M.A. Scholarships

Graduate Student Research Fund

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University seeks to support the research of its graduate students working on master's or doctoral thesis projects.

This fund will provide grants up to $1,000 per year to students enrolled in the Indiana University M.A. or M.P.A. programs in philanthropic studies and nonprofit management. Doctoral students enrolled in the Indiana University Ph.D. programs are eligible for up to $2,000 per year. Research projects of students with a minor in philanthropic studies or nonprofit management may be funded in exceptional cases, at the discretion of the director of research.

The fund is not intended to support student research work for courses or for purposes other than thesis or dissertation projects. Course projects in lieu of thesis or dissertation will not be funded. Research funds will only be granted for research proposals that have been approved by the student’s master's or doctoral research committee.

Applications are accepted twice per year – once during the fall semester (by November 15) and once during the spring semester (by April 15) and reviewed by Chelsea Clark, research project coordinator at the school.

To apply for support for thesis research through the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Research Fund, please submit a cover letter including the following information:

  • Name, contact information (including phone and email address)
  • Title and brief description of the project (up to two pages), including contribution to the field, with appropriate citations and bibliography
  • Anticipated dates and duration of the project; and
  • Budget summary and total amount requested. Include a breakout of various expenses with a narrative description of needs and uses of the funds, in addition to other support applied for (if applicable). Funds may be used for postage, travel for data collection, research supplies, transcription costs, and other direct research expenses.

In addition, applications for research funds must be accompanied by a letter of support from the student’s advisor or committee chair. Proposals lacking this letter will not be considered for funding.

Send proposals and letters of support to:

Chelsea Clark
Research Project Coordinator
University Hall, Suite 3000
301 University Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5146
chelphil@iu.edu

“The ability to continue my education as the first in my family to obtain a four year and advanced degree has been one of the greatest achievements. Through the generosity of others, I was gifted the privilege to learn without the burden of cost. Receiving the Hearst Fellowship at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, not only afforded me an environment to learn but an ecosystem to thrive. Through my graduate assistantship, I discovered the city of Indianapolis and formed lifelong relationships with colleagues. As a part of the LFSOP community, I formed even more relationships volunteering at events such as the Women’s Retreat and attending a multitude of networking events with alumni. It is with utmost gratitude I continue my career in nonprofit sector paying the same generosity forward.”

—Milan Ball, M.A. student