Leakey Foundation Research Grant - Human Origins

Overview

The Leakey Foundation is the largest private funder of research on human origins, awarding approximately USD 1,000,000 per year in grants. Research grants support both PhD dissertation projects and post-PhD research across anthropology, paleoanthropology, primatology, paleoecology, and related fields. Applications are due twice a year: January 10 and July 15. The next deadline is 15 July 2026. The Foundation funds exploratory phases of new projects and innovative interdisciplinary work; it does not typically fund production phases of established projects. African fieldwork is strongly represented in the portfolio.

Benefits

• PhD candidates: grants up to USD 20,000.
• Post-PhD researchers and senior scientists: grants up to USD 30,000.
• Funds may cover fieldwork expenses, laboratory analyses, dating costs, equipment, travel, and living expenses during fieldwork.
• Two-year grant period (extensions considered on request).

Eligibility

• Must either already hold a PhD (or equivalent) in anthropology or a closely related discipline, or be enrolled in a doctoral programme with all requirements complete except the dissertation.
• Must be affiliated with an accredited academic or research institution at time of application.
• Research must address questions about human evolution, human behavior, or non-human primate behavior and ecology.
• Open to researchers worldwide, regardless of nationality. Many awardees conduct fieldwork in Africa.

How to apply

1. Read the full programme description and past-awardee list at leakeyfoundation.org/grant/research/ to assess fit before applying.
2. Create an applicant account on the Leakey Foundation’s online application portal (link available from the grants page).
3. Prepare your research proposal (up to 3,000 words), budget with justification, two letters of reference from researchers familiar with your work, and a brief CV (maximum 5 pages).
4. All materials must be submitted through the online portal by 15 July 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (23:59 GMT + 1 day).
5. Awards are announced approximately four months after the deadline.
6. Awardees must provide a one-page report within 30 days of project completion.