AAR International Collaborative Research Grants

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About

Criteria

• Grants may fund the research activities of two or more collaborators, at least one of whom must hold the doctoral degree
• Collaborators must be located in different geographical regions
• No individual can apply as part of more than one collaborative team
• Applicants who have received an AAR research grant in the previous year will not be considered
• A research group must apply through an AAR member designated as the Primary Contact
• Primary Contact
  • The Primary Contact must have an active AAR membership at the time of application and throughout the grant period
  • The Primary Contact will receive all grant correspondence for the group
• Collaborator(s)
  • At least one collaborator (in addition to the Primary Contact) must be an AAR member in good standing at the time of application and throughout the grant period.

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

Expenses not eligible for funding:

• Indirect and overhead costs
• Donations
• Travel to attend the AAR November Annual Meeting including lodging, ground transportation, meals, or other related expenses.

How to Apply

Applicants must meet the qualifications and AAR membership eligibility requirements.

The Primary Contact 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

Applicants 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
  • Name and contact details for Primary Contact
  • Primary Contact’s institutional affiliation (if applicable)
  • Project Title
  • Names of and contact details for all project collaborators
  • Requested grant amount in USD

• Project Abstract: 150-word description of the project

• Project Proposal: 500-word narrative description that clearly outlines the aims and significance of the research project; discusses the specific logistical details regarding the international collaboration; delineates the roles of each collaborator; and identifies the project’s expected outcomes.

• Project Budget and Timeline:
  • Completed budget template (use the template provided)
  • 1-2 page narrative explanation of expenses; project funds must be requested in US dollars (USD).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: For each collaborator, a CV of no more than one page that details previous and current grants/competitive research funding and international research travel

• 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 material cannot be accepted.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated by the members of AAR’s International Connections Committee using the following criteria :

• The clarity and focus of the research proposed
• The potential of the project to promote meaningful international collaborations between scholars from different regions
• The significance of the research project’s contribution to religious studies scholarship, particularly in underexplored areas or subfields
• The feasibility of the research project, including its aims, timeline, outcomes, and proposed collaborations

Application Status Notification

• Notification of the application status is typically sent to the Primary Contact in January.
• For awarded projects, the Primary Contact will receive all grant correspondence for the group

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

• Awardees must maintain AAR membership throughout the grant period.
• For awarded projects, grant funds will be made payable to the Primary Contact.
  Note: Grant funds cannot be remitted to a grantee’s institution, a collaborator, or someone other than the Primary Contact.
• 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 grant recipient a Form 1099 in the amount of the grant for income tax use. The grant recipient 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 Primary Contact must submit the required grant reports.

Grant Reports

The Primary Contact must submit the following reports by January 31 of the following calendar year:

1. 1. Abstract of Project Results: An abstract of 150 words summarizing the results and findings of the research project.
   2. Close-Out Report: A report that describes the collaborative research activities undertaken, publications produced, and public presentations or other disseminations executed or planned.
   3. Expense Report: A narrative description and detailed list of the grant expenses.

Questions