes direct support for scholars and stipend recipients, including individual fellows and participants in fellowship placements.

    What American Council of Learned Societies Funds

    Humanities scholarship is the clearest thread in the American Council of Learned Societies’ program work. Through ACLS Fellowships, they award $30,000–$60,000 for outstanding scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. The foundation also backs HBCU faculty through its ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowships, extending support into higher education and career pathways. Religion and Buddhist studies are another defined area. The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowships in Buddhist Studies support dissertation work, while the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars program funds public scholar awards related to Buddhism. Digital justice is present through ACLS Digital Justice Grants, which include seed grants and development grants. The foundation also supports China studies through both Luce-ACLS Travel Grants in China Studies and the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies.

    How American Council of Learned Societies Gives

    Recent grant sizes are concentrated in fellowship and stipend awards, with a typical range of $50,000 at the 25th percentile, a $76,000 median, and $141,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same institutions across consecutive years, including awards in both 2023 and 2024 to the University of Chicago, Princeton University, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, Emory University, and the University of Texas at Austin. That recurring pattern suggests an ongoing fellowship structure rather than isolated one-off gifts. The American Council of Learned Societies is a regular funder and does not make program-related investments.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $17.4M

    Total Assets

    $217M

    Total Revenue

    $38.9M

    Total Expenses

    $35.6M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $50K and $141K, with a median of $76K.

    25th Percentile

    $50K

    Median

    $76K

    75th Percentile

    $141K

    Geographic Reach

    National42 states funded

    About 14% of grants go to recipients in CA.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Leadership

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    individual stipendsfellowships for fellows/recipientsshort-term living/education support

    Where American Council of Learned Societies Makes Grants

    Grant recipients are entirely in the United States in the recent data, with 313 grants listed there. The top state by grant count is Nevada, even though 14% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state of New York. Recent awards also land in major research hubs such as Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and New York, NY, including the Research Foundation for State University of New York and the Research Foundation City University of New York.

    Frequently Asked Questions About American Council of Learned Societies

    What kinds of scholarship does the American Council of Learned Societies fund most often?

    Its active programs center on humanities and humanistic scholarship, with additional support for social sciences, digital scholarship, doctoral training and career pathways, public engagement, and direct fellowship support. The recent grants list shows the bulk of giving as stipends and fellowships to scholars and research institutions.

    Does the foundation support individual scholars directly?

    Yes. The foundation’s beneficiary types include individual fellows and stipend recipients, and its topic taxonomy includes individual stipends, fellowships for fellows or recipients, and short-term living or education support. Active programs such as ACLS Fellowships and dissertation fellowships in Buddhist studies are structured around direct support to people.

    Are applications unsolicited?

    Yes for the active grant programs listed. ACLS Fellowships, the digital justice grants, the Luce-ACLS travel grants in China studies, the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies, the HBCU faculty fellowships, and the Buddhist studies fellowships all indicate unsolicited applications as true.

    What is a typical grant size?

    The typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $76,000 at the median, and $141,000 at the 75th percentile. The active ACLS Fellowships program also lists a grant size of $30,000–$60,000.

    Which regions or states receive the most grants?

    Giving is national across the United States, and the top state by grant count is Nevada. New York receives 14% of grants, and recent recipient locations include Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and New York, NY.

    JOY CONNOLLY

    Accepts unsolicited proposals
    Latest 990 Filing

    2026

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from American Council of Learned Societies that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowCloses Nov 3, 2026Award: $10K – $100K

    ACLS Digital Justice Grants (Seed & Development)

    digital scholarshipdigital humanitiesracial justice+4 more

    Who can apply: Projects must be in the humanities or interpretive social sciences and critically engage the interests and histories of people of color and other historically marginalized communities through ethical digital tools and methods. The program addresses inequities in access to digital support among scholars and institutions with less support for digital projects.

    Deadline: Digital Justice Seed Grants and Digital Justice Development Grants due November 3, 2026, 5:00 PM EST.

    View & apply
    Open nowCloses Nov 11, 2026Award: Up to $5K

    ACLS Project Grants for HBCU Faculty

    humanitiesinterpretive social sciencesresearch development

    Who can apply: No separate application. Considered from among ACLS Fellowship applicants from teaching-intensive institutions who advance to the final round and are not selected for fellowships.

    Deadline: Tied to ACLS Fellowship deadline; no separate deadline

    View & apply
    Open nowCloses Nov 11, 2026Award: $5K – $50K

    ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowship and Grants

    humanitiessocial sciencesHBCU scholarship+1 more

    Who can apply: Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements published for the HBCU Faculty competition. The program is aimed at faculty affiliated with historically Black colleges and universities.

