February 27, 2026 (Louisville, KY) — Louisville Institute is pleased to announce the award of 25 grants through its Grant for Researchers (GFR) program for the 2026–2027 academic year. The grants, totaling approximately $1.33 million and funded through the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc., will support scholarly research at the intersection of Christian faith, the life of the church, and the broader social landscape of North America.

The Grant for Researchers supports scholars and researchers across a range of disciplines who are engaged in work that advances understanding of American Christianity. Awards of up to $55,000 are available to researchers based in the United States and Canada who have completed a terminal research degree. The program encompasses and reimagines the Louisville Institute’s previous Project and Sabbatical Grants for Researchers within a single, flexible grant program.

This year’s cohort reflects the remarkable range of scholarship supported by the Louisville Institute. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants through a rigorous multi-stage review process conducted by an independent selection committee, the 25 funded projects span disciplines including American religious history, sociology of religion, biblical studies, practical theology, psychology of religion, political science, and more. Their research addresses topics as varied as the spiritual dimensions of the Mexican American civil rights movement, the impact of artificial intelligence on Christian workers’ sense of vocation, faith-based responses to environmental crisis, the ongoing legacies of Native American boarding schools, and new models for integrating chaplaincy into geriatric care.

“These 25 projects showcase meaningful scholarship at the intersection of faith, culture, and public life and represent the types of research the Louisville Institute is committed to supporting” said the Rev. Dr. Vanessa Lovelace, Executive Director of the Louisville Institute. “We are pleased to help advance research that not only demonstrates academic excellence but also holds real promise for strengthening the church and the communities it serves.”

Grant recipients will gather at Winter Colloquia in January 2027, a three-day convening in which award recipients from multiple Louisville Institute programs collaborate on their projects.

2026–2027 Grant for Researchers Award Recipients