Periclean Faculty Leader (PFL) Grant Information
Project Pericles partners with colleges and universities to place civic learning at the heart of higher education.
Together with faculty, campus leaders, and communities, we create innovative learning opportunities that spark students’ curiosity, shape civic identity, and foster the agency and confidence needed to revitalize democracy. The Periclean Faculty Leader (PFL) Program awards grants to faculty to incorporate creative, high-impact pedagogy into courses that empower students to make positive change in their communities and help revitalize democracy.
Periclean Faculty Grant Opportunities
Project Pericles invites grant applications from faculty from Periclean institutions aimed at strengthening connections between course content, community-engaged learning, and civic skill-building. Please refer to our Colleges and Universities page to view the current list of Periclean Institutions eligible for this opportunity.
This program is generously funded by the Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the Eugene M. Lang Foundation.
PFL Course Grants are awarded at two funding levels:
- $3,000 supports enhancements to an existing course, such as revising a course to deepen civic outcomes or strengthening a relationship with an existing community partner.
- $5,000 supports the design and launch of a new course developed in collaboration with a community partner.
Course Themes
We welcome courses across all disciplines and subjects. Courses should have one or more themes systematically embedded into the course content/outcomes.
Civic Identity & Participation
Examines students’ development as civic actors, including how individuals and communities exercise voice and power in a democracy. Emphasizes reflection, ethical responsibility, belonging, and participation in democratic practices such as dialogue, advocacy, policy engagement, and collective decision-making across life paths and careers.
Community Engagement
Prepares students to address shared societal challenges in partnership with community partners through partnerships focused on mutuality. These projects highlight public-facing scholarship, participatory research, and/or academically grounded problem-solving that builds long-term community partner capacity.
Building Bridges Across Difference
Equips students to navigate polarized social and information environments. This theme includes constructive dialogue and free expression across identity, economic, and political differences; advanced media and information analysis; and skills for listening, disagreeing, and collaborating around a shared purpose.
Application
Faculty must submit their application through their Campus Program Director.
Application Components:
- Course Narrative (up to 2 pages): Description of the proposed new course or specific changes to an existing course.
- Sign off by community partner (if relevant) via a brief letter/e-mail of support that ensures reciprocity.
- Senior Administrative Sign-off: Formal acknowledgement from relevant administrator (department chair(s), dean, provost) to ensure support for the proposed course.
Timeline: Projects and courses may run any time from Spring 2026 to Fall 2028
Deadlines: May 1, 2026 and November 1, 2026
You can find your Campus Program Director on the Program Director section of our Our People page.
Applicant Details
Eligibility
Campus Eligibility
Campuses may receive multiple PFL grants through Fall 2028. On average, we anticipate one or two courses per campus, though the number of awards is not fixed. Decisions are based on proposal strength, institutional context, and funding availability.
Campuses that have not applied for the PFL Program previously are especially encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate strong alignment with campus-level civic learning goals and the potential to inform broader institutional practice.
Faculty Eligibility
- Must be a full-time undergraduate faculty member at a Periclean institution who can demonstrate a long-term commitment to the institution.
- Prior PFL grantees may reapply after one full academic year has passed since the conclusion of their funded course (e.g., Spring 2026 grantees are eligible again for Fall 2027 grants)
Award Use and Distribution
The full grant award will be issued within three weeks of the award announcement and formal acceptance of the grant terms which include a mid-point reflection and end-of-grant evaluation.
Grant-funded work may begin immediately upon award notification and must conclude no later than December 1, 2028. A final report and evaluation are required within 30–60 days of project completion.
Selection Criteria
- Aligns clearly with at least one PFL theme (Civic Identity & Participation; Community Engagement; Building Bridges Across Difference), with civic learning integrated into the core course design rather than as an add-on.
- Demonstrates strong course design and pedagogical intentionality, including meaningful learning activities, reflection, and integration with disciplinary inquiry.
- Articulates clear civic learning outcomes and a feasible plan for assessing student learning.
- If applicable, demonstrates the quality and reciprocity of community partnership.
- Shows potential for longer-term impact, such as sustained course offerings, influence within a department, or adaptability across the Pericles consortium beyond the grant period.
Program Requirements
All funded projects are expected to contribute to a culture of shared learning within and beyond the Periclean consortium. Grantees should plan to engage in at least one form of dissemination aligned with project goals and capacity—such as contributing to the Project Pericles Substack, hosting a workshop or conversation for Periclean colleagues, or sharing tools, frameworks, or lessons learned in an easily accessible format.