Currently 15 active research and journalism grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in the US. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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Data & Society, the independent nonprofit studying the social implications of data-centric technologies and automation, is hiring a Senior Researcher for AI Civics, a newly launched two-year programme on civic action and community control over AI. The programme aims to amplify the tools of civic participation so the public can directly shape the role AI plays in society, surfacing civic tools people can use to exert political power over AI systems and tech platforms at community level. It co-creates toolkits and training resources with anchor partner organisations, diffuses them through a train-the-trainer model, and builds toward a national civic coalition demanding democratic accountability over AI. The Senior Researcher is a subject-matter expert and lead contributor, drawing primarily on participatory methods and especially participatory action research, and is responsible for one or more inter-organisational partnerships with national partner organisations working in K-12 education, labour, faith or advocacy. Responsibilities span cultivating and stewarding relationships with partner staff, community members and leaders and public sector workers; leading collaborative relationships with an anchor partner and its local members for the co-creation and diffusion of AI Civics resources; co-developing and iterating toolkits, facilitation guides and training curricula and running piloting, feedback and revision cycles; producing case studies, educational materials, templates, reports, academic publications, lectures and public writing; supporting facilitation preparation for co-design workshops, train-the-trainer sessions and participatory research activities; developing research questions, strategies and new external partnerships with the Program Director; network communications; participating in fundraising, including grant applications and materials for the Development Team; and contributing to the intellectual life of the organisation. REQUIRED: graduate degree or equivalent; expertise in one or more sectors of interest to the programme (K-12 education, labour, faith groups, or another institutional pillar of civic life as it relates to data-centric technologies and AI); 7 to 10 years minimum experience in research organisations or research environments (university, public policy, advocacy, government), inclusive of graduate work; expertise in participatory research methods; a strong track record of seeing research through to publication; a public profile and ability to reach non-academic audiences through writing and speaking; and the ability to coordinate and conduct in-depth qualitative research. PREFERRED: doctoral degree in information science, education, social sciences or similar; established relationships with relevant organisations in the programme themes; experience with civic engagement or organising in nonprofit, labour, advocacy, research or public interest technology contexts. Reports to the Program Director. Data & Society requires prospective employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. TO APPLY: submit a cover letter, an academic CV, and the names, affiliations, titles, email addresses and phone numbers for three references by 30 July 2026. Applications are reviewed from 31 July 2026. Questions: jobs@datasociety.net. NOTE: this is a salaried job, not a grant or fellowship.
The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI), an independent think tank researching and advising on the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence, is running its inaugural Law & AI Academic Fellowship for aspiring legal scholars who intend to go on the US legal academic job market. The fellowship is designed as an alternative to university-sponsored Visiting Assistant Professor or law fellow positions: fellows spend the majority of their time researching and writing articles for publication in law journals on the law of transformative AI, and are prepared for the academic job market as part of a larger application package. Teaching is not required, which LawAI frames as a benefit over most university-affiliated positions, though fellows who want teaching experience are encouraged to seek it and LawAI and its affiliates may be able to help secure positions. Each fellow is paired with an academic mentor from LawAI's network of affiliated academics for ongoing support, with more intensive help in the final stages of the job application process including moot interviews and detailed feedback. Fellows may also inquire about spending time in residence at academic institutions of interest. Candidates are selected in part on how well their research interests align with LawAI's: the institute expects AI to reshape culture, the economy, public policy, public administration, politics, military affairs and geostrategy at least as profoundly as the Industrial Revolution, and asks whether a candidate's research is well-scoped to changes of that magnitude. Areas of particular interest include risk regulation of transformative AI, liability for AI harms, AI and biosecurity, AI and cybersecurity, executive branch use of transformative AI, national security law, law and AI infrastructure, administrative law, constitutional law, international regulation, AI in the judiciary, and industrial policy. Full-time two-year role at USD 130,000 per year, based in Washington DC, Cambridge UK, or remote. Applications close 31 July 2026.
Rowland Fellowship at Harvard for outstanding early-career experimentalists in any field of science or engineering, providing the opportunity to establish an independent research programme at the Rowland Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded by Edwin Land in 1980 to foster high-risk creative research and joined to Harvard in 2002, the Institute particularly supports scholars with potential to establish ground-breaking research programmes that bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries. ELIGIBILITY: applicants should currently be completing their PhDs or have received their PhD after 1 May 2025; the doctoral degree must be completed prior to starting the Fellowship. Fellows may have the opportunity to teach undergraduates during their Fellowship. Apply via the Harvard Careers posting linked from the Rowland Institute fellowships page. Applications are currently open; the call does not state a fixed closing date, so check the Harvard Careers posting for the current deadline.
