Background
The Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars offers grants in support of the
scholarly activities of members in good standing at the date of application and payment.
The grants are made possible by an endowment to Simon Fraser University generously
established by the Wosk family to support independent scholarship. The endowment
is administered by SFU Interdisciplinary Programs, which makes grants on the
recommendations of the Academy.
Grant Conditions
Grant recipients will not be required to submit an accounting of their use of grant monies.
They will, however, be expected to:
• acknowledge the contribution of Simon Fraser University and the Canadian
Academy of Independent Scholars in any publications developed with the help of
the grant.
• provide, on completion of the activities, or their term as Scholar-in-Residence, a
brief report—written or oral—on the activities for which they received the grant.
• provide copies for the Academy’s library of publications they developed with the
help of the grant.
• agree that the Academy may publish their name and the nature of their work.
Grant recipients are responsible for any taxes payable in respect of any grant they
receive from the Academy and will be required to supply their Social Insurance Numbers
if they are awarded a grant.
It is not a condition of any grant that the recipient be required to perform any services
—volunteer or other—for the Academy.
Application Procedures
Applicants must be members of the Academy in good standing at the dates of
application and payment. Affiliate members are not eligible for grants.
Applicants must apply to the Grants Committee using the prescribed application form
(see below). The form must be completed by the applicant and received by the Committee
on or before the deadline (see below).
Grants are subject to the availability of funds and the judgement of the Academy.
All decisions are final. The Academy reserves the right not to provide reasons for its
decisions. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply at the next deadline.
Grants currently available
1. Independent Scholar Grants
The objectives of Independent Scholar Grants include helping scholars with the
cost of research, writing, publishing, creating a work of art or other artifact in any
medium, or any other purpose relevant to their field of scholarly interest. The
grant may be used to purchase goods or services (including travel, meals and
accommodation). Individual grants between $200 and $500 are awarded from
the total available grant funds of $1,000 each year.
Current deadline for application: 2011-05-15. Grants are available for past,
present and future activities that began, or are expected to begin, between
2010-12-01 and 2011-11-30.
Grants will be paid by September 2011.
Next deadline: 2012-05-15 - for activities that began, or are expected to begin,
between 2011-12-01 and 2012-11-30.
2. Scholar-in-Residence Grant
The Academy also has a Scholar-in-residence Grant Program that includes a $2,500
stipend and the use of research resources at Simon Fraser University. The grant is for
a twelve month non-renewable term, beginning on April 1 and ending on March 31
the following year. It is payable, in arrears, in two equal installments in September
and March.
The next grant application deadline for the Scholar-in-Residence Grant is 2011-11-30.
A former Scholar-in-Residence may apply for a subsequent term but four years must
elapse between terms. If there is no appropriate applicant for the Scholar-in-Residence
position, the Academy may invite a member to fill the position, even if the individual
has held it within the four previous years. Scholars-in-Residence are not eligible for an
Independent Scholar Grant during their term as Scholar-in-Residence.