Tinker Field Research Collaborative
Tinker Field Research Collaborative supports graduate students’ exploratory field research in Latin America and university collaboration to improve fieldwork experiences and expand access.
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Funder: Tinker Foundation
Due Dates: 2026–2030 cycle: No open call for new applicants
Funding Amounts: Five years of institutional support, matched with university resources
Summary: Supports graduate students’ pre-dissertation field research in Latin America and institutional collaboration to improve fieldwork experiences and access.
Key Information: Funding is awarded to selected U.S. universities and typically administered by Centers for Latin American Studies, rather than awarded directly to individuals.
Description
The Tinker Foundation’s Field Research Collaborative supports graduate students conducting pre-dissertation, exploratory research in Latin America. Building on field research funding provided since 1979, the Collaborative launched after a 2019 external evaluation to deepen the impact of students’ field experiences and create a learning community among participating university Centers for Latin American Studies.
Alongside student research, the program supports institutional experimentation, tool-building, and knowledge exchange. Activities can include pre-departure support, resources for responsible field research, networking among current and former recipients, and approaches to monitoring, evaluation, and program improvement. A central priority is reaching graduate students for whom field research would otherwise be inaccessible, allowing them to benefit from early-career research opportunities.
