APARRI Working Group Grants
Overview
The Asia Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) Working Group Grant supports collaborations that advance the scholarly and public knowledge of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) religions.
We invite proposals for collaborations that engage AAPI religions insofar as they relate to either democracy or pluralistic engagement or both.
At the end of the grant cycle, working groups are expected to produce a tangible product that furthers scholarly and public knowledge of AAPI religions. Examples include:
- An edited volume
- A co-authored article
- A podcast series
- A public symposium
- Other comparable product
Award Amount (maximum)
- $7,000 per working group
Working groups must have at least three members. Funds may be used for stipends (up to $500 per member listed on the proposal), travel, lodging, meeting costs, honoraria (e.g., for non-working group speaker or consultant), and the purchase of books.
Key Dates
- Applications open: Now accepting applications
- Application deadline: December 15, 2026
- Decision notifications sent: By February 15, 2027
- Attend APARRI 2028: June 2028
- All grant funds must be spent by: May 15, 2028
- Final report due: June 15, 2028
APARRI is committed to building a robust intellectual community. All grant awardees are required to attend, and encouraged to present at, an APARRI conference.
Eligibility
Requirements
- The working group leader or coordinator must hold a doctorate and have a formal affiliation with a higher education institution. Independent scholars and graduate students may serve as members of the working group.
- Working groups must include at least three members.
- No more than two group members may come from the same institution.
- The project’s focus must be on AAPI religions.
- Applicants who have previously been awarded a Working Group Grant may not apply again.
- An individual cannot be part of more than one working group proposal.
We encourage, but do not require:
- Including independent scholars, graduate students, and other non-faculty members as members of the working group.
- In-person meetings.
- Interdisciplinary, interethnic, and interreligious collaborations.
- Submitting a proposal for one or two members to present at the APARRI conference.
Application Guidelines
All applications must be submitted online and must include the following materials:
- Online Application Form
- Proposal (no more than 5 pages, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 11-point font, inclusive of any footnotes or endnotes). Please use the following subheadings:
- Title
- Working Group Members (note Primary Contact)
- Abstract (max of 350 words)
- Goals
- Significance of project
- Description of project
- Product/Deliverable
- Timeline
- Budget, including other potential sources of funding (if relevant), with budget justification (maximum two pages)
- Curriculum Vitae for Each Member (Maximum two pages per individual CV)
- Letter from Financial Administrator
A letter from your institution’s financial administrator confirming that they will support the administration of the subaward.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria:
- The potential to advance scholarly and public knowledge of AAPI religions and democracy, especially of groups that are underrepresented in the field.
- The feasibility of the project and the likelihood that the working group will produce a tangible product.
- The potential to foster interdisciplinary, interethnic, and interreligious perspectives.
What the Grant Covers
Eligible Expenses
- Travel, meals, and lodging for group meetings (retreat center, hotel, conference center)
- Stipends for participation in the group (up to $500 per person)
- Honoraria and travel-related expenses for guest speakers
- Equipment, supplies, and materials to support group meetings and discussions
Expenses Not Covered
- Computer equipment, tablets, and office furniture
- Food delivered to homes, or food consumed during online meetings
- Stipends for writing the grant proposal
- WiFi or other home utility fees
- Travel, meals, or lodging for family and friends
- Travel for attendance at disciplinary or professional conferences, including the APARRI conference
Receiving Your Grant Funds
Disbursement Method
- APARRI Working Group Grants are disbursed to the group leader’s institution as a subaward. Proposals may include an institutional surcharge of up to 10% for managing the grant; please check your institution’s policies.
Disbursement Timeline
- Funds are disbursed once financial information has been submitted.
- Awards are processed as subawards to the grantee’s institution, which takes 6–8 weeks after completion of financial paperwork. This process requires coordination with grant administrators at the awardee’s institution and can be time-consuming.
Important: Subawards not processed by April 15, 2027 will be cancelled.
Responsibilities After Receiving the Grant
- Attend the 2028 APARRI Conference. Conference attendance cannot be budgeted as part of the grant. Awardees are responsible for registration costs, though financial assistance may be available through a separate conference scholarship application.
- Complete the project and use all grant funds by May 15, 2028.
- Submit a final report by June 15, 2028.
FAQs
The Primary Contact, whose institution will receive the funds, needs to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The Primary Contact’s financial administrator should be consulted to determine whether there is such a requirement for any disbursement to the working group members, e.g., stipend, reimbursement
APARRI will begin accepting applications August 1, 2026. Completed applications must be submitted through the APARRI online grant administration system no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on December 15, 2026.
No. Alterations are not permitted once an application has been submitted.
Notifications will be sent via email by February 15, 2027.
Grant activities and use of funds must be completed no later than May 15, 2028.