Humanities Cultivation Fund
About the Fund
The Humanities Cultivation Fund is designed to stimulate and nurture generative research and innovative productions across the humanities and humanistic study of related disciplines.
We are especially eager to fund proposals that take advantage of the special context in which the humanities and related fields are practiced at MIT and that articulate what makes MIT a great place to pursue the project. We are also eager to fund projects that lay the groundwork for larger, significant contributions beyond MIT.
We expect to fund multiple proposals in 2026 for a combined total of $500K, with additional funding available in 2027.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, a project lead must:
- Hold a full-time position in the following categories: Faculty, Academic Instructional Staff, Academic Research Staff in SHASS.
- Have an appointment with greater than one year of service.
Funding Details & Timeline
Sept. 2025
Application portal is opened
Oct. 23, 2025
Applications are no longer being accepted
Jan. 2026
Selected projects notified
Feb. 2026
Earliest project start
March 2027
Project report due
Selection Criteria
All successful projects will:
- present a clear, compelling account of how they address significant concerns in humanistic inquiry.
- propose important and/or exciting deliverable research outcomes.
- build, strengthen, or expand upon scholarly communities in the humanities at and beyond MIT.
Fund Co-Chairs
Arthur Bahr
Professor of Literature and Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellow
Anne McCants
Ann F. Friedlaender Professor of History, Director of the Concourse Program, Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellow, and SHASS Research Chair
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the current Request for Proposal for more frequently asked questions related to this fund.
How long should the proposed projects last?
Projects will be funded for one year at a time (February to January). Project leads may elect to spread one year of funding over 2 or 3 years if that would lead to a more successful outcome. Planning grants are only for one year at a time.
What are planning grants?
Planning grants are smaller awards to enable a team to work together to plan a future collaboration and prepare to apply to one of the funds in the following cycle.
Can I apply to more than one fund?
Yes, an individual may be the project lead on one proposal per fund.
Can I submit more than one proposal to the same fund?
An individual may only be the project lead on/apply with one proposal per fund but may be listed as a collaborator on multiple proposals. Multiple planning grants can be submitted to the same fund.
Are collaborators outside of MIT permitted?
Additional collaborators outside MIT are welcome, but all funding must be managed at MIT and no subawards will be considered.
What can I include in the budget? Are there any restrictions on the use of the funds?
All planned spending should be in accordance with MIT policy. Summer salary is permissible. Funds for replacement teaching are not permissible.
Budgets for planning grants should not exceed $30K (direct costs). Full proposals should not exceed $200K (direct costs).
What impact does the MIT hiring freeze have on MITHIC funded projects?
Hiring for positions included in awarded MITHIC projects will still need to be routed through the MIT hiring exception process, but since dedicated funding is secured, we anticipate successful exceptions. MITemps & Contractors (when less than 6 months) are exempt from the hiring freeze, and do not require an exception.
Do I have to include UROPs in the proposal budget?
UROPs are not a requirement of the proposal. When requesting UROPs, please add all requests directly into your budget template.
Do you have sample proposals?
Yes, access sample proposals here 
What makes a proposal stand out to reviewers?
A one-page guide with practical tips on writing a competitive funding proposal can be found here