Answers to common questions.
Responses to the questions we hear most often from scholars, institutions, and the public. For anything not answered here, please contact us.
The Foundation
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What is The Alexander Hamilton Foundation?
The Alexander Hamilton Foundation is a nonprofit organization and public charity, recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the laws of the State of Delaware, that supports rigorous scholarship in the humanities, arts, and social sciences through fellowships and research grants administered with partner universities.
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What fields of scholarship do you support?
The Foundation supports rigorous scholarship in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. Specific programs and areas of focus are co-developed in partnership with host institutions.
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Where does your name come from?
The Foundation is named for Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), a founding-era statesman whose writing and service helped shape enduring American institutions, and whose own life was shaped by neighbors generous enough to fund his studies at King's College (now Columbia University), where he distinguished himself and came to George Washington's notice. The name reflects the Foundation's commitment to serious, sustained scholarship on the institutions and ideas that animate public life.
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Are you affiliated with a university, political party, or advocacy organization?
No. The Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan grantmaking organization. It is not affiliated with any university, political party, campaign, or advocacy group.
Grants and fellowships
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Are applications open?
We work in close partnership with universities and scholarly networks to identify scholars whose work merits sustained support. Most of our grants are made through these partnerships and through invitations to scholars whose work we have come to know. Scholars, faculty chairs, and institutional representatives interested in our work are welcome to write to us.
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How are awards made?
Awards are made through competitive peer review by tenured faculty drawn from the relevant disciplines, consistent with the norms of scholarly practice. The Foundation does not direct the content of research. See our statement on academic independence.
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Who is eligible?
The Foundation supports scholars at accredited universities and research institutions at each stage of the academic career, from advanced PhD candidates through tenured faculty. Candidates are typically identified through our programmatic work and through the relationships we build with partner institutions and scholarly networks.
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Do you fund institutions directly, or individual scholars?
Grants are paid to the scholar's home institution and administered under the institution's standard appointment and oversight processes. Scholars are the principal beneficiaries of the programs.
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Do you fund advocacy, political, or religious activity?
No. The Foundation funds scholarly research, teaching, and scholarly development. It does not fund advocacy, lobbying, political activity, or religious activity, and its grants are subject to the restrictions that apply to 501(c)(3) organizations.
Working with the Foundation
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How do grantees acknowledge Foundation support?
Grantees acknowledge Foundation support in the manner customary for their discipline and institution. Recipients are not required to adopt Foundation branding, and Foundation support does not imply Foundation endorsement of the scholar's views, findings, or conclusions.
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Will you publish information about grants you make?
Yes. Consistent with the practice of leading academic philanthropies, the Foundation maintains a publicly searchable listing of each recipient, host institution, program, discipline, award period, and a brief description of the supported research. See the Grants Database.
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How can I reach you?
Please use our contact form. We do our best to respond to inquiries in the order received.