Application Deadline: 3 November 2026
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is now accepting applications for the 2026–2027 ACLS Digital Justice Seed and Development Grants. This funding opportunity supports scholars, research teams, and cultural organizations working on digital projects that promote justice, equity, inclusion, and public engagement in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.
Applicants can receive up to $100,000 to develop digital scholarship initiatives that address issues such as historical inequities, access to knowledge, community participation, ethical technology practices, and representation in digital archives and research.
About the ACLS Digital Justice Grants
The ACLS Digital Justice Grants are designed to encourage innovative digital scholarship that contributes to a more just and equitable society. The program recognizes that digital tools, archives, platforms, and research methods can either reinforce existing inequalities or help transform access to knowledge and cultural participation.
Projects funded through this program are expected to demonstrate strong scholarly value while also considering their broader social impact and public accessibility.
Grant Value and Benefits
Successful applicants may receive up to $100,000 in funding.
Benefits include:
- Financial support for digital scholarship projects
- Funding for research, development, design, and implementation
- Support for collaborative and community-based initiatives
- Resources for digital infrastructure, software, data work, and project personnel
- Increased visibility through an internationally recognized ACLS program
- Opportunities to advance public-facing humanities and social science scholarship
Read: How to Write a Winning Grant Proposal
Eligible Project Areas
ACLS welcomes projects that use digital methods to explore questions related to justice, equity, and public knowledge. Examples may include:
- Digital archives and collections
- Community history and memory projects
- Public humanities platforms
- Digital storytelling initiatives
- Mapping, data visualization, or spatial humanities projects
- Ethical AI and digital humanities research
- Accessibility-focused digital scholarship
- Projects centering underrepresented communities and histories
Interdisciplinary and collaborative projects are especially encouraged.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility details are provided in the official ACLS guidelines. In general, applicants may include scholars, researchers, educators, librarians, archivists, cultural practitioners, and nonprofit or cultural organizations involved in humanities or interpretive social science work.
Applicants should review the full eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
Application Deadline
- Deadline: 3 November 2026
Late applications are typically not considered, so applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their materials early.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official ACLS application portal.
Apply here:
- Program Information & Application: ACLS Digital Justice Grant
Carefully read the application instructions, funding categories, required documents, and review criteria before starting your submission.
Tips for a Strong Application
To improve your chances of success:
- Clearly explain the social or scholarly problem your project addresses.
- Demonstrate how digital methods are essential to the project.
- Describe the intended audience and public impact.
- Include a realistic work plan and budget.
- Highlight collaboration with communities, institutions, or partners where relevant.
- Address accessibility, sustainability, and ethical considerations.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The ACLS Digital Justice Grants represent a significant investment in digital humanities and socially engaged scholarship. For researchers and organizations working at the intersection of technology, culture, history, and justice, this program offers both substantial funding and recognition from a leading scholarly organization.
If you are developing a digital project that seeks to expand access to knowledge, amplify marginalized voices, or rethink how scholarship serves the public, this is an opportunity worth considering.
Quick Summary
| Item | Details |
| Program | ACLS Digital Justice Grants 2026–2027 |
| Organizer | American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) |
| Funding | Up to $100,000 |
| Eligible Projects | Digital humanities and interpretive social science projects focused on justice and equity |
| Deadline | 3 November 2026 |
Apply before 3 November 2026 to be considered for funding of up to $100,000.
