The Leakey Foundation: Research Grants

The Leakey Foundation: Research Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Leakey Foundation
Amount: Up to US $30,000
Last Updated: November 23, 2025

Summary

The Leakey Foundation offers research grants aimed at advancing the understanding of human origins. With an annual funding commitment of about $1,000,000, the foundation supports both PhD dissertation and post-PhD research across various disciplines. Grants range up to $20,000 for PhD candidates and $30,000 for senior researchers. The foundation prioritizes innovative, exploratory projects that align with its mission, welcoming applications from researchers at all career stages.

Overview

Funding exploration and discovery The Leakey Foundation is the leading nonprofit funder of research dedicated to understanding human origins. Each year, we award approximately $1,000,000 in grants and scholarships, advancing our mission to explore and explain the human story. Leakey Foundation Research Grants support both PhD dissertation research and post-PhD research across multiple disciplines related to human origins, evolution, and behavior. We prioritize funding for the exploratory phases of promising new research projects. We particularly value innovative, multidisciplinary approaches that expand the boundaries of our current understanding. We welcome proposals from researchers at all stages of their careers, especially PhD candidates. If your research aligns with our mission and you have an innovative or multidisciplinary project, we encourage you to apply. Research Grants The Leakey Foundation exclusively funds research related specifically to human origins. The majority of The Leakey Foundation’s Research Grants awarded to PhD candidates are up to $20,000 Larger grants given to senior scientists and post-PhD researchers may be funded up to $30,000. The disciplines supported include archaeology, biological anthropology, paleoanthropology, primate behavioral ecology, genetics, geology, anatomy, morphology, paleobotany, and paleoclimatology. Our current funding focus areas include: Paleoanthropology of the Miocene, Pliocene, and PleistocenePrimates: Evolution, behavior, morphology, ecology, endocrinology, genetics, isotope studiesModern hunter-gatherer groups

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Advanced doctoral students and established scientists are eligible for Leakey Foundation Research Grants.For PhD candidates: advanced to candidacy (all but dissertation) before the deadline for application.There are no citizenship restrictions; however, all applications must be in English.Must be affiliated with an academic or research institution.Candidates must be fully compliant on all prior Leakey Foundation awards.Small grants cover research expenses directly related and essential to the project (i.e., travel, living expenses during fieldwork, supplies, research assistance, and other relevant expenditures).Aid is not offered for salary and/or fringe benefits of applicant or senior project personnel, child care, equipment, travel to meetings, institutional overhead, publication costs, or institutional support.If the primary work of the project with which you are involved will be performed by a graduate student for whom you are the advisor, the project should be submitted under the graduate student’s name, and will be subject to the funding limitations for PhD Candidates.If you have received a Leakey Foundation grant in the past, you must complete all reporting requirements before receiving a new one.

Ineligibility

Aid is not offered for salary and/or fringe benefits of applicant or senior project personnel, tuition, non-project personnel, child care, equipment, travel to meetings, institutional overhead, publication costs or institutional support. The purchase of expensive permanent equipment such as computers, cameras, video and recording equipment, vehicles, boats, etc. is not generally funded by the Leakey Foundation.Awards are not made to individuals.