What the grant is for
This fund was established through the generosity of the late Frederick W. Hilles to assist full-time early-career faculty members on continuing appointment in the humanities at Yale with the publication of their original manuscripts. It is administered by the Whitney Humanities Center; a committee appointed by the director of the WHC will review the applications.
The Hilles Fund supports expenses related to the publication of a scholarly book, which may include e.g., indexing, images, charts and maps, copyediting, proofreading, fact checking, publisher’s subventions, and translations.
Preference will be given to first-time applications from assistant and associate professors. As funding permits, the committee will consider applications from other full-time faculty members (lecturers, lectors, and adjuncts) who have been members of the Yale College faculty for at least two years. Normally, no more than $7,000 will be awarded to any applicant for any one book. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
How to apply
Authors should apply only after the manuscript has been accepted for publication by a university or scholarly press. Application letters should include the following:
- A letter of application that includes a summary of the manuscript.
- At least one reader’s report attesting to the merits of the manuscript.
- A letter of acceptance and endorsement from the publisher that breaks down publication costs and, if a subvention is requested, explains how a subvention will be used.
- An itemized list of manuscript preparation expenses not paid by the press, e.g., indexing, images, charts and graphs, and permissions.
- If the book project is eligible for funding from another Yale department or program, please provide details.
Please combine the above elements of the application into one PDF. Applications are accepted twice each year, with November 1 and April 1 deadlines. Kindly submit applications by email to Inessa Laskova.