ACLS Digital Justice Grants 2026-27 | Up to $100,000 for Digital Scholarship Projects

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 ACLS Digital Justice Grants Program, a funding opportunity designed to support innovative digital projects across the humanities and social sciences. Administered by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and generously funded by the Mellon Foundation, the program seeks to advance equitable and inclusive digital scholarship that critically engages with the histories, experiences, and interests of historically marginalized communities.

The program offers both Seed Grants and Development Grants to scholars and research teams using ethical digital methods to expand access to knowledge, strengthen community engagement, and promote justice-centered approaches to digital humanities and social science research.

About the ACLS Digital Justice Grants Program

The ACLS Digital Justice Grants Program aims to address long-standing inequities in access to digital tools, resources, and institutional support within the humanities and interpretive social sciences.

The initiative supports projects that center the experiences of historically marginalized communities, including but not limited to:

* Black communities
* Latinx communities
* Indigenous communities
* People with disabilities
* Queer, trans, and gender nonconforming communities
* Other historically underrepresented groups

By funding innovative digital scholarship, ACLS seeks to promote inclusion, sustainability, and broader participation in the digital transformation of humanistic inquiry.

Grant Categories

Digital Justice Seed Grants

Seed Grants are designed for projects in the early stages of development.

Funding Amount: $10,000 – $25,000

These grants support:

* Planning workshops
* Prototype development
* Testing new methodologies
* Exploring innovative research agendas
* Experimenting with new source materials and digital approaches

Digital Justice Development Grants

Development Grants support projects that have moved beyond the proof-of-concept stage and are ready for expansion.

Funding Amount:$50,000 – $100,000

These grants support projects that:

* Demonstrate significant preliminary work
* Have evidence of scholarly or public engagement
* Require resources for the next stage of development
* Have clear plans for technological, intellectual, and financial sustainability

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

The program supports projects that use digital tools and methods to advance justice-oriented scholarship and community engagement.

Eligible activities include:

* Ethical digital projects focused on historically marginalized communities
* Capacity-building initiatives in digital humanities
* Publicly engaged projects developed with community partners
* Pedagogical initiatives that train students in digital humanities methods
* Collaborative projects connecting scholars across institutions
* Projects that develop new technological infrastructure for research and public engagement
* Digital knowledge dissemination and content-building initiatives

Additional Support for Grant Recipients

In addition to grant funding, all recipients will have access to financial planning coaching provided by the Nonprofit Finance Fund.

This support helps projects develop long-term sustainability strategies and stewardship plans beyond the grant period.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, projects must meet the following requirements:

* The Principal Investigator must be a scholar in the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
* Awarded funds must be administered by a U.S. institution of higher education.
* Projects should be made as openly accessible as intellectual property considerations allow.
* Seed Grant applicants must be in the start-up or prototyping phase.
* Development Grant applicants must demonstrate substantial prior work and public or scholarly impact.

Ineligible Projects

ACLS Digital Justice Grants do not support projects whose sole or primary focus is:

* Creative works such as novels or films
* Textbooks
* Straightforward translations
* Purely pedagogical projects

Institutional indirect costs are also not covered under this funding opportunity.

Grant Period

Funded projects must begin between:

July 1, 2027 and December 31, 2027

Projects may have a work plan lasting between 12 and 18 months.

Webinar Series for Applicants

To support prospective applicants, ACLS is hosting a series of webinars throughout the application period.

Topics include:

* General application guidance
* Data ethics
* Capacity building
* Data stewardship
* Insights from former reviewers and grantees

The first information session is scheduled for:

August 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the ACLS online fellowship and grant administration system.

Applicants should review all program guidelines, eligibility requirements, FAQs, and supplementary materials before preparing their proposals.

Complete applications must be submitted no later than November 3, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.

Conclusion

The ACLS Digital Justice Grants 2026-27 represent a significant opportunity for scholars and research teams committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice through digital scholarship. With funding of up to $100,000, the program empowers researchers to develop innovative projects that preserve underrepresented histories, build community-centered digital resources, and expand access to knowledge across the humanities and social sciences.

Whether you are launching a new digital initiative or scaling an established project, this funding opportunity can help transform your vision into lasting impact. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their applications early and take advantage of the webinar series and support resources offered by ACLS.

Discover more grant opportunities like this on the OFY Webpage.