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.
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.
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.
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.
$16.2M
$185.7M
$32.5M
$34M
Most grants fall between $50K and $141K, with a median of $76K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$76K
75th Percentile
$141K
About 14% of grants go to recipients in NV.
JOY CONNOLLY
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,008,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $655,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $446,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $397,641 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $330,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $307,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $287,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $285,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $255,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $252,334 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $246,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $237,200 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $237,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | LONG BEACH, CA | $236,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $232,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $231,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $216,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $192,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| BOWDOIN COLLEGE | BRUNSWICK, ME | $191,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY | SANTA CLARA, CA | $190,522 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $185,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $182,062 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $180,879 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE | RIVERSIDE, CA | $177,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $175,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $174,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY | BALTIMORE, MD | $157,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| SWARTHMORE COLLEGE | SWARTHMORE, PA | $156,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| MACALESTER COLLEGE | ST PAUL, MN | $155,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $153,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| RESTORE JUSTICE FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $146,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| BELOVED COMMUNITY INC | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $143,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER | OAKLAND, CA | $143,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| JUSTICE INNOVATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $143,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| NAMATI INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $143,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $139,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS | WEST SACRAMENTO, CA | $130,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $129,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $127,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| OBERLIN COLLEGE | OBERLIN, OH | $125,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| WHITTIER COLLEGE | WHITTIER, CA | $122,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | $118,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| GRINNELL COLLEGE | GRINNELL, IA | $116,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| SMITH COLLEGE | NORTHAMPTON, MA | $113,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| BRYN MAWR COLLEGE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $112,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | ATLANTA, GA | $108,925 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $107,120 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $106,500 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $105,000 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $98,327 | 2024 | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS |
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC
$1,008,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$655,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$446,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$397,641STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$330,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$307,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$287,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
$285,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$255,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
$252,334STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$246,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY
$237,200STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$237,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$236,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS
$232,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY
$231,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
$216,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$192,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
BOWDOIN COLLEGE
$191,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
$190,522STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
$185,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
$182,062STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$180,879STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
$177,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
$175,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
YALE UNIVERSITY
$174,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY
$157,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
$156,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
MACALESTER COLLEGE
$155,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$153,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
RESTORE JUSTICE FOUNDATION
$146,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
BELOVED COMMUNITY INC
$143,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER
$143,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
JUSTICE INNOVATION INC
$143,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
NAMATI INC
$143,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$139,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS
$130,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$129,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$127,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
OBERLIN COLLEGE
$125,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
WHITTIER COLLEGE
$122,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
WILLIAMS COLLEGE
$118,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
GRINNELL COLLEGE
$116,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
SMITH COLLEGE
$113,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
BRYN MAWR COLLEGE
$112,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
$108,925STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
RESEARCH FOUNDATION CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
$107,120STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
$106,500STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
$105,000STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA
$98,327STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS