Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships
Funding Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
Foundation
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- D. degrees in any field of study in the humanities and social sciences at accredited graduate schools in the United States
Geography
- Be campus-based at the institution
Other requirements
- _You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website](https://newcombefoundation.org/fellowships/)._
- Applicants must
- Be candidates for Ph
- Students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields may apply provided questions of religious understanding, ethics, or values are central to the dissertation
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: Candidates working on D.Min., JD, Psy
- Not eligible: D., Ed
- Not eligible: D. and other professional degrees are not eligible
- Not eligible: This Fellowship Program does not provide funding for distance learning or online programs, or for degrees heavily dependent on distance learning components (research travel excluded)
Overview
_NOTE:_
- _Pre-Proposal - This deadline represents when the First Round application closes._
- _Full Proposal - Invite Only - This deadline represents when the finalists need to submit their application, full proposal, and recommendations._
Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships
Now in its fifth decade, the Newcombe Fellowship has become a nationally recognized award that distinguishes recipients within their fields. Fellows receive a $31,000 stipend to complete the writing stage of their dissertation. The Newcombe Fellowships have supported over 1400 graduate students who have written dissertations which respond to and participate in, deep and meaningful conversations within religion, values, and ethics. The conversation may be from the ancient past, with modern relevance; it may be a unique perspective on a well-known topic; it may revolve around culture, art, societies, or identity. Those awarded a Newcombe Fellowship are often at the forefront of creative and original scholarship, proposing new insights and ground-breaking work in the questions and conversations surrounding religion, ethics, and values.
Candidates are evaluated based on scholarly excellence; quality and originality of the project; and commitment to research that advances religious understanding, ethics, and values.
The purpose of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship is to offset living expenses while the dissertation is completed. Fellows must use the award for the final year of writing the dissertation. Fellows’ graduate schools will be asked to waive tuition and fees while maintaining health insurance for Newcombe Fellows.
Applicants must have completed all course work, passed all preliminary examinations, and received approval for their research proposals or plans by the November deadline.
The application is open primarily to fields of study in the humanities and social sciences. Scholars engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math fields may apply provided questions of religion, ethics, or values are central to the dissertation.
Funding
$31,000 for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing (No deferments, half-year, or partial awards). Fellows’ graduate schools will be asked to waive tuition and fees while maintaining health insurance for Newcombe Fellows.
Eligibility
_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._
- Applicants must:
- be candidates for Ph.D. degrees in any field of study in the humanities and social sciences at accredited graduate schools in the United States.
- Students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields may apply provided questions of religious understanding, ethics, or values are central to the dissertation.
- be ABD, and have completed all pre-dissertation requirements fulfilled by the application deadline, including approval of the dissertation proposal.
- be in the writing stage of the dissertation.
- Usually, this means that fieldwork or other research is complete and writing has begun by the time of the award.
- expect to complete the dissertation between April 1 and August 31, the year of the tenure of the award.
- have never held a similar national award for the final year of dissertation writing.
- The program of study must:
- be campus-based at the institution.
- Fellows are not required to live in the U.S. during the tenure of the award.
- The Dissertation Fellowship is intended for applicants who are completing their first doctoral degree.
Ineligibility
- Candidates working on D.Min., JD, Psy.D., Ed.D. and other professional degrees are not eligible.
- This Fellowship Program does not provide funding for distance learning or online programs, or for degrees heavily dependent on distance learning components (research travel excluded).
What The Charlotte W Newcombe Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 40
- Total given
- $2.11M
- Median grant
- $25K
- Range
- $720–$986K
- By dollars: New Jersey 62%, Pennsylvania 18%, Maryland 9%. Top recipient cities: Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 3% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
The Institute for Citizens and Scholars · Princeton, NJ
Doctoral fellowships and scholarships
$986K
Georgia State University · Atlanta, GA
Mature students scholarships
$75K
CUNY School of Professional Studies · New York, NY
Mature students scholarships
$50K
Morgan State University · Baltimore, MD
Mature students scholarships
$50K
Penn State University · University Park, PA
Scholarships for students with disabilities
$50K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Humanities
- Science research
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
U.S. National Science Foundation
Amount
$8,500,000 total
Deadline
October 21, 2026
Activate Fellowship
Activate Global Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
October 23, 2026
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The Computing Research Association Inc
Amount
$32,000 annually plus $12,000 cost of education allowance
Deadline
October 27, 2026
Ready to apply for Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships?
Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.
You found Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships. Now let's win it.