Administered by the American Council of Learned Societies, the Public Impact Grants support projects that make Buddhist knowledge — art, texts, traditions, and practice — accessible to broader publics and communities of practice. Funded projects have included podcasts, public workshops, interactive archives, translation projects with community engagement, and heritage restoration with local craftsmen. This is a genuinely global competition: ACLS states there are no restrictions on the location of work or the citizenship/residence of applicants, and explicitly encourages scholars affiliated with universities and monastic institutions in Asia to apply.
Why it is notable: an ACLS grant with worldwide eligibility and no citizenship bar (rare among U.S. humanities funders), funding public-facing humanities work rather than dissertations — podcasts, archives, translations, and community projects qualify.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Project costs from US$10,000 to US$50,000: stipends for PIs, co-PIs, collaborators, and contributors; travel; convening costs; consultant services; staff training; related office expenses; direct costs such as office space and administrative assistance.
Up to 5% of the total grant for indirect administrative costs (fiduciary host institution).
Not a personal salary outside the project; funds are managed by the fiduciary host institution.
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Scholarly standingfor Grant
This grant is offered for public-engagement projects in Buddhist Studies — not for degree study, and academic publications alone are not supported (translation projects are strongly encouraged).
Who can apply
All nationalities — official ACLS announcement: "These are global competitions... The remaining competitions have no restrictions as to the location of work proposed or the citizenship/residence of applicants. All eligible scholars worldwide are welcome to apply." ACLS strongly encourages scholars affiliated with universities and monastic institutions in Asia to apply.
Experience
Scholarly engagement with Buddhist Studies expected — projects must meaningfully incorporate academic research on Buddhist knowledge, culture, or traditions, and prioritize public engagement or collaboration with specific Buddhist communities. No fixed years-of-experience bar published.
Language Certificate
None required — but all applications must be submitted in English; final products may be in any language.
Other Certificates
None specified.
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
All nationalities and all project locations eligible (official — global competition).
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Scope
project must prioritize public engagement or collaboration with specific Buddhist communities.
02
Scholarship
project must meaningfully incorporate academic research on Buddhist knowledge, culture, or traditions (humanities/social sciences).
03
Deliverable
must result in a public program, resource, or experience (not an academic publication alone).
04
Documents
OFA application, institutional statement from the fiduciary host's senior official, letters of support from named community partners/leaders, detailed budget.
05
Language
application in English; final products may be in any language.
06
Fiduciary
funds paid to an official fiduciary host institution (not to individuals directly).
Document checklist
01Online application via the ACLS OFA system (proposal narrative, work plan, budget).
02Institutional statement from a senior official of the fiduciary host institution.
03Letters of support from relevant community partners, cultural institutions, or community leaders.
04Detailed budget ($10,000–$50,000; up to 5% indirect costs).
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Not a study program — no student visa.
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Read the official competition page and the
ACLS FAQ for the Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies.
→
02
Design a project meeting the three tests
public engagement/collaboration with Buddhist communities; real academic research content; a public program, resource, or experience as the deliverable.
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03
Secure a fiduciary host institution (college
university, nonprofit, or community organization) and its senior official's institutional statement of support.
↓
06
Submit the complete application through the OFA
system no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time, November 20, 2026. Result notifications: late Spring 2027 (reviewer feedback available on request).
←
05
Prepare the proposal
work plan, and budget ($10,000–$50,000, plus up to 5% indirect) via the ACLS Online Fellowship Administration (OFA) system.
←
04
Obtain letters of support from the community partners
cultural institutions, or community leaders named in the proposal.
↓
07
Online application via the ACLS OFA system (proposal narrative
work plan, budget).
→
08
Institutional statement from a senior official of
the fiduciary host institution.
→
09
Letters of support from relevant community partners
cultural institutions, or community leaders.
↓
10
Detailed budget ($10,000–$50,000
up to 5% indirect costs).
Application milestones
20 Nov 2026
Application deadline
2026
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official American Council of Learned Societies ,… platform.
Are these competitions really open worldwide? A: Yes — ACLS states these are global competitions with no restrictions on the location of work or the citizenship/residence of applicants (only the separWhat is the deadline for the Public Impact Grants? A: November 20, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.How much can I request? A: From $10,000 to $50,000, with up to 5% of the total available for indirect administrative costs.How long is the award period? A: Up to 12 months, starting between August 1, 2027 and December 1, 2027.Can the grant pay people? A: Yes — funds may be used as stipends for PIs, co-PIs, collaborators, and contributors, plus travel, convening, consultants, training, and direct costs.Do I need a university to apply? A: Funds must flow through an official fiduciary host institution (college, university, nonprofit, or community organization) with a senior official's statement of supMust community partners be involved? A: Applicants must include letters of support from the relevant community partners, cultural institutions, or community leaders named in the proposal.When will I hear back? A: Notifications go out in late Spring 2027, and eligible applicants may request reviewer feedback.
Need document or attestation help?
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United States · American Council of Learned Societies ,…