HDF Event Funding Application
Started in 1997 with seed money from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Humanities Development Fund (HDF) at Furman University sponsors *student-centered* events that innovate (e.g, Digital Humanities workshop), that fill gaps in our campus knowledge base (e.g., bring a scholar in a sub-field Furman does not employ), and that raise the profile of the Humanities at Furman (e.g., an internationally significant film festival, celebrity speaker, or first-of-its kind conference). We try to distribute funds among faculty in humanities departments and programs (Anthropology, Asian Studies, Classics, Communication Studies, English, History, Modern Languages and Literatures, Philosophy, and Religion) and all other faculty sponsoring Humanities-centered events (e.g., art/music history, political/social/economic philosophy or theory, theater arts), so please work with multiple funding sources.This usually helps elevate attendance and notoriety of events, too.
The committee considers applications on a rolling basis until funding runs out, beginning July 1 of each year. Please apply at least two months before the event date, if at all possible, attaching explanation for late notice if necessary. If accepted, the funds will be made available by reimbursement from receipts given to the HDF chair (typically in the form of TAP card transfers, or a cash advance to the faculty member or visitor). If you are proposing an honorarium, a W-9 must be submitted at least one month before the date of the speaker’s appearance.
The Fine Print:
All full- and part-time humanities faculty as defined in Policy 157.1 are eligible to apply as long as the course or event they are applying for will take place during a period of their employment. Every effort is made to ensure that awards are made across the spectrum of the humanities faculty. Those who do not teach in a humanities department but who demonstrate a serious interest and requisite work in the humanities may apply either singly or jointly with a faculty member who teaches in a humanities department.
Events with CLP status or other clearly specified contribution to the larger Furman student body are given preference. Grants may include, but are not limited to, artistic performances, cultural festivals, conferences at Furman on humanities-related topics, or the creation or purchase of virtual or physical resources (for instance, a website, database, book collection, or film). Speaking engagements by scholars and writers may also be funded, but applications that encourage active engagement and participation by both students and faculty will be given stronger consideration. Travel by Furman employees or students to separately sponsored or located events (e.g., conferences) are NOT funded.
Monies for grants are for identifiable expenses reimbursed to the faculty member, for expenses ordered through a department or paid with a TAP card to be paid with an internal funds transfer, or an honorarium paid directly to a guest speaker or artist. The committee expects applicants to seek multiple funding sources and indicate potential or awarded amounts of other funding. Receipts should be submitted to the committee chair for reimbursement or funds transfer. An honorarium requires the speaker to provide one month in advance a signed W-9 form (available on MyFurman>Employee Forms>Financial Services). The applicant is responsible for completing the tasks necessary to sponsor an event or speaker, including lodging and room reservations, CLP application, etc.
The application must identify realistic expected costs, vendors, and itemized purchase information. Travel requests must follow Furman’s Policy 338.4 and TAP card purchases Policy 370.4. The grant may be used up to its limit. In rare instances of circumstances that have changed or could not have been known to the applicant, the committee may consider a reapplication for additional funding, but no additional funding is guaranteed.
A follow-up email is required 90 days after the completion of the event to the HDF chair, which evaluates the event in terms of speaker effectiveness, audience number, and coordination with related faculty, campus departments, and events.