The Townsend Center Working Groups program supports research in the humanities and the humanities-related social sciences. The Townsend Center funds approximately 70 groups per year, ranging across a rich array of subjects and disciplines. The aim of these working groups is to bring together faculty and graduate students at Berkeley to create scholarly dialogue and foster the free exchange of ideas on shared research interests.
Applications for new and renewal Working Groups for the 2025-26 academic year are due by April 18, 2025.
For new and renewal award applicants: The primary coordinator of each working group must be affiliated with at least one UC Berkeley department, which will serve as the “home” department and will administer the funds awarded by the Townsend Center.
For three-year award applicants: Working Groups that have been sponsored by the Townsend Center for more than ten continuous years are invited to apply for funding for a three-year period. The primary coordinator of each group must be affiliated with at least one UC Berkeley department, which will serve as the “home” department and will administer the funds awarded by the Townsend Center.
2025-26 Working Group awards for the academic year are $500 for new groups and $1000 for renewal groups.
New and renewal Working Groups have one full year to use the award funds. Renewal groups should note that unspent balances from the current year do not carry over into the following year.
Working Groups granted a three-year award have three years to use the funds. Should the group reapply for funding at the end of the three-year period, unspent balances will not carry over to the following three-year period.
To apply, create an account on (or log into) Submittable according to the category into which your group falls: