"CRISIS MOMENTS" GRANT PROGRAM
Deadline: September 19, 2025
The Lepage Center is pleased to announce its annual grant funding for public-facing historical projects. The Center will provide up to $5,000 each toward up to eight applications that creatively engage with the theme of "Crisis Moments".
Our theme is intended to encompass a broad range of historical topics, questions and periods. Projects will seek to deepen public knowledge of their given focus and illustrate how historical study can further public understanding of the present moment. Ideas may include but are not limited to:
- Constitutional crises
- Crises of knowledge, education, and academia
- Climate crisis
- Border crises
- Healthcare, including the AIDS epidemic and COVID-19
- Cost of living crises
- Transportation and planning crises
Most importantly, applications must include a focus on the occurrence and/or resolution of crises; historical methodology; and a strong component of public engagement.
We are always interested in funding proposals that adopt a global approach and highlight issues of class, gender, race, activism, corporate influence and political power. We strongly encourage members of minority and underrepresented populations to apply.
About the Grants
Grants in the amount of up to $5,000 (depending on scope, size and need) will be awarded to projects that promote historical research, scholarship, teaching and public dialogue about historical perspectives on crisis.
Our goal is to provide seed money and/or to help advance a project from conception to execution. The Center is, therefore, willing to support work that may require initial funding to get off the ground.
Past examples of funded projects include blog posts, podcasts, documentaries, oral histories, historical tours, dissertations, online archives, digital mapping projects, monograph research, multimedia exhibits, op-eds, crowdsourced syllabi, educational workshops, among other projects.
Application and Selection Process
Applications are due to the Lepage Center by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 19, 2025. Applications should be emailed as a single attachment (PDF) to lepage@villanova.edu and should not exceed 15 pages.
Applications must include:
- A title
- A project abstract (250 words)
- A project description, purpose, and its contribution to history in the public interest (1-2 pages)
- A plan of execution, including deliverables, partners, and expected outcomes (1-2 pages)
- A proposed budget (1 page)
- Resumes of principal participants (the total of resumes not to exceed 10 pages)
In evaluating applications, the Lepage Center will consider:
- The track record of the applicant(s);
- The importance of the project goals, the originality of the method and perspective, and the fit and relevance to the Center’s mission;
- The feasibility of the proposal;
- The capacity of the project to shed light on current events;
- The articulation of an approach to historical thinking about the past that meets and
Proposals will be reviewed by an internal committee with award decisions to be made by the last week of October, 2025.
A one-time disbursement of funds will occur in Fall 2025.
Eligibility
Proposals are limited to scholars, researchers, historical institutions and nonprofit organizations in the United States. Global perspectives and transnational partnerships are encouraged.
While not limited to professional historians or history institutions, proposals that feature historians and demonstrate an approach to studying the past that broadly fits disciplinary standards and ethics of professional history will be favored.
Grantee Deliverables
Grantees should be amenable to having their projects featured on the Lepage Center website, social media and other communications; acknowledge the Lepage Center’s support in their public-facing materials; and amenable to participate in a Lunch at Lepage or virtual panel discussion with other grantees describing their grant work between Fall 2027 and Fall 2028.
Fine Print
Grant awards are subject to federal, state and local tax regulations. Each grantee is responsible for reporting taxable stipend payments and for remitting any tax due with their personal or institutional income tax return. For specific questions about your tax responsibilities, please contact the Internal Revenue Service, an accountant or an income tax service. IDC to be capped at no more than 5% of the grant.
For any questions, please contact lepage@villanova.edu.