Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Digital Knowledge Sharing Fellowships

The American Philosophical Society's Library & Museum in Philadelphia invites applications for short-term Digital Knowledge Sharing Fellowships to support digital projects that connect archives and Indigenous communities anywhere in the world. These funding opportunities are part of the Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI), supported by the Mellon Foundation. Fellows will work with the Library & Museum’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR), which aims to promote greater collaboration between scholars, archives, and Indigenous communities throughout the Americas.

Selected fellows will travel to the APS in Philadelphia in July 2026 to participate in a workshop to share their projects-in-progress, and discuss opportunities and challenges for accomplishing their goals. Following the workshop fellows will continue to work with APS staff and affiliates to complete their objectives. Past projects have focused on materials housed at the APS as well as collections held at other archives and libraries, and have included language reclamation initiatives, recording oral histories, territorial and historical research, and the establishment and growth of community-based archives, among others.

The fellowship stipend is $3,000 plus the costs associated with visiting the APS for the summer workshop with other DKS fellows. The workshop will take place July 29-30, 2026.

These fellowships are open to people at any stage of their career, regardless of academic background, including those based in communities or universities, and scholars and researchers in any field. Preference will be given to those who have sustained personal engagement or lived experience with Indigenous communities. We particularly encourage applications from Native American and Indigenous Studies scholars in training, tribal college or university faculty, and members of Indigenous communities, as well as from scholars working closely with Indigenous communities on community-based and community-directed projects.

The Center for Native American and Indigenous Research works with Indigenous communities throughout North America and with scholars in many disciplines.The heart of CNAIR’s mission is working collaboratively to reconnect collections to communities. These efforts focus on enhancing access by providing digital copies of APS materials to Indigenous cultural centers, archives, language programs, and schools, and building lasting, collaborative relationships based upon our shared values of preserving knowledge of the past for the benefit of future generations. To learn more about CNAIR, available fellowship and internship opportunities, and to browse the APS's Library & Museum’s holdings related to over 650 different Indigenous cultures, visit www.amphilsoc.org/CNAIR.

Eligibility

• This fellowship is open to applicants anywhere in the world, including those who are not US citizens or residents, but it does not provide visa sponsorship
• Applications are welcome from individuals or teams, but transportation costs to attend the July 2026 workshop are only available for one person per project

Terms

• $3,000 stipend
• Travel costs for attending summer DKS Fellows workshop in late July 2026

Application Instructions

The following materials should be submitted via Interfolio

• An introductory cover letter describing the applicant(s) and their relationship to the project and to the Indigenous community, such as participation in or engagement with community initiatives or activities.
• A proposal (500 words) that outlines the work to be undertaken during the fellowship term, and how the fellowship will support completion of the project or a stage of the project.
• C.V. or Resume
• The names and contact information for two people who will provide letters of recommendation, offering support of the proposed project and speaking to the credentials of the applicant
  *For those working on a community-based project, one of these letters should be from the Indigenous community where the project is based.

Deadline: March 2, 2026

If you have questions about this fellowship, please contact Ruth Rouvier at rrouvier@amphilsoc.org 

If you encounter difficulties with the application form, please contact Interfolio Help at help@interfolio.com or (877) 997-8807.