American Council of Learned Societies
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a private, nonprofit federation of scholarly organizations in the humanities and related social sciences. Founded in 1919, ACLS represents 75-81 member scholarly organizations and serves as the preeminent representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. The organization is headquartered at 633 Third Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017-6706.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$200.3M
+7.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.4M
-11.0% YoY
Grant Count
122
-18.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$118K
+8.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ACLS advances humanistic studies in all fields of learning and maintains and strengthens relations among national societies devoted to such studies. The organization operates from a core belief that knowledge is a public good.
Primary funding areas include:
- Fellowships and stipends for postdoctoral scholars and graduate students
- Research programs and educational exchange initiatives
- Support for scholars at all career stages, from graduate students to distinguished professors to independent scholars
- Grants supporting innovative scholarship in the humanities and humanistic social sciences
Grantmaking
ACLS operates multiple fellowship and grant programs supporting scholars worldwide. Recent grant activity includes:
Ready to take the next step with American Council of Learned Societies?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ACLS funds scholars and institutions throughout the United States and internationally. Recent grantmaking has focused on institutions in California, New York, and Massachusetts, with support extending to scholars working in the U.S. and abroad.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $200,277,168
- Total Revenues: $45,967,231
- Total Expenses: $32,412,698
- Number of Employees: 48
Previous Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $186,000,000
- Total Revenues: $32,500,000
- Total Expenses: $34,000,000
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since April 1953
- EIN: 13-1851145
- Donations are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $200,277,168 | $185,729,806 | $180,070,107 |
| Revenue | $45,967,231 | $32,539,032 | $48,046,635 |
| Expenses | $32,412,698 | $33,962,271 | $37,813,427 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $17,587,689 | $8,798,923 | $17,565,136 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
19 open opportunities from American Council of Learned Societies
ACLS Digital Justice Development Grants
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
Amount
US $50,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
ACLS Digital Justice Seed Grants
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
Amount
US $10,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
ACLS Fellowships Grant
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
Amount
Up to US $60,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include California State University Foundation ($504,000), Eeps Foundation Inc ($457,729), Emory University ($292,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 84000 FREMONT, CA | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $60,000 |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $60,000 |
| AMHERST COLLEGE AMHERST, MA | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $98,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE-AAJC INC WASHINGTON, DC | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $78,000 |
| BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, IN | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $30,000 |
| BARNARD COLLEGE NEW YORK, NY | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $138,000 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE CHESTNUT HILL, MA | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $60,000 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $75,000 |
| BOWDOIN COLLEGE BRUNSWICK, ME | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $141,000 |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY WALTHAM, MA | STIPENDS/FELLOWSHIPS | $12,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joy Connolly serves as President of ACLS.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOY CONNOLLY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $596,596 |
| MARWAN M KRAIDY | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JIMENA CANALES | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| DANA WILLIAMS | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MELANI MCALISTER | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JAMES H AVERILL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PETER BALDWIN | DIRECTOR (THRU 5/2024) | 2 | — |
| SUZANNE PRESTON BLIER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| FRANCES DALY FERGUSSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RODERICK FERGUSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| THEODORE S GONZALVES | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| WILLIAM C KIRBY | DIRECTOR (THRU 5/2024) | 2 | — |
| MALINDA MAYNOR LOWERY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHELE LAMONT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DESIREE PEDESCLEAUX | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CARL PFORZHEIMER III | DIRECTOR (THRU 5/2024) | 2 | — |
| RICHARD J POWELL | DIRECTOR (THRU 5/2024) | 2 | — |
| STEVEN R SMITH | DIRECTOR (THRU 5/2024) | 2 | — |
| JAMES SHULMAN | VICE PRESIDENT & COO | 40 | $386,724 |
| MATTHEW SAPIENZA | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $258,197 |
| MARY RICHTER | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 40 | $219,179 |
| JOHN CHRISTY | DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROGRAM | 40 | $184,629 |
| KELLY BUTTERMORE | CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $171,011 |
| HEATHER MANGRUM | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $159,934 |
| DEENA RAGAVAN | DIR. OF INTERNATIONAL PROG | 40 | $139,918 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ACLS has announced multiple recent grant cycles and fellowship awards, including:
Final cycle of Intention Foundry Learned Society Microgrants
American Council of Learned Societies Awards Final Cycle of ...62 ACLS Fellowships awarded
2026 Luce-ACLS Dissertation Fellows in American Art announced
American Council of Learned Societies Awards 62 ACLS Fellowships \u2013\The organization maintains active grant programs and continues to expand opportunities for scholars across disciplines and career stages.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does American Council of Learned Societies fund?
ACLS advances humanistic studies in all fields of learning and maintains and strengthens relations among national societies devoted to such studies. The organization operates from a core belief that knowledge is a public good. Primary funding areas include: • Fellowships and stipends for postdoctoral scholars and graduate students • Research programs and educational exchange initiatives • Support for scholars at all career stages, from graduate students to distinguished professors to independen…
How do I apply for a grant from American Council of Learned Societies?
ACLS operates multiple fellowship and grant programs supporting scholars worldwide. Recent grant activity includes: **Recent Awards (2024):** • United Negro College Fund: $1,269,000 (stipends/fellowships) • The University of Chicago: $791,000 (stipends/fellowships) • California State University Foundation: (amount listed in source) **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,484–$1,269,000 • Approximately 20 live grant opportunities available • Programs include ACLS Fellowships, ACLS D…
Where does American Council of Learned Societies make grants?
ACLS funds scholars and institutions throughout the United States and internationally. Recent grantmaking has focused on institutions in California, New York, and Massachusetts, with support extending to scholars working in the U.S. and abroad.
What size grants does American Council of Learned Societies award?
In 2024, American Council of Learned Societies awarded 122 grants totaling $14.4M — an average of about $118K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is American Council of Learned Societies's EIN?
American Council of Learned Societies's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1851145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Council of Learned Societies's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
Verizon Foundation
BASKING RIDGE, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Tulsa Community Foundation
TULSA, OK
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,066
Total Given
$158.6M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
American Chemical Society
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
341
Total Given
$22.4M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with American Council of Learned Societies on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching American Council of Learned Societies to a real strategy.