Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University Grant

The Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University administers an annual grant program designed to advance innovative, public-facing historical work. As part of Villanova University, a private academic institution, the Center focuses on promoting scholarship that bridges academic historical inquiry with broader public engagement. This seventh annual grant cycle coincides with the Center’s tenth anniversary and emphasizes a central guiding question: what constitutes history in the public interest. The program reflects the Center’s commitment to supporting projects that critically examine how history interacts with public life, civic identity, and collective understanding. The purpose of the grant is to fund projects that not only produce public outputs but also interrogate the meaning and function of history in public contexts. The Center prioritizes proposals that place this conceptual question at the core of their methodology and outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to explore themes such as the role of history in defining publics, its relationship to social welfare, the political and cultural stakes of historical narratives, and how historical inquiry contributes to law, governance, and collective memory. Projects must demonstrate a clear engagement with professional historical methods and standards while addressing issues such as equity, justice, sustainability, and power across diverse geographies and time periods. Funding is available for up to eight projects, with individual awards of up to 7500 dollars. The program is designed to support projects at various stages, from initial concept development to final implementation. Allowable uses include the creation of public-facing outputs such as podcasts, documentary films, exhibitions, workshops, and other forms of accessible communication. However, the grant explicitly excludes funding for dissertations or traditional academic monographs. Indirect costs are capped at five percent of the total award, and recipients are responsible for complying with applicable tax regulations related to stipend income. Eligibility for the program is limited to individuals and nonprofit institutions located within the United States, although projects may incorporate global perspectives and international collaborations. The Center encourages applications from diverse and underrepresented communities and welcomes interdisciplinary teams. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to execute their proposed work and provide a detailed plan for public engagement, including clearly defined audiences and communication strategies. The application process requires submission of a single PDF document not exceeding fifteen pages, along with a completed cover sheet submitted separately. Required components include a project title, a 250 word abstract, a detailed project description outlining purpose and contribution, a plan of execution with deliverables and partners, a one page budget, and resumes or CVs of key participants totaling no more than ten pages. Applications must be submitted via email to the Center’s designated address. Proposals are evaluated based on several criteria, including the applicant’s track record, the originality and importance of the project, alignment with the Center’s mission, feasibility, and adherence to disciplinary standards of historical inquiry. Applications are reviewed by an internal committee, with award decisions expected by the last week of October 2026 and notifications issued in November 2026. Funds are disbursed in a single payment by December 31, 2026. Grantees are required to participate in public dissemination activities, including allowing their projects to be featured in Center communications, acknowledging the Center’s support, and engaging in a panel or discussion event between Fall 2027 and Fall 2028. These requirements reinforce the program’s emphasis on public engagement and the dissemination of historical knowledge beyond academic settings.

Ensure strong alignment with the theme of history in the public interest; emphasize originality and feasibility; clearly define public engagement strategy