Spring Centennial Center Research Grant Program

The Spring Centennial Center Research Grant Program, administered by the American Political Science Association (APSA) through its Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs, offers targeted funding support for political science research. The program, previously known as the Small Research Grant Program, is specifically designed to assist scholars who may face structural barriers to traditional research funding within academia. The APSA, as a prominent organization in the field of political science, uses this program to expand the research capacities of its members and promote equitable access to scholarly resources. This annual funding initiative supports APSA members who fall into specific categories: contingent or non-tenure track faculty, faculty members in departments that do not grant PhDs, and graduate students in political science or related fields such as international relations or politics. In addition, independent political scientists not affiliated with academic institutions may be eligible under certain conditions. The maximum funding per award is $2,500, and awards are not renewable. Grants are allocated via a peer-review process, with only a small number granted each year. Prior recipients have leveraged these funds to produce scholarly publications, enhance student research involvement, and catalyze additional funding through seed-stage support. Funds awarded through the program may be used for a variety of direct research-related expenses. These include travel to archives, interviews, research assistance, coding of instruments, and the acquisition of datasets. The program also accommodates accessibility needs by allowing scholars with disabilities to apply funding toward auxiliary research devices or services. However, several categories of spending are explicitly disallowed: travel to professional meetings, salary for the principal investigator, secretarial support (except for final manuscript preparation), and any overhead or indirect costs. The funds must be expended by September 30 of the year following the award, with a final report due by December 31 of that same year. Award payments are reportable income and will result in issuance of a 1099 form. Applicants must be current APSA members at both the time of application and when funds are disbursed. Eligibility further requires that the principal investigator and any co-investigators fall into approved categories. These include faculty at non-PhD-granting institutions, non-tenure track faculty at PhD-granting institutions, unemployed political scientists, those working in research-focused organizations, or current PhD students in political science or closely related disciplines. Applicants who have received Centennial Center research funding in the prior four years are not eligible. Furthermore, the proposed research must not begin before June 1 of the application year. Application materials must include a detailed research proposal (up to five pages, single-spaced), a title page with a 150-word abstract, a current CV, a budget with clearly itemized research expenses, and a bibliography. Graduate student applicants must also submit at least one letter of recommendation. Proposals must address a significant issue within political science, detailing the research design and its relevance to the discipline. While not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to discuss any intended public engagement components of their work. The 2026 application deadline is set for March 15. Applications will be reviewed competitively by a peer-review panel, with award decisions based on merit, alignment with the program’s goals, and the applicant’s eligibility profile. For further information or clarification not addressed in the program’s FAQ section, applicants are encouraged to contact the APSA Centennial Center team at [email protected].