The Townsend Center Working Groups program supports research in the humanities and the humanities-related social sciences. The Townsend Center funds approximately 80 groups per year, ranging across a rich array of subjects and disciplines. The aim of these working groups is to bring together faculty and graduate students at Berkeley in an effort to create scholarly dialogue and to foster the free exchange of ideas on shared research interests.
Applications for new and renewal Working Groups for the 2024-25 academic year are due by April 19, 2024.
For new and renewal award applicants: The primary coordinator of each working group must be affiliated with at least one UC Berkeley department, which will serve as the “home” department and will administer the funds awarded by the Townsend Center.
For three-year award applicants: Working Groups that have been sponsored by the Townsend Center for more than ten continuous years are invited to apply for funding for a three-year period. The primary coordinator of each group must be affiliated with at least one UC Berkeley department, which will serve as the “home” department and will administer the funds awarded by the Townsend Center.
2024-25 Working Group awards range from $250-$750 for the academic year.
New and renewal Working Groups have one full year to use the award funds. Renewal groups should please note that unspent balances from the current year will be subtracted from the following year’s award.
Working Groups granted a three-year award have three years to use the funds. Should the group reapply for funding at the end of the three-year period, unspent balances will be subtracted from the following three-year award.
To apply, create an account on (or log into) Submittable according to the category into which your group falls: