Intersectional Studies Fund for Feminist and Queer Research

The Intersectional Studies Fund for Feminist and Queer Research provides support for NYU students and adjunct faculty pursuing projects that engage feminist and queer approaches to knowledge-making, artistic practice, and public engagement. Established through NYU’s Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality’s Mellon-funded Beyond a Boundary: The Intersectional Feminist/Queer Studies Collective, the fund recognizes that feminist and queer inquiry takes many forms and often emerges through collaborations across fields, communities, and modes of practice.

The fund supports projects that explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, migration, labor, climate justice, policing, colonialism, and political struggle within local, transnational, and global contexts. We welcome proposals that move between scholarly research, creative production, archival investigation, community-based work, curatorial practice, and other forms of critical inquiry. By supporting work both within and beyond traditional academic settings, the fund seeks to encourage new ways of thinking, creating, and building connections.

Priority is given to projects that engage New York City and the Tri-State region as important sites of feminist and queer knowledge production while also considering broader social, cultural, and political formations. Eligible projects may include research initiatives, fieldwork, creative projects, archival research, public programs, community collaborations, and conference participation.

Administered by NYU’s Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality (CSGS), the fund reflects CSGS’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary feminist and queer work and cultivating relationships among scholars, artists, organizers, and cultural workers. Through this initiative, CSGS aims to make resources available for projects that expand how feminist and queer inquiry is practiced, shared, and sustained.

Guidelines

For the 2026–27 grant cycle, NYU students and NYU adjunct faculty members may apply for up to $2,000 to support fieldwork, research expenses, creative or community-based projects, or conference participation.

Applicants may only receive one award per application cycle

Please note that awards granted to non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents may be subject to a tax rate of up to 30%, depending on existing tax treaties.

Funding Disbursement: Grant funds are administered in accordance with NYU policies and may be disbursed as reimbursements. Conference-related expenses are generally reimbursed after travel or participation has taken place and require appropriate documentation.

Application Requirements:

Applicants must submit:

1. Project Description (1–2 pages): A description of the proposed project or conference participation that explains its relationship to intersectional feminist and queer studies and demonstrates its contribution to scholarship, creative practice, or community engagement.
2. Budget: A detailed budget describing how grant funds will be used, along with any additional sources of support.
3. Letter of Recommendation: A signed letter of recommendation (preferably from an academic advisor or faculty member supervising the project), submitted directly by the recommender to csgs@nyu.edu by the application deadline. The email subject line should read: “Letter of Recommendation – Applicant Name.” Letters of recommendation are not required for adjunct faculty applicants.
4. Additional Supporting Materials (Optional): Applicants may include relevant materials such as a C.V., portfolio, writing sample, or other documentation related to the proposed project.

Students are encouraged to consult with faculty advisors when preparing their applications. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Deadlines: 

Friday, September 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET for Fall 2026 activities

Friday, February 5, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ET for Spring 2027 activities

Friday, May 21, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ET for Summer 2027 activities

To apply, please submit your materials via the Google Form by the applicable deadline listed above.

For questions, please contact csgs@nyu.edu.