Project Awards

Project awards help fund activities that confirm the Foundation’s mission, such as academic conferences, workshops (including manuscript review workshops), exhibitions, performances, the open-access publication of previously-published books, and other types of projects that do not necessarily fall into these categories. Please thoroughly review the Geiss Hsu Foundation’s mission statement and guidelines before applying.

Applications for project awards are evaluated based on merit and financial need. Priority is given to projects that substantially advance the Geiss Hsu Foundation’s mission and goals, encourage emerging scholars, and/or support innovative scholarship in Ming Dynasty studies.

Awards are made directly to U.S. not-for-profits or international organizations that meet their countries’ definitions of registered charities or academic institutions. Please note that awardees will be asked to submit proof of their organization’s tax-exempt status (or the equivalent documentation for their country) prior to the receipt of the awarded funds.

Awards are meant to supplement the total cost of a project. The Geiss Hsu Foundation does not typically fund overhead costs to a parent organization, such as a university.

Should you have questions or difficulties with the application, please contact programofficer@geissfoundation.us.

How to Apply

Submit applications by email to applications@geissfoundation.us

Application deadlines

Applications submitted by:

September 1st
Will be reviewed and awards will be announced by November of the same year;

March 1st
Will be reviewed and awards will be announced by May of the same year.

Application Requirements

Applications should include the following in unlocked PDF format:

    1. A completed application form.
    2. An application narrative that: (1) describes the project; (2) explains its relevance to the Foundation’s mission and describes the project’s rationale (how it is empirically grounded, theoretically informed, and methodologically explicit). In the case of applications for conference support, please include tentative session topics. In the case of applications for support for the open-access publication of previously published books, please include a short description of the work(s), reviews, and explain why the title(s) are good candidates for open-access publication, including if rights/permissions have been secured; (3) explains its goals or intended outcomes; (4) includes a timeline for project completion or the date(s) of the proposed activity; (5) if relevant, discusses any partners or collaborators and how they intend to work together on the project and its management. In the case of applications for support for manuscript review workshops, please include a letter of support from the chair of the academic department hosting the proposed workshop; and (6) describes how it will reach a wider audience or enhance connections between scholars and institutions from different fields or regions;
    3. CVs of the project lead(s) and any key team members (not necessary in the case of applications for support for the open-access publication of previously published books);
    4. Applications for manuscript review workshops should include a representative chapter of the work to be discussed;
    5. A budget statement; for manuscript review workshops, a sample budget might include honoraria, transportation, and lodging for manuscript readers, as well as costs associated with hosting an event;
    6. A list of grants and awards that have already been received or are pending