Our Programs

Luce programs seek to advance and disseminate knowledge, ensuring that new ideas have an impact in the world.

The Henry Luce Foundation advances its work through seven grantmaking programs and two leadership programs. Several of these trace their origins back to the founder; others took shape more recently as the board sought to address contemporary challenges relevant to the Foundation’s mission. All of the programs reflect the Foundation’s commitments to education and research, knowledge-based leadership, and the dissemination of ideas to the public.

The Foundation is committed to identifying the most promising ideas and projects for support, partnering with a wide range of organizations in pursuit of its mission. For this reason, all of the Foundation’s programs accept unsolicited inquiries, which can be submitted through our online portal. From time to time, programs will launch special competitions aimed at particular kinds of organizations or focused on particular topics. More information about each program’s guidelines and the competitions it sponsors can be found within the programs' pages, accessed below.

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The Luce Foundation pursues its mission through the following programs...

American Art

The American Art Program supports museums, universities, and arts organizations in their efforts to advance the understanding and experience of American and Native American visual arts through research, exhibitions, publications, and collection projects.

Asia

The goals of the Asia Program are to encourage the development of expertise, capacity and resources on East and Southeast Asia, and to foster scholarly and cultural exchange between the United States and Asia.

Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM

Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM

Since its first grants in 1989 the Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Program for Women in STEM has become the single most significant source of private support for women in science, mathematics and engineering in Higher Education in the United States.

Democracy, Ethics, and Public Trust

Democracy, Ethics, and Public Trust

The Democracy, Ethics, and Public Trust Initiative supports efforts to re-imagine and re-invigorate democratic culture and practices. The initiative focuses on strengthening the fabric of democracy rather than its mechanisms. It does so by encouraging new research, seeding experimental approaches, and engendering new relationships and networks.

Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous Knowledge

The Indigenous Knowledge Initiative supports community-engaged knowledge keepers and knowledge makers in Indian Country and works to strengthen the infrastructure that they rely upon to ensure that Native America has the human and cultural resources it needs to thrive.

Luce Scholars

The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship program that seeks to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society by providing awarded scholars with stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for one year.

Public Policy

Public Policy grants have supported orientation programs for new members of Congress, the study of the Presidency, and analysis of the judicial system. Each year the Luce Foundation approves a limited number of grants to organizations that promote best practices in and knowledge about philanthropy.

Religion and Theology

Religion and Theology

The Religion and Theology Program aims to foster fresh thinking about religion across multiple social and cultural contexts, to expand and diversify critical intellectual engagement with religion in the United States and beyond, and to promote creative public-facing scholarship.