#United States #New York #Mellon Foundation #ACLS Grants #Digital Justice

2025 ACLS Digital Justice Grants Open for Applications

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has announced that applications are now open for the 2025 competition of the ACLS Digital Justice Grants Program. With funding generously provided by the Mellon Foundation, this initiative supports digital projects within the humanities and social sciences. The program's primary focus is on critically engaging with the interests and histories of marginalized groups, particularly people of color, through the ethical utilization of digital tools and methodologies.

Grant Categories and Funding Ranges

The ACLS Digital Justice Grants offer two distinct categories:
1. Digital Justice Seed Grants: These are aimed at nascent projects with funding allocated between $10,000 to $25,000.
2. Digital Justice Development Grants: Designed for projects that have made progress beyond the prototype stage, these grants range from $50,000 to $100,000.

Applications for both grant types are due by November 20, 2025, at 9:00 PM EST.

Objectives of the Digital Justice Grants

The main objective of the ACLS Digital Justice Grants is to tackle inequities in access to digital tools and support among scholars. This initiative seeks to empower individuals working with underutilized or understudied source materials and those affiliated with institutions that lack adequate support for digital projects. By promoting inclusivity and sustainability, the program aims to broaden participation in the digital transformation of the humanities. All grant recipients are eligible for financial planning support from the Nonprofit Finance Fund, ensuring long-term sustainability for their projects.

Programs and Activities Supported by the Grants

ACLS encourages projects that involve the following:

• - A focus on the interests and histories of marginalized communities, which include but are not limited to: Black, Latinx, Indigenous communities; people with disabilities; and LGBTQ+ individuals.
• - Enhanced openness towards new knowledge sources and innovative approaches to content development and knowledge sharing.
• - Capacity-building efforts like educational projects incorporating digital humanities methodologies and community-engaged projects that require technological infrastructure.

Seed Grants

These grants are intended for exploring or experimenting with novel materials, methodologies, and research projects through activities such as planning workshops and prototyping.

Development Grants

These grants target projects that are ready to advance past the proof-of-concept stage and need to outline the subsequent financial, technological, and intellectual phases of their development.

Application Support

To assist prospective applicants, the ACLS is conducting a series of webinars throughout the application period. This includes general sessions with program staff, as well as specialized webinars addressing specific topics like data ethics and stewardship. The first of these sessions will occur on August 26, 2025, at 2:00 PM EDT.

Interested applicants are encouraged to register for the webinars and refer to supplementary materials available on the ACLS website. Applications must be submitted via the ACLS online fellowship and grant administration system before the deadline mentioned above.

For more detailed information regarding eligibility and application requirements, prospective applicants can visit the ACLS FAQ page or contact the program directly via email.

Conclusion

The American Council of Learned Societies, established a century ago, continues to promote the importance of knowledge as a public good. By supporting Digital Justice Grants, ACLS is committed to empowering marginalized communities and enhancing the diversity of methodologies in scholarly research. The Mellon Foundation, recognized as a key player in supporting the arts and humanities, further aligns with this mission, promoting communities that foster meaningful expression and critical thinking. The 2025 ACLS Digital Justice Grant initiative represents a significant step towards rectifying historical inequalities in academic scholarship and access to digital resources.