Through its Higher Learning grantmaking area, the Mellon Foundation has announced a new “Call for Concepts.” This year’s call invites humanities-grounded ideas for research and curricular projects focused on any of three themes:

Cultures of U.S. Democracy
Environmental Justice Studies
Social Justice and Disciplinary Knowledge

Grants may be for $250,000–$500,000 over a duration of up to three years. The University of Minnesota may submit only a limited number of applications, and the Institute for Advanced Study will coordinate the University’s internal review, selection, and endorsement process.

Overview of Process & Deadlines

Detailed registration and applications instructions are below.

Step 1: Register with the Mellon Foundation. Deadline: Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm CST
Step 2: Submit concept to the IAS. Deadline: Friday, January 12, 2024 at 11:59 pm CST. The IAS will select applications for submission to the Mellon Foundation and arrange for endorsement letters.
Step 3: Submit application to the Mellon Foundation. Deadline: Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 2:00 pm CST
Step 4: Submit proposal to the Mellon Foundation. Deadline: October or November 2024. Finalists will be invited by the Mellon Foundation in Summer 2024 to develop proposals for submission to the December 2024 Mellon Board meeting.

Eligibility

The PI should be a tenure-track or tenured faculty member or dean in a program or department in the humanities or humanistic social sciences.
Faculty from the Duluth or Twin Cities campuses are eligible to apply as PI. The University of Minnesota may put forward no more than three applications per eligible system campus.
Architecture (historical or theoretical), Musicology, Performance Studies, Urban Studies, and others at the U of M that might fall into a professional college, yet may incorporate humanities-based perspectives and methodologies, are included.

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Register with the Mellon Foundation

Deadline: November 30, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. CT p.m.

You must register with the Mellon Foundation through their Fluxx portal system. If you do not register with the Mellon Foundation by this deadline, you will not be able to apply for this opportunity.

Information about Mellon registration can be found on page 4 in the Higher Learning Call for Concepts Guidelines Document
Use the information provided in this document to complete the Mellon registration.

Complete Step 1: Register with Mellon

Step 2: Submit Concept to the IAS

Deadline: Friday, January 12, 2024 at 11:59 pm CST

Submissions should be made via InfoReady
Select one of the three topic areas: Cultures of U.S. Democracy, Environmental Justice Studies, or Social Justice and Disciplinary Knowledge
Provide an approximately 1,000-word description of your potential project, including the rationale and specific activities it might involve. The note should clearly state the necessity of the planned work, its goals, potential impact, and the fitness of the institution and/or network to the proposed work. (8,000 characters, including spaces, max)
Enter an estimated budget total for your project. In the description field, provide a list of the types of expenses the grant would fund – e.g., stipends, course releases, fellowships, workshops, etc. It is not necessary to provide estimates. (800 characters, including spaces, max)

A selection committee convened by the IAS will choose up to three concepts per eligible system campus (Duluth or Twin Cities) to be submitted to the Mellon Foundation. Notification will be sent by February 1, 2024. The IAS will arrange for the required letters of endorsement from the Provost.

Complete Step 2: Submit Concept to the IAS

Step 3: Submit Application to the Mellon Foundation

Deadline: February 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. CT

As necessary, revise your 1,000-word concept statement and draft budget justification.
Develop a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement (approximately 250 words, no more than 2,000 characters, including spaces). Applicant institutions should have a demonstrated track record of successfully pursuing DEI efforts on their campuses. Provide a brief paragraph outlining those efforts. Optionally, you may also provide a website link.
Develop a Humanities statement (approximately 250 words, or no more than 2,000 characters, including spaces). Applicant institutions should have a demonstrated track record of excellence in the humanities. Provide a brief paragraph outlining those efforts. Optionally, you may also provide a website link.
Finalize application statement, complete application form, and submit application through the Mellon Foundation’s Fluxx portal by February 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. CT.

Review Application Requirements for Step 3 on page 4

Step 4: Submit Proposal to the Mellon Foundation

Finalists will be invited by the Mellon Foundation in Summer 2024 to develop proposals for submission to the December 2024 Mellon Board meeting. IAS staff can assist with this process.

Mellon Foundation “Call for Concepts”

Overview of Process & Deadlines

Eligibility

Institute for Advanced Study

Contact

Affiliation

Twin Cities Campus

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Mellon Foundation “Call for Concepts”

Overview of Process & Deadlines

Eligibility

Contact

Affiliation

Connect

Twin Cities Campus