RAND's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) runs a rolling fellowship for researchers working on AI security and technology policy, with mentorship from RAND policy experts. Fellows can be based in Washington DC, San Francisco or Pittsburgh, work remotely within the United States, or be based in the United Kingdom. Terms are flexible: engagements typically start at six months and can be extended up to three years, full-time or part-time. US fellows receive an annual stipend ranging from USD 40,000 to 200,000 for full-time work depending on experience, plus a monthly payment that can be put toward health and dental insurance; UK fellows are compensated based on experience. The programme spans career stages from undergraduate through mid-career. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must be based in the US or UK; US applicants need to be eligible for a government security clearance, and UK applicants must have a current and ongoing right to work in the UK. Current RAND staff are not eligible. ROLLING DEADLINE: applications are submitted through an online form and reviewed quarterly, with published cutoffs of 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November, each answered by the first of the following month. The date recorded here is the next cutoff (1 August 2026); the call does not close after it. RAND notes that if one of its listed staff openings matches your interest you should apply to that instead, and suggests not applying to the fellowship if you have submitted another CAST application within the last six months.
The Horizon Fellowship places technologists, scientists and researchers with emerging-technology expertise into US federal agencies, congressional offices and Washington DC think tanks to work on AI, biotechnology and emerging-technology policy. The 2027 cohort runs three tiers: junior fellows (under three years of experience, no PhD) at a USD 78,000 base for six months; fellows (three or more years of relevant experience, or a PhD) at USD 130,000 for twelve months; and a newly added senior fellow tier (twelve or more years of experience with a leadership background) at USD 190,000 or more for twelve months. All tiers receive a USD 17,000 benefits stipend, a USD 3,000 professional development stipend and up to USD 3,000 in relocation assistance, and all are potentially renewable. The programme year begins with part-time remote training from January to March 2027, followed by matching in April and May and placement from spring or summer 2027 onward. Most offers are expected by the end of November 2026. ELIGIBILITY: no prior policy experience or specific degree is required, and Horizon explicitly welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds; fellows must reside in Washington DC for the placement, and non-citizens need work authorisation that does not depend on sponsorship. Applications close 30 August 2026 at 11:59pm Anywhere on Earth.
Grants for in-depth investigative reporting that exposes corruption, malfeasance or misuse of power across public and private sectors. Covers print, online, broadcast, books, documentaries and podcasts. Surveillance, abuse-of-power and accountability investigations all fit. Letter of Commitment from a news outlet required for full proposals (not for seed). Seed deadline ~10 May 2026; regular deadline 14 September 2026, 23:59 ET. Reviewed three to four times per year. Stories must be published in English with a U.S. media outlet. Ethnic media and journalists of colour particularly encouraged.
The Dedalus Foundation, established by artist Robert Motherwell, awards a Senior Fellowship supporting critical and historical studies related to painting, sculpture, and allied arts of the twentieth century. The fellowship is open to art historians, critics, curators, and other writers and scholars who have demonstrated their abilities through previous accomplishments. Awards provide a stipend of up to USD 30,000 for projects lasting up to one year, with the amount varying by project needs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and may not be currently pursuing academic degrees. Applications are submitted online and reference letters through a separate form. A distinguished scholar jury selects recipients, with awards announced by mid-December.
Long-running fellowship for in-depth, investigative written reporting on subjects of public interest, now administered by the Fund for Investigative Journalism after the foundation's December 2025 merger. For seasoned reporters with a body of in-depth written work; freelancers are encouraged and staff journalists may apply if they take leave (part-time work is allowed during the fellowship, full-time is not). Twelve-month fellows produce four articles, six-month fellows two. Decisions by end of 2026. Distinct from FIJ's regular reporting grants. No application fee.
NEH project grants supporting interpretive exhibitions, historic-place programming and discussion programmes that bring humanities scholarship to public audiences. Aimed at strengthening the humanities in public life through scholarship-informed public engagement (rather than primary research). Two upcoming application windows: 15 October 2026 and 9 December 2026. Two scales: Planning grants up to USD 75,000, and Implementation grants up to USD 1,000,000 (most awards substantially smaller than the cap). ELIGIBILITY: US-incorporated non-profits with appropriate IRS status, libraries, museums, historical organisations, or accredited US colleges and universities; individual scholars participate as project directors on behalf of an eligible institution. Aimed at projects that engage broad public audiences with humanities content (history, culture, philosophy, literature, etc.).
