Call for Applications: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) Grants Academy

Deadline: September 15, 2026

Through a new partnership between the Humanities Research Center (HRC) and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), we invite applications for the new Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) Grants Academy (October 2026–May 2027).

Do you have a project you'd like to fund but haven't found the right support to get a proposal across the finish line? Do you have an idea but need guidance about how best to obtain funding for it? The AHSS Grants Academy is a new year-long program for faculty in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, designed to meet the realities of AHSS grant-seeking, which, unlike in the STEM and biomedical fields, is oriented around narrative-driven proposals, single-PI projects, and fellowships.

What You'll Get

A cohort of 8–10 peers across Arts, Education, CHS, the Wilder School, and Social Work
Six structured sessions (fall and spring) covering the AHSS funding landscape, budget development, proposal narrative and voice, relationship-building with program officers, and communicating research impact
One-on-one support from OVPRI research development staff throughout the year, plus one 30-minute consultation session with a research consultant.
A three-tier proposal review process: peer feedback, a senior faculty mentor, and external grant review support before you submit
A mock panel review workshop to provide feedback to your proposal before it goes out the door
$500 in professional development funds upon program completion and proposal submission

The Details

Cohort size: Up to 10 faculty
Format: Mix of virtual and in-person sessions
Fall sessions: Oct 2, Nov 6, Dec 11 (9–11 a.m.)
Spring sessions: Feb 5, March 5, April 2 (9–11 a.m.)
Cost to participate: None

Cohort Expectations

AHSS Grants Academy participants will be expected to:

Attend all cohort sessions
Work with a senior faculty mentor who will meet with you at least once a month
Actively engage with cohort peers, including giving and receiving proposal feedback
Submit a complete proposal for external review ahead of the required deadline
Submit a completed proposal to an identified funding opportunity within 12 months of program start
Provide feedback for program evaluation

Application Details

Who Should Apply: Faculty at any career stage with:

A concrete project in mind (at any stage in development)
An identified funding opportunity (grant or fellowship) with a deadline within the next 12 months
A publication record or history of past creative work appropriate to your career stage and the funding opportunity
The ability to commit roughly 6–8 hours per month to program activities, and departmental endorsement to protect that time

How to Apply

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on September 15, 2026, as a single pdf document to cstanciu@vcu.edu (subject line: AHSS Grants Academy). The application must contain the following:

Faculty applicant information: Name, Affiliation, Rank, Discipline, College/School
In 500 words maximum, please describe the project you propose to work on this year, including its current status (existing or future project) and your goals for the work (e.g., specific outcomes, professional development, promotion).
Proposal submission information — identified funder, name of the funding opportunity, any collaborators, and (if known), the date the final proposal is due
Associate Dean for Research in your college/school information: Name and contact information
Confirmation that the 6 dates listed above work for your schedule.
Required supporting documents (uploaded as part of the single PDF document):
Full faculty applicant CV (not an agency biosketch)
CV(s) for any co-PI, co-I, or collaborating partner(s), if applicable
Research Mentor at VCU (if you don’t have one, we’ll help you find one!)
A brief email from your department chair confirming your time to participate is protected.