General Guidelines

Types of Grants and Deadlines

Humanities Disciplines

Who Can Apply & Project Formats

Application Process

Criteria for Review

Sample Publicity Plan

Application Budget Instructions

General Checklist

Approval

Grant Instructions and Application Forms:

Planning Grants

Major and Mini Grants

Teacher Incentive Grants

Research Fellowships

What is the Research Fellowship Program?

The purpose of the IHC Research Fellowship Program (RFP) is to stimulate scholarship in the humanities, to provide support for scholars who need time and money for research, and to share the results with academic and public audiences. The IHC will award up to four fellowships of $3,500 each year.

Qualifications and Eligibility

Scholars will be defined as those who hold a minimum of a Masters degree in one of the humanities disciplines as designated by the NEH, though in rare cases people without the minimum qualifications will be considered if they have a superior research and professional publication record. Applicants need not be affiliated with an institution of higher education. People who have received a Research Fellowship in the past two years and graduate students are ineligible.

Scholars in all disciplines of the humanities are eligible for Research Fellowships. Given IHC's commitment to public humanities, the Council encourages projects of special interest to general audiences. Projects do not have to be about Idaho.

Research Fellows are expected to make at least two public presentations during the period of the fellowship or submit proof of future public presentations (conference acceptance letter, copy of conference schedule, etc.) to occur after the fellowship grant period. Public presentations can include lectures before academic audiences, although IHC prefers that results be shared with the public in a meaningful forum.

Criteria of Selection

The following criteria are evaluated equally:

• Significance and contribution of the project to the discipline and to the humanities in general.  How does the research add to the field, what is the relevance and how does it fit into the scholarly conversation, what is the research methodology to be employed?
• Quality of the scholar’s past work.
• Proposal’s concept, definition and organization. 
• The application will be reviewed by both academic and nonacademic board members so should be as jargon-free as possible.
• Strength of 2 reference letters (at least one from someone not affiliated with the scholar’s institution).
• Plans for public presentations.
• Description of eventual outcome of the project.  Is a scholarly article, a book or chapter in a book planned?  Will there be a film?  Is a new course to be developed?  Will the research be presented in a speaker’s bureau?

 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The application should be typed or printed and stapled in the following order:

1. Cover Sheet
2. Application Narrative – responses to questions listed below (no more than 5 pages)
3. Vita
4. Two reference letters – (letters may be mailed, faxed or emailed to the research applicant, and then attached to each copy of the application)
5. Appendices (if necessary)

APPLICATION NARRATIVE
Please refer to the Research Fellowship Description, Criteria of Selection, and Eligibility Information listed in the Application Guidelines.  Contact staff to discuss proposal before beginning a draft; scholars are encouraged to submit a rough draft for critique about one month prior to the final deadline.

Respond to the following questions or requests for information in the order they appear.  Number each and retype the underlined words. 

Responses should be single-spaced.  The Application Narrative should be no more than 5 pages.

1. Project Abstract (try to limit to 200 words)
2. Describe project background and significance.  How does the research add to the field, what is the relevance and how does it fit into the scholarly conversation?  Remember that the application will be reviewed by both academic and nonacademic board members so should be as jargon-free as possible.
3. Provide information about your background and interest.
4. Explain your research work plan.  What is the research methodology to be employed? 
5. Provide details about your plan for two public presentations.
6. Describe the eventual outcome of the project.  Is a scholarly article, a book or chapter in a book planned?  Will there be a film?  Is a new course to be developed?  Will the research be presented in a speaker’s bureau?
7. Budget (showing in-kind match – see matching requirements below) – Please provide an explanation of how you intend to use the award, and how much match you anticipate reporting in your final report.

Two letters of recommendation must be included.  The letters should be addressed to the Idaho Humanities Council in sealed envelopes and attached to the application.  Please provide your application narrative and the following paragraph when requesting a letter of reference:

The Idaho Humanities Council requires two letters of reference for all applicants requesting Research Fellowship grants.  These grants are highly competitive and are evaluated based on the strength of the application in informing the IHC board, among others, of the significance and contribution of the project to the discipline and to the humanities in general.  How does the proposed research add to the field, what is the relevance, and how does it fit into the scholarly conversation?  What is the research methodology to be employed, and is it appropriate?  Please provide your evaluation of these criteria in your reference letter, and also provide your opinion as to whether the research and methodology is sound, applicable and appropriate to the discipline, and whether the applicant is qualified to conduct the research?

Matching Requirements

IHC requires that projects be matched with an equal amount of cash or in-kind services (i.e., time donated to the project).  The Council estimates that a scholar's in-kind professional fees can be estimated at a minimum of $200 per day and a maximum of $400 per day ($50/hour), and estimates that the minimum amount of time spent on research will be 60 days.  Thus, a scholar who spends 60 days on a project easily will have provided the in-kind match. If awarded a Research Fellowship, scholars will be asked to provide a time-log with the final report at the end of the grant period.