Our PrioritiesInvest in Leadership Development

Leadership Fellowships

To give adequate attention to the most important needs and issues of the times, we regularly assess our slate of fellowships, creating new programs and retiring others as necessary. We’re proud of every fellow who made valuable contributions to their fields and the world with Luce support.

• Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art

  We offer support for scholarly training in Art History by awarding dissertation fellowships annually to doctoral candidates at colleges and universities in the United States.

  Administered by the American Council of Learned Societies on behalf of the Luce Foundation, the program provides stipends as well as travel and research funds.

  Graduate students in any stage of Ph.D. dissertation research or writing related to the history of visual arts in America are eligible to apply. While we welcome topics that are historically and/or theoretically grounded, an art object or image should be a central focus of the project.

  To see the full eligibility guidelines and application requirements, visit the ACLS website.

  View Application Details(this link opens in new window)

• Luce ACLS Program in China Studies

  The goal of the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies is to preserve and boost the vitality of this field in the US by awarding fellowships and grants designed primarily for scholars early in their careers.

  To date, we’ve proudly supported over 100 academics—pre-and post-dissertation.

  The Luce/ACLS Program Early Career Fellowships (formerly “postdoctoral fellowships”) are granted to pre-tenure scholars who are preparing their PhD dissertation for publication, or who are embarking on new research projects.

  We welcome applications in all disciplines of the humanities and humanities-related social sciences. The program supports the study of Chinese culture and society in all periods. Research focused on Hong Kong, Tibet, and Taiwan is also eligible.

  View Application Details(this link opens in new window)

• Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship

  Launched in 2018, the Henry Luce Foundation’s Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship supports knowledge makers and knowledge keepers serving Indigenous communities in the United States through a competitive program administered by First Nations Development Institute (FNDI).

  Luce and our partners at FNDI believe that knowledge and ideas have the power to transform communities—at the local, national, and global levels—but only if it’s placed in the hands of passionate thinkers who want to build it and share it. By investing in intellectual leaders who are committed to spreading their work within the collective, we can empower the people that our fellows aim to address and serve.

  In keeping with Luce tradition, we maintain an expansive definition of intellectual leadership which includes spiritual leaders, media makers, scientists, health professionals, academics, curators, artists, writers, and policy makers, among others. Their work may take many forms, such as journalism, visual art, film and video, speeches or sermons, educational curricula, music, theater, formal scholarship or research, public health strategies, legal arguments, fiction, and policy analysis.

  The selection process for the fifth cohort of the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship is underway. We’ll kick off the application period for the sixth cohort in spring or early summer 2025.

  View Competition Details(this link opens in new window)

• Luce Scholars Program

  Established in 1974, the Luce Scholars Program is a competitive leadership development fellowship that provides emerging leaders with immersive cultural and professional experiences that deepen their understanding of Asia’s cultures and people. Through this year-long immersion, the Program equips scholars with knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world.

  Learn More and Apply(this link opens in new window)