Introduction
The American Philosophical Society, commonly known as APS, is the oldest learned society in the United States. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, it advances knowledge through research funding, scholarly exchange, publications, collections and public education.
Its activities span the sciences and humanities. For researchers seeking grants and fellowships, APS offers support for fieldwork, archival research, laboratory investigations and sustained scholarly study.
2. History and Background
Founded to Advance Useful Knowledge
Benjamin Franklin established APS in Philadelphia to encourage the exchange of discoveries and practical knowledge. Its early interests extended across subjects including geography, astronomy, medicine, natural history and commerce.
Until approximately 1840, the Society fulfilled several functions associated with a national scientific academy, library and museum. It also helped inspire specialised organisations devoted to agriculture, chemistry and history.
Development of Research Support
APS began awarding research grants in 1933. Since then, it reports supporting more than 15,000 scholars, establishing grantmaking as a lasting part of its contribution to research and discovery.
Mission and Purpose
APS continues Franklin’s mission of “promoting useful knowledge.” It pursues this through three principal activities: engaging distinguished scholars through elected membership, supporting research and discovery, and maintaining historically significant research collections.
Its meetings encourage interdisciplinary discussion, while grants, lectures, publications, exhibitions and educational programmes connect scholarship with wider audiences. The Society presents intellectual inquiry and critical thought as serving the public interest.
This broad purpose makes APS relevant to researchers across scientific, historical, cultural and interdisciplinary fields.
Governance and Structure
Officers and Council
APS is governed through elected officers and councilors, together with committee chairs. Its published leadership listing, updated in August 2026, identifies Roger S. Bagnall as President and Patrick Spero as Chief Executive Officer.
Council includes representatives across the Society’s membership classes and chairs responsible for audit, budget, development, investment, library and museum activities, officer nominations and research. An executive committee brings together senior leadership.
Membership and Scholarship
Elected membership recognises distinguished contributions to knowledge. Membership activities and research grant programmes serve different purposes: the former supports scholarly recognition and exchange, while the latter provides financial assistance to eligible researchers.
Funding and Grants
Philanthropic Support
APS invites unrestricted donations and designated gifts supporting its research library, museum, publications and grant programmes. Its Friends and Alumni community contributes to these activities and helps sustain access to collections and public learning.
Donors can also establish named research grants through endowment contributions. The Society’s published guidance identifies a minimum contribution of US$50,000 for named grants in specified programmes. This is a donor contribution threshold, rather than an award amount for researchers.
Scale of Research Funding
For 2025–2026, APS reported awarding nearly US$2 million to approximately 300 scholars. Its grant portfolio includes smaller research awards and larger, highly competitive fellowships.
APS states that grants are made to individuals; institutions are not eligible to apply. Applicants must review each programme’s academic, geographic and research requirements. amphilsoc.org
Major Programs and Initiatives
Franklin Research Grants
Franklin Research Grants provide up to US$7,000 for noncommercial research. Eligible expenses include travel to archives and libraries, research materials, fieldwork and laboratory costs.
Applicants generally need a doctorate or published work of equivalent scholarly quality. Doctoral candidates are not eligible. The programme excludes expenses such as conference attendance, publication costs, institutional overhead and permanent equipment purchases.
Field Research and Specialist Fellowships
The Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research supports exploratory studies involving the collection of specimens and data.
Other programmes include the Phillips Fund for Native American Research, Daland Fellowships in Clinical Investigation, the John Hope Franklin Dissertation Fellowship, and library-based fellowships supporting research and digital scholarship.
Collections and Research Centres
APS also supports scholarship through its research library and specialist initiatives. Its collections are recognised for early American history, the history of science, medicine and technology, and Native American anthropology.
Its Center for the History of Science extends the Society’s longstanding interest in understanding scientific discovery and its historical development.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Support Across Disciplines
In 2025–2026, Franklin Research Grants alone awarded nearly US$675,000 to 113 scholars. These relatively modest awards help researchers undertake specific activities within larger projects.
Examples from Recent Awards
The Society’s 2026–2027 recipient list includes Hemant Raj Ghimire of Clark University, supported through the Lewis and Clark Fund to examine the local impacts and benefits of small hydropower projects in Nepal.
Another award supported Lena Heinrich of the University of Michigan in studying the foraging strategies of Amazonian stingless bees. Franklin funding also supported Julia Kate Clark’s archaeological work in northern Mongolia.
These examples illustrate the geographic and disciplinary range of funded research. They describe awarded projects rather than completed findings or independently measured outcomes.
Conclusion
The American Philosophical Society combines a historic scholarly mission with research grants, fellowships, collections and public education. Its philanthropic activities support individual researchers pursuing knowledge across the sciences and humanities.
Prospective applicants should consult programme-specific guidance for eligibility, permitted expenses and deadlines. Donors can explore contributions supporting research awards, collections and broader educational activities.
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