CNAIR Funding Opportunities
The Center for Native American and Indigenous Research supports community- and campus-based projects related to cultural and language vitality, Indigenous self-determination, and Native American and Indigenous Studies through a variety of funding opportunities.
These include academic residential fellowships and internships based at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, as well as non-residential individual and group fellowships intended for community-oriented projects and goals.
Eligibility is open to applicants anywhere in the world, although we are unable to offer visa sponsorship unless otherwise noted.
Funding At a Glance
CNAIR Fellowships
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Mellon/NASI)
This 9-month residential fellowship is intended for a recent doctoral graduate, a professor at any level seeking sabbatical support for a research project, or an independent postdoctoral scholar working closely with an Indigenous community on a project.
Award amount:
- $50,000 stipend
- $20,000 to offset health insurance costs
- $5,000 travel/research fund
- $750 relocation
Application deadline: January 17, 2025
Predoctoral Fellowship (Mellon/NASI)
This 9-month residential fellowship is intended for an advanced doctoral degree student working toward the completion of the dissertation.
Award amount:
- $25,000 living stipend
- $10,000 to offset health insurance costs
- $5,000 travel/research fund
Application deadline: January 17, 2025
Digital Knowledge Sharing Fellowship (Mellon/NASI)
These short-term fellowships support university- and community-based scholars and others working on digital projects that connect archives and Indigenous communities.
Award amount:
- $3,000 stipend
- Travel expenses to attend workshop in Philadelphia
Application deadline: March 3, 2025
CNAIR Internships
Summer Undergraduate Internship (Mellon/NASI)
These 8-week residential paid summer internships provide opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research, to explore career possibilities in archives and special collections, and to learn about advanced training in Native American and Indigenous Studies and related fields.
Award amount:
- $3,000 stipend
- Travel & lodging expenses
Application deadline: March 3, 2025
Indigenous Community Research Fund
Indigenous Community Research Fund
This fund supports travel for an individual or a group of people seeking to examine materials at the APS to further Indigenous community-based priorities. This program is for Indigenous community research by community members, such as elders, teachers, knowledge keepers, tribal officials, traditional leaders, museum and archive professionals, independent scholars, and others, regardless of academic background.
Award amount: variable
Applications accepted until funds are exhausted for the year
APS Grants & Fellowships
There are many additional grants and fellowships offered by the APS that could support Indigenous research. Several of these are highlighted below. Please visit our Grants and Fellowships pages for a full list of opportunities.
Highlights
Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships
One- to three-month fellowships are available for Ph.D. candidates, holders of the Ph.D., and degreed independent scholars, within any field of study that requires using the collections of the APS's Library & Museum.
Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research
The Lewis and Clark Fund encourages exploratory field studies for the collection of specimens and data and to provide the imaginative stimulus that accompanies direct observation.
Phillips Fund for Native American Research
The Phillips Fund of the American Philosophical Society provides grants for research in Native American linguistics, ethnohistory, and the history of studies of Native Americans, in the continental United States and Canada.