The Louisville Institute

The Louisville Institute seeks to identify and support ecclesially-engaged academics and intellectually-astute pastoral and religious leaders whose scholarly research work can contribute to the vitality of Christianity in North America. The Sabbatical Grants for Researchers program supports year-long sabbatical research projects that can contribute to our enhanced understanding of important issues concerning Christian faith and life, pastoral leadership, and/or religious institutions.

Eligibility

The Sabbatical Grant for Researchers program is open to both academic and pastoral leaders. While pastoral leaders are eligible to apply to the SGR program, their proposals will likely be more competitive in the Pastoral Study Project program.

Applicants must have earned the terminal degree in their chosen vocation (e.g. M.Div., Ph.D., Th.D.). For pastors, this is typically the Master of Divinity degree; for academics it is usually the Ph.D. or Th.D. All applicants must demonstrate a capacity to complete the proposed project in a timely fashion. Applicants may not submit applications to more than one Louisville Institute grant program within the same grant year (June 1-May 31).

Proposed projects may employ a variety of methodological perspectives, including, but not limited to, historical, systematic and practical theology, the social sciences, history, ethics, or biblical studies. They may also be interdisciplinary in nature. But all applicants should make clear how their project will contribute to the life of the churches in North America.

Questions about eligibility may be sent to kliechty@louisville-institute.org

Application and Selection Procedure

Application forms may be downloaded from the Louisville Institute web site. Applications include:

• Applicant Information and Project Summary Form
• Narrative statement of approximately 5-7 pages (12-point and double-spaced). Describe your proposal in detail using the following outline:
  • Concern/Question: What is the primary concern or question being addressed?
  • Rationale: Why is the proposed topic important to you and to the church? What are the consequences if this issue is not investigated and responded to?
  • Plan: How do you intend to study and investigate the concern? Include a description of the way in which you will conduct the inquiry: bibliography of the main sources to be read, field work if appropriate, travel and other resources necessary to complete the project.
  • Dissemination: Who is your audience for this research? How do you plan to share your research with them? What oral forms of dissemination fit the project (e.g. sermons, education venues, speeches, conference papers)? What written forms of dissemination fit the project (e.g., essay, article, book, other possible publication venues)?
  • Impact: What personal, academic, and spiritual impacts do you see for yourself in engaging in this project? What benefits will come to your institution and to the larger church?
  • Timeline: What is the schedule and timeline for the project?
• Selective bibliography of the main sources to be read (2-3 pages double-spaced)
• Detailed budget and budget narrative – see Guide for Budget Preparation
• Copy of your current Curriculum Vitae or résumé (no more than 4 pages).
• One letter of recommendation from someone who can speak knowledgeably about both you and your project. The letter writer should send this letter directly to the Louisville Institute office by the October 1 application deadline. (To help ensure that your completed application is accessible to the Louisville Institute, please fill out your application in either Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.)

With the following exceptions, we prefer that you send most application materials by either uploading documents through our website or by e-mail attachments in either *.pdf or *.doc format to kliechty@louisville-institute.org by the annual deadline.

• The letter of recommendation should be sent by the letter writer directly to the Louisville Institute by the application deadline. While it is our preference to receive them by hard copy on letterhead, letters will be accepted on letterhead by email attachment in *.pdf or *.doc format or by fax, with hard copy to follow.
• If you choose to send your entire proposal in hard copy, please assemble it in the order listed above using paper clips and not staples and mail to the office of the Louisville Institute by the annual deadline of November 1.

Duration of Award and Stipend

Research periods supported by this grant may range from nine months to one year. The grant amount requested should not exceed $40,000. Normally, the Louisville Institute will pay the grant directly to the institutions of those selected. The Louisville Institute allows up to 10 percent indirect costs based on the total direct costs of the project.

Conditions

Generally applicants should be released from all professional duties during the grant period. Academic applicants eligible for a sabbatical leave and/or a release from all teaching responsibilities during the grant year should indicate that fact in their proposal. Pastors should be released from all employment duties during the entire grant period. Academic and pastoral applicants who cannot be released from all professional duties should indicate in their proposals how they plan to devote sufficient time to the proposed project. In many cases, for example, this may require a course buyout or some other reduction in teaching load or a buyout of a certain number of Sundays for pastors. Louisville Institute grantees may not simultaneously hold two grants from Lilly Endowment-funded organizations that total more than $45,000.