Call for Proposals: Small Grant Program

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP) Small Grants support short-term, field-based and exploratory projects focused on documenting endangered languages worldwide.

These grants are designed to support:

• Fieldwork and data collection
• Pilot and feasibility studies
• Completion or continuation of ongoing documentation projects
• Preliminary or supplementary linguistic research

Core Purpose

The programme aims to:

• Preserve endangered and under-documented languages
• Support creation of linguistic records and archives
• Enable early-stage or small-scale documentation work
• Strengthen global linguistic diversity research

Eligible Activities

Fieldwork and Data Collection

• Audio and video recording of languages
• Elicitation sessions with speakers
• Community-based documentation work

Pilot and Feasibility Studies

• Testing documentation methods
• Assessing viability of larger research projects
• Preliminary linguistic surveys

Project Completion and Supplementary Research

• Finalising incomplete documentation projects
• Adding missing linguistic data
• Expanding existing language corpora

Archiving and Research Development

• Preparing data for linguistic archives
• Organising and annotating language materials
• Supporting open-access documentation

Funding Overview

• Maximum grant amount: €10,000
• Project duration: up to 12 months

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply

ELDP Small Grants are open to:

• Language documenters of any nationality
• Researchers working anywhere in the world
• Students and early-career linguists
• Local scholars in language communities
• Collaborative research teams

Preferred Applicants

The programme especially encourages applications from:

• Members of endangered language communities
• Local and indigenous scholars
• Students from regions where languages are spoken or signed
• Collaborative, community-based projects

Experience Requirements

Applicants are generally expected to have:

• Experience in language documentation or fieldwork, or
• An appropriate academic background in linguistics or related fields

However:

• Strong interest and commitment to documentation may also be sufficient in some cases

Funding Administration Rules

Institutional Payment Requirement

• All funds are paid through an accredited institution

Principal Investigator Restrictions

The Principal Investigator must NOT be:

• A director of the host institution
• An owner or founder of the institution
• Head of financial administration within the institution

This ensures:

• Financial transparency
• Independent oversight
• Proper institutional governance

Why This Programme Matters

• Helps preserve endangered languages globally
• Supports community-led linguistic documentation
• Enables early-stage and pilot research projects
• Strengthens academic and grassroots collaboration
• Builds long-term linguistic archives for future research

How It Works

Step 1: Identify Project Type

Choose a suitable focus:

• Fieldwork documentation
• Pilot or feasibility study
• Ongoing project continuation
• Supplementary research

Step 2: Develop Research Plan

• Define language community and location
• Identify documentation methods
• Outline data collection strategy
• Plan archiving approach

Step 3: Prepare Application

• Research proposal
• Fieldwork plan and timeline (≤12 months)
• Budget up to €10,000
• Ethical considerations and community engagement

Step 4: Institutional Arrangement

• Secure accredited host institution
• Ensure PI eligibility compliance

Step 5: Submit Application

• Submit through ELDP process
• Highlight community involvement and documentation experience

Step 6: Evaluation

Applications are assessed on:

• Quality of documentation plan
• Feasibility of fieldwork
• Contribution to language preservation
• Experience and capability of applicant(s)
• Community engagement and collaboration

Step 7: Implementation

• Conduct fieldwork or research
• Document and archive language data
• Submit final reports and outputs

Common Mistakes

• Weak or unclear documentation methodology
• No plan for archiving linguistic data
• Missing institutional eligibility compliance
• Overly ambitious scope for 12-month timeline
• Lack of community engagement strategy

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly define endangered language focus
• Include strong fieldwork methodology
• Demonstrate ethical engagement with language communities
• Highlight prior documentation experience if available
• Emphasize archiving and long-term preservation plans

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the ELDP Small Grants programme?

• A funding scheme supporting endangered language documentation
  • Focuses on fieldwork, pilot studies, and research support
  • Open globally to researchers and communities

How much funding is available?

• Up to €10,000 per project
  • Designed for small-scale or short-term research

How long can projects last?

• Up to 12 months

Who can apply?

• Eligible applicants include:
  • Language documenters worldwide
    • Any nationality
  • Students and early-career researchers
  • Local scholars and language community members
  • Collaborative teams

What experience is required?

• Preferred: experience in fieldwork or documentation
• Also open to motivated applicants with strong interest in language preservation

How are funds managed?

• Paid through accredited institutions only
• PI must not hold financial control or leadership roles in the host institution

Conclusion

The ELDP Small Grants programme provides essential support for documenting endangered languages worldwide. With funding up to €10,000, it enables fieldwork, pilot studies, and early-stage research while prioritising community participation and linguistic preservation.

For more information, visit ELDP.