The Franklin Research Grants support research leading to publication in any field. The American Philosophical Society funds eligible travel to libraries or archives, research materials, fieldwork, and laboratory expenses.
Awards go to individual scholars rather than institutions. Depending on citizenship, residence, and U.S. institutional affiliation, recipients may conduct the funded work in the United States or elsewhere.
Benefits & funding
- Up to $7,000 is paid to the individual applicant for eligible research costs.
- Eligible uses include research travel, microfilm or equivalent materials, fieldwork, and laboratory expenses.
- Funding cannot replace salary, cover work-at-home living costs, pay assistants or consultants, buy permanent equipment, or support conferences, publication, overhead, or tax payments.
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a doctorate or have produced scholarly publications of doctoral character and quality; Ph.D. candidates are ineligible, apart from applicants merely waiting for an earned degree to be conferred.
- Independent scholars and faculty at two-year or four-year institutions may apply, and awards are made only to individuals.
- U.S. citizens and U.S. residents may use an award at home or abroad; foreign nationals not affiliated with a U.S. institution may apply only for research carried out in the United States.
- Previous Franklin recipients may reapply after two years, and each applicant may submit one request to either annual deadline.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Register or log in through the APS online application portal and select the Franklin competition.
- 2Complete the project statement, bibliography, budget and justification, education, publications, language skills, prior grants, and related application fields.
- 3Enter two supporting experts; both should be outside the applicant’s institution, and no more than one may be a mentor.
- 4Submit the online application by October 1 or December 1, and ensure both letters of support arrive by the same chosen deadline.
Program timeline
October 1, 2026
Application and two letters due for a January 2027 decision; funded work may begin in February 2027.
December 1, 2026
Second application and letter deadline for a March 2027 decision; funded work may begin in April 2027.
Latest stated end month for work funded through either deadline.
January 2028