[Henry Luce Foundation](https://www.hluce.org)

May 2026 (application opens) | June 2026 (application closes)

Typical fellowship: $75,000 over 12 months; awarded annually to up to 10 fellows.

Supports Indigenous leaders in the U.S. to advance and share knowledge benefiting their communities.

Sixth cohort call expected in spring/summer 2026; program administered by First Nations Development Institute.

--- ## Description The fellowship is designed to empower Indigenous knowledge makers and keepers serving Indigenous communities across the United States. Launched in 2018 and administered by the First Nations Development Institute, the program recognizes a broad spectrum of intellectual leadership—including spiritual leaders, artists, scientists, health professionals, academics, curators, writers, and policy makers—whose work is committed to advancing, preserving, and sharing Indigenous knowledge in diverse forms. Fellows are selected for their commitment to community-engaged knowledge creation and dissemination, with the ultimate goal of transforming and strengthening Indigenous communities and amplifying Indigenous voices in public discourse. --- ## Due Dates - **Anticipated opening of application period:** May 2026 - **Anticipated closing of application period:** June 2026 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Fellowship amount:** $75,000 per fellow - **Duration:** 12 months - **Number of awards:** Up to 10 fellowships awarded annually --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible applicants:** Indigenous knowledge keepers and makers serving Indigenous communities in the United States. - **Eligible disciplines:** Journalism, visual art, film, education, public health, law, fiction, policy analysis, and more. - **Institutional eligibility:** The fellowship is open to individuals; other Luce grants are typically made to U.S. nonprofit organizations or international equivalents. - **Ineligible activities:** Healthcare/medical initiatives, disaster relief, international development, political campaigns, fundraising, endowments, or building campaigns. --- ## Application Process 1. **Announcement:** The call for the next cohort is expected in spring or early summer 2026. 2. **Application:** Submit an application through the First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) portal. Details and the application portal will be posted on the [FNDI fellowship page](https://www.firstnations.org/projects/native-intellectual-leadership-fellowship-program/). 3. **Review:** Applications are reviewed by FNDI and Luce Foundation staff. 4. **Selection:** Fellows are chosen based on leadership, community engagement, and project impact. 5. **Award:** Selected fellows receive $75,000 for a 12-month fellowship. --- ## Additional Information - The program values a wide definition of intellectual leadership and welcomes proposals from a variety of fields and knowledge traditions. - Examples of past projects include language revitalization, digital archives, legal advocacy, journalism, public health strategies, and artistic initiatives. - Indirect costs for institutional grants (not fellowships) are capped at 20%. --- ## External Links - [Henry Luce Foundation Indigenous Knowledge Program](https://hluce.org/programs/indigenous-knowledge/grant-categories/) - [First Nations Development Institute Fellowship Page](https://www.firstnations.org/projects/native-intellectual-leadership-fellowship-program/) - [Meet Past Fellows](https://hluce.org/programs/indigenous-knowledge/grant-categories/luce-indigenous-knowledge-fellowship/) - [Application Portal (FNDI)](https://www.firstnations.org/projects/native-intellectual-leadership-fellowship-program/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |---------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | General inquiries (Luce) | [info@hluce.org](mailto:info@hluce.org)
[Contact page](https://www.hluce.org/contact/) | | General inquiries (FNDI) | [First Nations Development Institute Contact](https://www.firstnations.org/contact-us/) | | Grants administrator (Luce) | [grants@hluce.org](mailto:grants@hluce.org) | | Phone (Luce Foundation) | 212-489-7700 | ---

Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship

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