    Deadline: November 11, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

    View & apply

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INCWASHINGTON, DC$1,232,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    POMONA COLLEGECLAREMONT, CA$577,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELESLOS ANGELES, CA$546,4252026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONLONG BEACH, CA$452,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGOCHICAGO, IL$315,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUISST LOUIS, MO$311,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSINMADISON, WI$269,9332026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTINAUSTIN, TX$234,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    DUKE UNIVERSITYDURHAM, NC$200,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICOALBUQUERQUE, NM$199,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATIONNEW YORK, NY$192,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYEVANSTON, IL$186,9832026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    AMHERST COLLEGEAMHERST, MA$182,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    BOWDOIN COLLEGEBRUNSWICK, ME$180,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    EMORY UNIVERSITYATLANTA, GA$173,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    YALE UNIVERSITYNEW HAVEN, CT$171,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANANN ARBOR, MI$170,7082026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    OBERLIN COLLEGEOBERLIN, OH$168,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    RICE UNIVERSITYHOUSTON, TX$168,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORKNEW YORK, NY$164,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    WILLIAMS COLLEGEWILLIAMSTOWN, MA$162,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    STANFORD UNIVERSITYSTANFORD, CA$160,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    SOJOURNER HOUSEPROVIDENCE, RI$160,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    GLMA HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ADVANCING LGBTQ EQUALITYWASHINGTON, DC$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES OF NEW YORK INCNEW YORK, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    JUSTICE ACTION CENTERLOS ANGELES, CA$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    CITY BUREAU NFPCHICAGO, IL$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICYWASHINGTON, DC$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROJECTBROOKLYN, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    LENOX HILL NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSENEW YORK, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    ZORA'S HOUSE INCCOLUMBUS, OH$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    LOS ANGELES POVERTY DEPARTMENTLOS ANGELES, CA$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    PEOPLE POWERED GLOBAL HUB FOR PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY INCBROOKLYN, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    MILWAUKEE TURNERS INCMILWAUKEE, WI$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UFW FOUNDAIONLOS ANGELES, CA$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    FUND FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORKNEW YORK, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    MISSION EDGESAN DIEGO, CA$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    BEND THE ARC A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICENEW YORK, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    EDUCATIONAL VIDEO CENTER INCNEW YORK, NY$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    FULL SPECTRUM FEATURES NFPCHICAGO, IL$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICENEWARK, NJ$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNITED WAY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY INCBOSTON, MA$158,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    BROWN UNIVERSITYPROVIDENCE, RI$155,2532026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    WHITTIER COLLEGEWHITTIER, CA$155,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    CORNELL UNIVERSITYITHACA, NY$152,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDAGAINESVILLE, FL$149,9402026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    PRINCETON UNIVERSITYPRINCETON, NJ$145,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    THE HOWARD UNIVERSITYWASHINGTON, DC$145,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEYBERKELEY, CA$142,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
    GRINNELL COLLEGEGRINNELL, IA$142,0002026STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC

    $1,232,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    POMONA COLLEGE

    $577,000
    CLAREMONT, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

    $546,425
    LOS ANGELES, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

    $452,000
    LONG BEACH, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

    $315,000
    CHICAGO, IL2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS
    $311,000
    ST LOUIS, MO2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

    $269,933
    MADISON, WI2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

    $234,000
    AUSTIN, TX2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    DUKE UNIVERSITY

    $200,000
    DURHAM, NC2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO

    $199,000
    ALBUQUERQUE, NM2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    HUNTER COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $192,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

    $186,983
    EVANSTON, IL2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    AMHERST COLLEGE

    $182,000
    AMHERST, MA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    BOWDOIN COLLEGE

    $180,000
    BRUNSWICK, ME2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    EMORY UNIVERSITY

    $173,000
    ATLANTA, GA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    YALE UNIVERSITY

    $171,000
    NEW HAVEN, CT2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

    $170,708
    ANN ARBOR, MI2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    OBERLIN COLLEGE

    $168,000
    OBERLIN, OH2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    RICE UNIVERSITY

    $168,000
    HOUSTON, TX2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK

    $164,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    WILLIAMS COLLEGE

    $162,000
    WILLIAMSTOWN, MA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    STANFORD UNIVERSITY

    $160,000
    STANFORD, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    SOJOURNER HOUSE

    $160,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    GLMA HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ADVANCING LGBTQ EQUALITY

    $158,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES OF NEW YORK INC

    $158,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    JUSTICE ACTION CENTER

    $158,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    CITY BUREAU NFP

    $158,000
    CHICAGO, IL2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY

    $158,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PROJECT

    $158,000
    BROOKLYN, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    LENOX HILL NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE

    $158,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    ZORA'S HOUSE INC

    $158,000
    COLUMBUS, OH2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    LOS ANGELES POVERTY DEPARTMENT

    $158,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    PEOPLE POWERED GLOBAL HUB FOR PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY INC

    $158,000
    BROOKLYN, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    MILWAUKEE TURNERS INC

    $158,000
    MILWAUKEE, WI2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UFW FOUNDAION

    $158,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    FUND FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK

    $158,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    MISSION EDGE

    $158,000
    SAN DIEGO, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    BEND THE ARC A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE

    $158,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    EDUCATIONAL VIDEO CENTER INC

    $158,000
    NEW YORK, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    FULL SPECTRUM FEATURES NFP

    $158,000
    CHICAGO, IL2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

    $158,000
    NEWARK, NJ2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNITED WAY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY INC

    $158,000
    BOSTON, MA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    BROWN UNIVERSITY

    $155,253
    PROVIDENCE, RI2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    WHITTIER COLLEGE

    $155,000
    WHITTIER, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    CORNELL UNIVERSITY

    $152,000
    ITHACA, NY2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

    $149,940
    GAINESVILLE, FL2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

    $145,000
    PRINCETON, NJ2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY

    $145,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY

    $142,000
    BERKELEY, CA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS

    GRINNELL COLLEGE

    $142,000
    GRINNELL, IA2026

    STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS