Doctoral Fellowships & Grants

A $5,000, one-year doctoral fellowship supports research and dissertation writing that contributes to understanding of women’s philanthropy or gender differences in philanthropic behavior and giving. An important consideration is the dissertation’s potential impact and its contribution of new research that expands the knowledge base about women’s philanthropy.

The $10,000 research prize is a joint effort between AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to support fundraising research about major gifts and capital campaigns and is given periodically as funds allow. Both organizations contribute to the research prize, which is made possible by an endowment from Ernest W. Wood’s family and friends to encourage advanced research that extends the knowledge of fundraising and philanthropy.

Submissions are judged based on: substantive contribution to knowledge and understanding of fundraising or philanthropic behavior, with an emphasis on understanding ethical approaches; methodological rigor; and applicability for donors, grantmakers, or fundraisers.

This award is for Indianapolis students in a philanthropic studies program (undergraduate or graduate, including Ph.D.). International students studying in Indianapolis are eligible to apply. Students must be in good academic standing.

The award is for the purchase of books required for philanthropic studies courses up to $300 per semester.

Priority Deadlines:
• Spring Awards – January 17
• Summer Awards – May 1
• Fall Awards – August 1

Apply now »

These highly competitive fellowships are awarded to a limited number of IU Indianapolis graduate students. They provide a stipend of $12,000 for master’s degree students and $22,000 for Ph.D. students as well as the waiver of most fees. Qualified students are nominated by the school’s M.A. and Ph.D. program admissions committee.

One doctoral student in philanthropic studies at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy per year earns this fellowship, based solely on merit as defined by the school’s guidelines. Selection is determined by the school’s doctoral program committee. The Dickinson-Stone-Ilchman Fellowship for Graduate Education was created to serve doctoral students in honor of Dr. Warren Ilchman’s wife, Alice Stone Ilchman; her father and mother, Dr. and Mrs. Donald Stone; her sister, Mrs. Nancy Stone Dickinson; and his brother-in-law, Dr. Richard Dickinson.

The Eugene R. Tempel Fellowship, established by P.A. Mack, Jr., provides one fellowship per year for a doctoral student in philanthropic studies. Selection is based solely on merit as defined by the school’s guidelines. The fellowship is renewable for five years to allow the recipient to complete doctoral studies.

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University seeks to support the research of its graduate students working on master’s or doctoral thesis projects.

This fund will provide grants up to $1,000 per year to students enrolled in the Indiana University M.A. or M.P.A. programs in philanthropic studies and nonprofit management. Doctoral students enrolled in the Indiana University Ph.D. programs are eligible for up to $2,000 per year. Research projects of students with a minor in philanthropic studies or nonprofit management may be funded in exceptional cases, at the discretion of the director of research.

The fund is not intended to support student research work for courses or for purposes other than thesis or dissertation projects. Course projects in lieu of thesis or dissertation will not be funded. Research funds will only be granted for research proposals that have been approved by the student’s master's or doctoral research committee.

Applications are accepted twice per year – once during the fall semester (by November 15) and once during the spring semester (by April 15) and reviewed by Chelsea Clark, research project coordinator at the school.

To apply for support for thesis research through the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Research Fund, please submit a cover letter including the following information:

• Name, contact information (including phone and email address)
• Title and brief description of the project (up to two pages), including contribution to the field, with appropriate citations and bibliography
• Anticipated dates and duration of the project; and
• Budget summary and total amount requested. Include a breakout of various expenses with a narrative description of needs and uses of the funds, in addition to other support applied for (if applicable). Funds may be used for postage, travel for data collection, research supplies, transcription costs, and other direct research expenses.

In addition, applications for research funds must be accompanied by a letter of support from the student’s advisor or committee chair. Proposals lacking this letter will not be considered for funding.

Send proposals and letters of support to:

Chelsea Clark
Research Project Coordinator
University Hall, Suite 3000
301 University Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5146
chelphil@iu.edu