Gerald L. Davis Grants — Presence and Project Pathways

About this program

The American Folklore Society's Gerald L. Davis Grants award $500–$2,000 (plus an AFS annual‑meeting registration waiver) to support participation, inclusion, and community‑driven projects that foster diversity in the field. Two pathways are offered: the Presence Pathway provides travel funds to attend the AFS Annual Meeting (apply by August 1 with a CV/resume, a ≤250‑word statement of reasons/impact, and estimated expenses/amount requested; awardees are notified mid‑September/October, receive a mentor, and funds are dispersed at the meeting), while the Project Pathway funds community scholarship projects (apply by December 2 with a CV for each applicant, a project description addressing idea, community benefit, activities, timeline, success measures, and estimated expenses; collaborative proposals are accepted with one submitter; notifications in early January). Eligible applicants include graduate students, community scholars, public‑folklore staff, and others working with communities; all materials must be submitted in a single text or PDF and awardees participate in mentorship and post‑award reporting conversations with AFS.