Science of Generosity Project Offers $3 million in Research Grants - Deadline April 1, 2009

The University of Notre Dame recently announced a $3 million research grants project on the Science of Generosity, supported with funding from the John Templeton Foundation and open to social science researchers worldwide. This is a reminder that the deadline for letters of inquiry (LOIs) proposing research on generosity in the human and social sciences is April 1,2009 (postmarked).

The Science of Generosity describes generosity as an important personal virtue, collective responsibility, and vital element in the building of social capital, community wellbeing, justice, and peace in the world. The aim of this RFP initiative is to stimulate scientific research on the practice of generosity in human life and society. We are particularly interested in better understanding three key aspects of generosity:

• The sources, origins, and causes of generosity
• The variety of manifestations and expressions of generosity
• The consequences of generosity for both the givers and receivers involved

Four to eight proposals for funding of between $250,000 and $500,000 will be awarded in this first wave of competition in 2009. A second RFP initiative (for funding up to $150,000) will commence September 1, 2009, with LOIs due December 1, 2009.

Proposed projects are encouraged but not limited to scholars in the disciplines of Anthropology, Behavioral Economics, Business & Finance, Communications, Cultural Studies, Economics, Education, Family and Developmental Studies, Geography, Law, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Psychology, Sociology, and Sociobiology. Proposals may be either discipline specific or interdisciplinary and may come from scholars with expertise in generosity research or those recently exploring the subject of generosity.

For detailed information about the Science of Generosity please refer to the project website: http://generosityresearch.nd.edu