Franco Institute Fellowships & Grants

The Franco Institute offers several grant programs that support faculty research and creative work. Click on each grant opportunity below for details regarding eligibility, restrictions, deadlines, and review criteria. 

Projects that have not received Franco Institute grants will receive priority consideration. The Institute may decline additional funding requests for projects that have already received significant support.

Arts projects

  • Large Creative & Performing Arts Grant

    Up to $25,000

    November 1 and March 1

    These grants, awarded twice annually, support arts and creative practice projects in any medium that are directed by faculty at Notre Dame.

  • Small Creative and Performing Arts Grant

    Up to $4,000

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    These grants, awarded on a rolling basis throughout the academic year, support arts and creative practice projects in any medium that are directed by faculty at the University of Notre Dame.

Research projects

  • Annual Research Theme Grant

    Up to $5,000

    Rolling while funds remain available

    Grants of up to $5,000 to support research projects that engage the Institute's annual research theme

  • Folger Library/ Newberry Library Travel Grant

    Varies

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    Faculty and graduate students may apply for travel funds to support transportation and, when necessary, lodging for research at the Newberry Library or Folger Library or participation in their scholarly programs.

  • Global Micro-Residencies

    Up to $10,000

    November 1 and April 1

    Grants of up to $7,000 support one-to-two-week stays for Arts & Letters faculty at institutions outside the U.S. (with an additional $3,000 available to support a grad student research assistant or a visit to ND for a scholar from the host institutions.)

  • Large Research Grant

    Up to $25,000

    November 1 and March 1

    These internal grants can help fund preliminary work or data collection that may enable faculty to be more competitive for external grants and fellowships

  • Research Innovation Collaboratives

    $25,000 per year plus one course release for each PI in Arts & Letters

    April 1

    The Franco Institute invites proposals for Research Innovation Collaboratives to begin work during the 2026-2027 academic year.

  • Small Research Grant

    Up to $5,000

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    This grant category is for proposals from regular faculty for research travel, undergraduate summer student research assistance, research materials, and other costs of carrying out research

Faculty Fellowships

  • Humanities Fellowship

    One semester of leave, up to $5,000 in research funds, and a manuscript workshop

    February 1

    Franco Humanities Fellowships provide course relief and funding to support full-time research.

  • Mid-Career Fellowship

    One semester of teaching relief

    February 1

    Franco Mid-Career Fellowships support associate and full professors in any discipline in Arts & Letters aiming to develop new skills for a future research project.

  • Public Fellowship

    One course release and up to $5,000 in research funds

    February 1

    Franco Public Fellowships support publicly engaged scholarship by individual faculty working in any discipline in Arts & Letters.

Conferences and Events

  • Event Co-Sponsorship Grant

    up to $10,000

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    Event Co-Sponsorship Grants of up to $10,000 support lectures and annual meetings co-sponsored by another unit at the University of Notre Dame.

  • International Conference Travel Grant

    Up to $1,500

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    Partial support is available to faculty members who present a paper or poster at a professionally organized conference located outside of the United States.

  • Large Henkels Conference Grant

    Up to $25,000

    November 1 and March 1

    Grants of up to $25,000 to cover the costs of: an academic conference on campus or in one of the University’s Global Gateways, a series of lectures or performances, or a single, significant visiting lecturer or performer.

  • Small Henkels Lecture or Mini-Conference Grant

    Up to $3,500

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    The Franco Institute can provide partial support (up to $3,500) for academic conferences or lectures held on the Notre Dame campus.

Training and Professional Development

Publication support

  • Expanding Research Access Grant

    up to $10,000

    November 1 and April 1

    These internal grants may support open access publishing, translations, and diverse scholarly products designed to expand the reach of scholarly research to the wider public.

  • Publication Grants

    Variable, depending on activity

    Rolling until May 31 while funding remains available

    The Franco Institute offers grants to assist with the publication of peer-reviewed scholarly monographs. Grants are available to defray publication costs, subsidize the acquisition of images and permissions, and support professional indexing