Advance Research That Strengthens a Free and Open Society
IHS funds independent research on digital governance, nuclear energy, and deliberative democracy to advance understanding of free and open societies.
Funder: Institute for Humane Studies
Due Dates: July 1, 2026 (Digital Governance as Liberal Experimentation, Nuclear Energy and the Challenge of a Growing Grid) | July 10, 2026 (Deliberative Democracy and the Effects of Deliberation)
Funding Amounts: Most awards up to $20,000; larger grants considered for exceptional projects; smaller awards ($5,000 or less) typical for some RFPs; based on project need.
Summary: Supports independent, rigorous research on the institutional, economic, and cultural foundations of a free and open society, with targeted RFPs on digital governance, nuclear energy, and deliberative democracy.
Key Information: No institutional overhead or indirect costs allowed; open to scholars at accredited institutions regardless of prior IHS affiliation.
Description
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) offers targeted research funding through Requests for Proposals (RFPs) focused on the key foundations of a free and open society. Current RFPs include topics such as Digital Governance as Liberal Experimentation, Nuclear Energy and the Challenge of a Growing Grid, and Deliberative Democracy and the Effects of Deliberation. The program emphasizes academic independence, allowing researchers full control over project design, analysis, and publication.
Research deliverables may include peer-reviewed articles, policy white papers, or shareable datasets. IHS encourages proposals that bridge disciplines and welcomes both applied and theoretical scholarship. Awardees are often invited to participate in follow-up programming or workshops to share and refine their research.