The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships place scientists and engineers inside US federal agencies, congressional offices and the judicial branch for a year of hands-on policymaking, contributing technical knowledge and analytical skills to the federal policy process. AI, data and computing policy placements are among the largest tracks, and AAAS runs a dedicated AI legislative branch cohort that places AI experts in congressional offices at GS-12 Step 10 on the DC locality scale. ELIGIBILITY: US citizens holding a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in any science or engineering field, or a master's degree in engineering plus three years of post-degree professional experience; some tracks accept a bachelor's plus five years. Relevant expertise includes AI, machine learning, computer science, robotics and data science. Fellows must reside in DC, Maryland or northern Virginia during the fellowship year. TIMELINE: the application portal opens 1 August 2026 and closes 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm ET, with eligibility notification in late November, interview notification January to February 2027, semi-finalist interviews in March, placement offers by early May, and the fellowship year running 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028. Apply through fellowshipapp.aaas.org.
NEH Collections Stewardship funds preservation projects at libraries, archives, museums, colleges/universities, and preservation-services organisations. Eligible activities include digitisation and reformatting of collections for public access through digital repositories, preservation planning, and environmental assessments. Relevant for organisations working with born-digital or digitally reformatted collections including software, AI artefacts, and digital cultural heritage. Applications for the December 2026 cycle open 31 August 2026; deadline 15 December 2026. A May 2026 cycle has already passed. ELIGIBILITY: institutional applicants only (libraries, archives, museums, colleges, universities, preservation-services organisations based in the US); individual researchers and for-profit entities are not eligible. Apply via grants.gov.
A one-year fellowship placing Fellows directly inside government, non-profit and social-enterprise host institutions across the United States to design and implement high-impact programs, translating data-driven insights into actionable policy recommendations, new programs and operational changes for the partners they serve. STIPEND: USD 47,000 living stipend for the year (scaled up for higher-cost cities) plus a reimbursable health-insurance stipend up to USD 5,000. ELIGIBILITY: primarily intended for candidates graduating from their academic programs in 2026 and/or already working full-time; this is a full-time 12-month commitment. PROCESS: applications and interviews are considered on a ROLLING basis starting in March, so applicants are encouraged to apply early; most engagements begin between June and November, with partner match meetings 6 to 8 weeks before the anticipated start. APPLY: https://www.adf.uchicago.edu/apply
Pulitzer Center's 'Bringing Stories Home' initiative supports in-depth local journalism on under-covered issues in communities across the United States. ELIGIBILITY: freelance and staff journalists working on US-based stories. Grants cover the hard costs of reporting. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Pulitzer Center reporting-grants page.
Year-round support for unanticipated opportunities or emergencies tied to a confirmed innovative artistic project. Open to individual visual and performing artists and poets living in the US or US territories with a US tax ID. Apply 8 to 10 weeks before your public presentation date. Designed to cover sudden costs (a venue change, a confirmed exhibition or performance opportunity with a tight runway, etc.).
The Good Life Residents Program is a six-month Roosevelt Institute initiative that develops new leaders and elevates bold ideas across six economic policy priorities under its Good Life Agenda. Each topic area hosts a cohort of 3 to 4 residents plus 1 to 2 senior Topic Advisors (academics, policy leaders, organizers or government practitioners) who provide strategic and intellectual mentorship and moderate the closing event. Residents write a roughly 1,500-word original policy essay advancing a people-centered policy vision against a topic-specific prompt, take part in structured dialogue with peers, Topic Advisors and Roosevelt Think Tank directors, help prepare and appear at a culminating public event, contribute to press opportunities such as op-eds and reporter calls where applicable, and act as ambassadors for the Good Life Agenda in their professional and public networks. The current round, the AI and Finance Residents Program, is run in partnership with Data & Society and asks for bold ideas on how to shape, redirect, interrupt or make more visible and contestable the flows of capital into generative AI. Framing: breakneck investment in generative AI technology and infrastructure is distorting the stock market, profit measures, bond issuance, the pace and composition of growth, job creation and trade policy, with seven tech companies accounting for more than a third of S&P 500 market capitalisation and complex, sometimes circular financial arrangements obscuring risk. Suggested lines of inquiry include what government interventions could improve public oversight, risk allocation and direction-setting in private markets; how other investments could be coordinated and scaled if AI spending is crowding them out; what role public spending or new institutions could play in catalysing technology R&D designed to support workers, sustainability and supply chains; what democratic input mechanisms would keep state influence over capital flows less vulnerable to corruption; and how federal AI policy should address public hostility to data centre investments alongside national security and competitiveness. Compensation is USD 3,000 plus travel and accommodation for the culminating event. FLAG: Roosevelt does not publish an application deadline for the AI and Finance round on the programme page, and earlier rounds (Social Security financing, Federal Reserve powers, housing) each ran their own short application window. Check the Formstack application form linked from the programme page for the current closing date before applying.