Louisville Institute First Book Grant for Scholars of Color

Eligibility

Louisville Institute First Book Grant for Scholars of Color, with an application deadline in January, offers numerous awards of $55000 each. Ethnicity requirements apply.

Description

The First Book Grant for Scholars of Color supports academic sabbatical leave for research projects about Christian faith and life, the practice of ministry, religious trends and movements, Christian and other faith-based institutions, and religion and social issues. The intention of the First Book Grant is to help early-career scholars of color complete research and writing for publication of their first book (or a second book, if necessary for tenure). We are especially interested in projects that demonstrate a desire to bridge the North American church and academy, and preference is given to studies already underway (e.g., projects under contract or consideration with a publisher). Applicants should be pre-tenured faculty members working in full-time, tenure-track or renewable contract/continual academic positions at accredited institutions of higher education (seminary, theological school, or college/university) in the United States or Canada. Eligible candidates must have earned a terminal research degree, typically a PhD or ThD. They must be able to negotiate release time of up to a full academic year free from teaching and administrative responsibilities; and are engaged in a scholarly research project leading to publication of their first book, or a second book if necessary for tenure at their institution. Candidates may work in various fields such as history, systematic and practical theology, social science, ethics, biblical studies, etc., or be interdisciplinary. Applicants must submit general information about their project, which may include Project core question, Project summary/abstract, Project snapshot, Proposal keyword tags, and Budget overview. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, due on January 22, 2026. The first recommendation letter should come from a colleague within or outside the applicant's institution who can discuss the applicant's reliability and capacity to carry out the proposed project, how the applicant's previous work demonstrates skills needed to conduct this study and coordinate this grant, and how the project bridges the North American church and academy. The second recommendation letter should come from someone who can assess the feasibility and significance of the applicant's project, specifically the viability and potential of the project and its plan, the project's broader academic and/or ecclesial significance, the distinctiveness of this project in light of what others are doing or have already done, and why this proposed project matters to the North American church and/or how it bridges the church and academy. Please visit the fellowship's website for more information.