IHS funds rigorous, independent scholarship on the institutional, economic, constitutional, and cultural foundations of a free society. Each RFP poses focused research questions; we fund work that best engages them. Awarded scholars retain full independence over design, analysis, conclusions, and publication.
The debate over AI existential risk demands clearer logic, realistic estimates, and honest reckoning with the limits of predicting an uncertain future. IHS invites academic scholars—particularly from the social sciences and humanities—to apply for funding for research examining the social, political, and economic mechanisms behind AI risk.
The concentration of power within a single branch of government—at the expense of the states, other branches, and individual communities—is an enduring concern for those who value self-governance. IHS invites academic scholars to apply for funding for research examining how that balance might be restored or reformed.
IHS remains open to outstanding projects that meaningfully advance the classical liberal tradition. Although we do not maintain open funding outside our formal RFP cycles, we occasionally support a very limited number of exceptional off-cycle opportunities. If you have a high-impact proposal, please send a brief overview by using the button below, and our team will be in touch about next steps.
No. Applications are open to any eligible scholar at an accredited institution. Prior participation is not required.
Closely. Funding decisions turn primarily on how well a proposal engages the questions posed by the RFP. Proposals that reframe or sidestep the central questions are unlikely to be competitive.
If an RFP isn’t the right fit for your current project, IHS offers additional funding pathways for faculty and doctoral researchers.