ACLS Announces Final Recipients of Intention Foundry Microgrants for Scholars' Equity and Well-Being

ACLS Awards Final Cycle of Intention Foundry Microgrants

On March 10, 2026, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) revealed the recipients of the last round of the Intention Foundry Learned Society Extended Engagement Microgrants. This cycle saw robust participation, with 15 single-society projects and five multi-society collaborations selected for funding. The initiative addresses the pressing social, intellectual, and financial challenges that scholars—especially those from marginalized groups—face today.

The awarded projects span a range of innovative approaches, including workshops that explore academic freedom and combating censorship, models for collaborative mentorship, and the creation of digital resources that safeguard endangered curricula. Notably, the expansion of eligibility this year to all ACLS member societies reflects a dedication to enhancing support for initiatives that focus on equity, justice, and overall well-being within the scholarly community.

Keyanah Nurse, the Senior Program Officer for Intentional Design for an Equitable Academy (IDEA) Programs and the driving force behind the Intention Foundry initiative, emphasized the microgrants' mission. “The spirit behind these microgrants has always been to center the needs of those scholars most marginalized in their fields,” Nurse stated. This final call for proposals uniquely encourages projects that aim not just to address individual needs but to create significant cultural shifts within their respective societies through mentoring, public engagement, and advocacy efforts.

Among the recipients of this round are well-regarded societies such as the American Folklore Society, the American Political Science Association, and the American Sociological Association, each receiving grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000. Multi-society collaborations also secured funding, with pairs like the African Studies Association and the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies being spotlighted.

In addition to these larger grants, 11 societies are set to receive seed funding amountsing to $2,500–$5,000 to further develop their proposed initiatives. This financial support constitutes a crucial investment in academic infrastructures that continually evolve to support scholars facing the historical precarity of their academic jobs.

Founded a century ago, the ACLS is a prominent nonprofit organization representing 81 scholarly bodies across the humanities and social sciences. The council maintains that knowledge should be accessible to all, and its initiatives reflect a commitment to diversifying scholarship. By collaborating with various institutions, associations, and individuals, ACLS strives to bolster the foundational structure necessary for the growth of scholarly knowledge.

The funding for this initiative has been generously provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which advocates for the arts and humanities as essential components of society. The foundation is dedicated to fostering communities enriched by meaningful experiences and critical thinking, asserting that everyone should have access to the beauty and intellectual engagement offered by the arts and humanities.

With the conclusion of the Intention Foundry’s funding cycle, questions remain surrounding the future of equitable support for scholars as they navigate systemic inequities in academia. Yet, the ACLS remains committed to transforming the landscape of higher education through innovative projects and collaborations that honor diverse voices and experiences. The final incubator convening for the program is slated for June 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to reshape scholarly engagement for the better.

Thus, the final round of microgrant awards not only continues the conversation about equity in scholarship but also fuels necessary actions that can lead to meaningful change in academia, making this notable initiative a cornerstone for future collaboration and support for the scholarly community.