The Louisville Institute’s First Book Grant Program for Minority Scholars seeks to assist junior, non-tenured religion scholars of color to complete a major research and book project, focusing on some issue pertaining to American Christianity related to the priorities of the Louisville Institute. All too often such scholars are asked to assume a heavy set of institutional responsibilities that can make it more difficult to complete the scholarly work necessary to secure tenure. As a response, this grant program seeks to enable scholars to spend an entire academic year devoted to that research project while free of other professional responsibilities.

In keeping with its fundamental mission, the Louisville Institute is especially interested in identifying and supporting scholars of color who seek through their academic work to be in conversation with church leaders and to strengthen their faith communities.

Eligibility

Applicants must

• be members of a racial/ethnic minority group,
• have an earned doctoral degree (normally the Ph.D. or Th.D.),
• be a pre-tenured faculty member in a full-time, tenure-track position at an accredited institution of higher education (seminary, college, or university) in North America,
• be able to negotiate a full academic year free from teaching and committee responsibilities, and
• be engaged in a scholarly research project leading to the publication of their first (or second) book, focusing on some aspect of Christianity in North America.

(For purposes of this grant program, the term “racial/ethnic minority group” includes African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, and Pacific Islanders.)

Applicants may not submit applications to more than one Louisville Institute grant program within the same grant year (June 1-May 31).

Application and Selection Procedures

Application materials may be requested from the Louisville Institute or downloaded from this web site. All materials must be postmarked no later than February 15 each year. Grant recipients will be notified in late March, and awards must be used during the following academic year. 

Applications include:

• Applicant Information and Project Summary Form, 

• Narrative statement of approximately 5-10 pages (double-spaced and typed in a 12 point font, 2000 word limit) that succinctly describes the research project,

• Selective bibliography (2-3 pages double-spaced),

• Copy of your current Curriculum Vitae or résumé (no more than 4 pages),

• A letter from the dean or chairperson confirming release from teaching responsibilities in the event of a grant, and 

• Two letters of recommendation commenting on the project and the applicant.

Please submit one copy of the complete proposal, using paper clips, without the use of staples and mail to the office of the Louisville Institute by the appropriate deadline. These materials, except for the Applicant Information and Project Summary Form (if submitted online) and the letters of recommendation, should be assembled in the order listed above.  The letters of recommendation should be sent by the writer directly to the Louisville Institute by the application deadline.

Application materials should demonstrate both the applicant’s proficiency in the academy and commitment to her or his faith community. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:

• the intellectual quality of the research and writing project and its potential to contribute to scholarship in religion, and
• the potential contribution of the applicant’s research to the vitality of North American Christianity.

Grantees will be chosen by a selection committee including at least two members of the Board of the Louisville Institute and two other appropriate scholars.

Duration of Award and Stipend

The grant amount requested should not exceed $40,000.  Awards for sabbatical leaves of less than a full academic year will not be made.  The Louisville Institute will pay the grant directly to the institutions of those selected, but no indirect costs to the institutions will be allowed in this particular grant program.

Conditions

Grantees must be released from all teaching and committee responsibilities during the award year, and applications should include a letter from the appropriate dean or chairperson confirming that the applicant will be released from those responsibilities if receiving an award. Grantees may not accept other awards that provide a major stipend during the tenure of this grant except insofar as necessary to bring the sabbatical year salary up to the grantee’s full salary level. Although the Louisville Institute First Book Grant Program for Minority Scholars has no residence requirement, grantees may be asked to participate in one consultation at the Louisville Institute in the year of their award or the year immediately following. Travel and lodging expenses for this meeting would be covered by the Louisville Institute.