Application Guide
How to Apply for Faculty Expense Support
at Institute for Humane Studies
🏢 About Institute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing classical liberal ideas by supporting scholars who apply principles of freedom to policy, culture, and human flourishing. Unlike traditional academic funders, IHS focuses on developing a network of scholars who are committed to exploring and promoting individual liberty, free markets, and limited government. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven community that values intellectual diversity and the practical impact of ideas.
About This Role
As a Faculty Expense Support specialist, you will manage the grant application process for faculty seeking $500–$5,000 to cover research-related expenses such as conference travel, archival research, and manuscript preparation. Your role is crucial in ensuring that IHS funds are allocated to projects that align with classical liberal research priorities and have clear publication or dissemination plans. By facilitating these grants, you directly enable scholars to advance their work and contribute to the broader intellectual ecosystem.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing incoming grant applications, corresponding with faculty applicants to clarify budget details, and coordinating with IHS staff to ensure alignment with research priorities. You might also attend virtual meetings to discuss funding strategies, track expense reports, and help scholars navigate the reimbursement process. The role is remote, so you'll primarily work via email and video conferencing, managing multiple applications and deadlines.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Institute for Humane Studies Is Looking For
- Active faculty member at an accredited college or university with a strong record of research in the classical liberal tradition.
- Experience in applying for or managing research grants, with a clear understanding of allowable expenses and budget justification.
- Demonstrated ability to plan and execute research projects with tangible outputs, such as publications or conference presentations.
- Alignment with IHS's mission and research priorities, including a commitment to advancing principles of freedom and human flourishing.
📝 Tips for Applying to Institute for Humane Studies
Ensure your application clearly states your active faculty status and affiliation with an accredited institution, as this is a hard requirement.
Submit your application at least six weeks before the expense is incurred; highlight your awareness of this deadline in your cover letter to show attention to process.
Explicitly connect your research project to classical liberal themes and IHS's research priorities, using keywords from their mission statement.
Provide a detailed budget that justifies each expense (e.g., conference fees, travel, research assistant hours) and ties it directly to the project's outcomes.
Include a clear dissemination plan, such as target journals, conferences, or public engagement outlets, to demonstrate the project's potential impact.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your active faculty status and how your research aligns with classical liberal principles, referencing specific IHS priorities.', 'A concise summary of your research project, including its objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.', 'A breakdown of the requested expenses and why they are essential for completing the project within the proposed timeline.', "A dissemination plan that outlines how the results will be shared (e.g., publications, presentations) and how it advances IHS's mission."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review IHS's website, especially their research priorities and previously funded projects, to understand what they look for in applications.
- → Read the Institute for Humane Studies' mission statement and recent publications to grasp their intellectual framework and current focus areas.
- → Research the classical liberal tradition and key debates within it to ensure your project is positioned appropriately.
- → Look into the backgrounds of IHS staff and affiliated scholars to understand the network and potential collaborators.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to demonstrate active faculty status or applying without an accredited affiliation, which disqualifies you immediately.
- Submitting a vague or poorly justified budget that doesn't clearly link expenses to research activities.
- Ignoring the six-week advance submission requirement and applying after the expense has been incurred.
- Not aligning your project with IHS's classical liberal focus or failing to articulate a clear publication or dissemination plan.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Institute for Humane Studies!