Competition

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Translation Grants in Buddhist Studies

Translation has been at the core of Buddhism since the Buddha’s instruction to his monks to teach the dharma in many languages.

These grants support translations of important Buddhist texts for the benefit of contemporary audiences (e.g., communities of scholarship and Buddhist practice) who currently do not have access to them in their own languages. Applicants may propose the translation of works from any genre of Buddhist literature from any period and region. Priority will be given to the translation of works that have never been translated into a modern language. There are no restrictions as to the language of the final product prepared for publication.

Collaborative projects are welcome. Projects that aim to reach Buddhist communities of practice and broader publics through open access, popular translation, or community-engaged research are also strongly encouraged.

While a critical edition may be necessary to produce a translation, translation should be the focus of the project.  

Applicants must state if they will use machine translation in their projects. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) or translation software is not prohibited; however, applicants must describe if and how they will use it. Applicants proposing projects that will support the training of large language models (LLMs) should contact [email protected] in advance of the deadline.

Award funds can be used as stipends for work performed (e.g., secure release time or pay assistants), travel, and related office costs (e.g., reproduction or digitization of images). A budget is required.

Applicants are encouraged to review recent awards for guidance on the range of projects that may be supported.

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, administered by ACLS, is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity as integral components of merit that enhance the scholarly enterprise. It is a priority of this program that cohorts of fellows and grantees be broadly inclusive of different backgrounds, cultures, and any aspects that make one unique. In Buddhist Studies we seek balance in regard to citizenship and university affiliation, as well as in languages, topics, Buddhist traditions, and locations of research.

Grant Details

  • Grant Amount: Up to $50,000 for 12 months.
  • No university overhead is permitted.

Eligibility

  • Individual applicants and leaders of collaborative teams must have PhD degrees conferred (officially awarded) by an accredited university by the application deadline. An established scholar who can demonstrate the equivalent of the PhD in publications and professional experience may also qualify.
  • The application must be written in English by the applicant.
  • There are no restrictions as to the location of work proposed or the citizenship/residence of applicants.

Application Guidelines

Completed applications must be submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System no later than 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on December 3, 2024. For collaborative teams, the team leader must submit a single application on behalf of the team.

Applications must include:

  • A completed application form.
  • A proposal (no more than five double-spaced pages in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).
  • An optional one to two additional pages of images, musical scores, or other similar supporting non-text materials.
  • A bibliography (no more than two pages, with double-spaces between entries in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).
  • Applicant’s statement describing the intellectual trajectory and experiences that brought the applicant to the current stage of academic career and that motivate plans for the future (no more than two double-spaced pages in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font). ACLS is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity as integral components of merit that enhance the scholarly enterprise. It is a priority of this program that cohorts of fellows and grantees be broadly inclusive of different backgrounds, cultures, and any aspects that make one unique. In Buddhist Studies we seek balance in regard to citizenship and university affiliation, as well as in languages, topics, Buddhist traditions, and locations of research. Please use the applicant’s statement to note any relevant information about your personal background and/or ways in which your proposed research addresses issues related to inclusion, equity, and diversity.
  • A sample of the text(s) proposed for translation: in the original and in translated form (no more than fifteen pages with no hyperlinks).
  • A budget statement, outlining costs for salary replacement, travel, research materials, research assistants, etc. No indirect costs or institutional overheard is permitted.
  • A list of the applicant’s publications (no more than two pages, with double-spaces between entries in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).
  • Two reference letters that provide explicit information on the proposed project and the applicant (and the collaborators, if any), submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship and Grant Administration (OFA) System.

Required only for collaborative projects:

  • A brief description of the collaborative team, including a list of all the collaborators who will work on the project (including the applicant) and their affiliations, a brief statement about each team member’s proposed contribution to the project, and any additional information about the team not listed elsewhere in this application (in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).
  • A curriculum vitae (CV) for each collaborator (not required from team leader/applicant) (three pages maximum per CV in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font).

Evaluation Criteria

  • Significance of the text to be translated
  • The potential contribution to Buddhist Studies of the translation, especially the potential benefit to scholarly communities using the target language
  • Feasibility of the plan of work and the budget proposed
  • Record of applicants’ accomplishment in scholarship and translation

Contact

Questions should be directed to [email protected]. Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before making inquiries.

Supporting Documents