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About
Collaborative research grants are intended to stimulate cooperative research among scholars who have a focus on a clearly identified research project and for interdisciplinary work with scholars outside the field of religion. Collaborative project proposals are expected to describe plans for having the results of the research published.
The grants can provide funds for networking and communication, and to support small research conferences only if they are designed primarily to advance research. Conferences presenting papers that report on previous research will not be considered.
Grants range from $500 to $5,000 USD.
Criteria
- A research group must apply through an AAR member designated as the Project Director
- The Project Director must have a current AAR membership
- Project Directors must have completed the doctorate
- A research group cannot have a Project Director and/or a Collaborator who has received an AAR research grant in the previous five (5) years
- Not all project collaborators need to be AAR members
AAR members who meet the eligibility requirements may submit more than one proposal and may apply to more than one grant program. However, the same grant proposal may not be submitted to more than one grant program. If selected, only one grant proposal will be funded to a member who submits multiple proposals or to multiple programs.
Ineligible Expenses
- Indirect or overhead costs
- Donations
- Research assistance or release time – unless directly related to the funded project
- Travel to attend the AAR November Annual Meeting including lodging, ground transportation, meals, or other related expenses.
How to Apply
The Project Director must meet the qualifications and be an AAR member in good standing.
The Project Director must submit the application form and required materials through the online AAR grant application submission system.
Late, emailed, or incomplete applications or materials cannot be accepted.
Application Materials
Project Directors should be prepared to upload the following required materials, all of which must be compiled into a single document in PDF or Word format:
Cover Page:
- Project Director’s name
- Project Director’s institutional affiliation (if applicable)
- Project title
- Grant type
- Requested grant amount (USD)
- Collaborator names and institutional affiliations (if applicable)
Abstract
- 50 words or fewer describing the project
Two-paged focus description
- Description of the research project with details about the aims and significance, and explanation about how the award would be used
- Collaborative project descriptions should include brief descriptions of the scholarly role of each collaborator and a plan to have the research published
Project Budget and Timeline
- Completed budget template (use the template provided)
- 1-2 page narrative description of the expected costs (USD) related to the research project. Budget should include other sources of support—e.g., funds granted by your institution, funds requested from outside agencies—and indicate the total award amount sought from the AAR
- One page description of the project timeline
Curriculum Vitae
- A CV of no more than two pages for the Project Director
- A CV of no more than two pages for each collaborator
Signed Consent:
- Signed consent for use of final project report by AAR within AAR publications/social media. The signed consent should include the following: “AAR works to raise the visibility of religious studies scholarship. Project participants permit AAR to use portions of the final report, including documentation or illustrations, in AAR publicity (online communications and social media), with appropriate attribution.”
The signed consent must be included as a separate document/page.
Additional materials cannot be considered.
Selection Process
All eligible grant proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the AAR Research Grants Jury using the following criteria:
- Clarity and focus of the research to be pursued
- Contribution to scholarship in a field or subfield of religion and significance of the contribution for advancing the understanding of religion or for advancing interdisciplinary discussions between religion and other humanistic and social science disciplines
- Adequacy of the overall work plan, including goals, objectives, and time frame for the completion of the project
Application Status Notification
- Notification of the application status will typically be sent in January to the Project Director
Grant Award Period
- For awarded projects, research expenses may be undertaken anytime within the calendar year of the award year
- The grant period starts on January 1 and ends on December 31. Successful applicants will have the entire calendar year to complete the grant funded activities.
Grant Winner Expectations
- For awarded projects, the Project Director will be responsible for all correspondence
- For awarded projects, the Project Director must maintain their AAR membership throughout the grant period
- For awarded projects, grant funds will be made payable to the Project Director
Note: Grant funds cannot be remitted to a grantee’s institution, a collaborator or someone other than the Project Director. - The grant payment will be made in the form of an electronic funds transfer.
- For awarded projects, grant funds will be disbursed until June 30 of the award year.
The required forms must be submitted to AAR Accounting by May 31. - The AAR will issue the Project Director a Form 1099 in the amount of the grant for income tax use. The Project Director will be responsible for any applicable income taxes due on the grant revenue.
- A final report is due within 30 days of completion of the grant. By January 31 of the following calendar year, the Project Director must submit an expense report along with a report on the research supported by the AAR grant.
Grant Reports
The Project Director must submit the following reports by January 31 of the following calendar year:
- A narrative description of the research supported by the AAR grant and the project outcomes
- A financial report detailing expenses
Questions
Questions may be sent to grants@aarweb.org.