The National Coalition of Independent Scholars (NCIS)

NCIS welcomes people who are pursuing knowledge in or across any fields whose credentials demonstrate an active involvement in independent scholarship in any field, as evidenced by advanced degrees or presentations/publications. Further qualification is that the scholar not be employed on a full-time basis by an academic institution or other organization in the field to which their independent scholarly activity pertains. Graduate students intent on pursuing independent scholarship, adjunct faculty, and others tangentially associated with academic institutions who do not receive financial support for their scholarly activities are eligible.

NCIS was formed in January 1989 to facilitate the work of independent scholars. NCIS objectives are to:

  • Bring independent scholars together to share scholarly interests and expertise
  • Improve access to research libraries for independent scholars
  • Offer independent scholars information and advice about grants and fellowships and about publishing.
  • Encourage foundations and institutes to open competitions to independent scholars and to include them on review committees
  • Hold conferences and workshops of interest to independent scholars and to the public
  • Offer grants-in-aid to NCIS members and small grants to affiliates
  • Serve as administrator for members applying for grants
  • Encourage information exchange through publications and electronic communication
  • Aid organizations of independent scholars by collecting and sharing organization experience and by publicizing their work
  • Provide information for the creation of local organizations of independent scholars

 

Thinking of joining NCIS? Here are some of the additional benefits of membership:

  • Members have access to Foundation Center's Grants to Individuals Online, a service that provides access to thousands of grants available to independent scholars, grant writing training, and more.
  • Members are eligible for numerous grants that are limited to members of NCIS.
  • Members receive a Membership Card that can be used at research institutions and other places as a form of identification that indicates their membership in the organization.
  • Members may expand their network of scholars with similar research interests.
  • Members may get involved in the administration of NCIS, write articles or book reviews for our member publication, The Independent Scholar.
  • Members are eligible to have member web pages to showcase their talent or to serve as a tool for self-promotion.
  • Members may get an @ncis.org e-mail address to show their affiliation and to avoid unprofessional-sounding addresses from one of the many free e-mail services.
  • Members may order business cards that include the NCIS logo.
  • Members have access to our membership directory, enabling them to connect with other independent scholars in their local geographic area or within their areas of interest.

To learn more about NCIS, visit the About Us page.  Follow our activities, announcements, and discussions on Twitter, Facebook, and H-Scholar.

 

Dorbrecht Grants recipients

In 2011 The National Coalition of Independent Scholars announced its administration of two new grant programs: the Dorbrecht Grants, which funds research in yogic thought, and the Dorbrecht Grant for Judaic Yoga. Both programs are funded by the Orphiflamme Foundation and The Opaline Fund of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and provide independent scholars with financial assistance for research that engages with yogic thought or that explores relationships between aspects of the Jewish tradition and the philosophy or practice of yoga. There were about ten applications received with very interesting and relevant projects. The committee in charge of evaluating the submitted proposals consisted of representatives from the above mentioned foundations in communication with NCIS president, Lisa Perry.

Therefore, as of March 2012, NCIS is pleased to introduce the first Dorbrecht Grant recipients. They are: Edith Brotman with a project titled “Spiritual Convergences: Judaism and Yoga;” Cody Bahir, who presented a proposal on “Judaic Tantra and Esoteric Buddhism;” and Marcus Freed with “Kosher Sutras, The Jewish Way in Yoga and Healing.”

Congratulations to all three!

For more information about these awards, please visit the Dorbrecht Grants page on the NCIS website at http://www.ncis.org/dorbrecht-grant/.

2012 Grants and Awards Applications

The National Coalition of Independent Scholars will soon invite applications for its 2012 Grants and Awards Committee. The Committee will award the Eisenstein-DeLacy Prize for the best published article by an NCIS member. This prize will be awarded with a $200 honorarium. Additionally, there will be three travel awards each of $200 for travel to an academic conference or to assist travel related to research.

All applications must include a CV. For the Eisenstein-DeLacy Award, a copy of the article to be considered must also be included, with information on place and date of publication. More than one article may be submitted. For the travel awards, a travel and expense budget and description of research project must be submitted. If the travel is to a conference, all related materials must also be included.

The deadline for submitting applications is July 15, 2012. The decisions of the Grants and Awards Committee will be announced by September 15, 2012 and will be posted on the NCIS website, along with profiles of the winners.

 

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