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Firebird Foundation For Anthropological Research Inc

Annual Giving
$18.6M
Grant Range
Up to $0.0M00
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18,613,776 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly reviews (applications reviewed every 3 months)
  • Grant Range: Up to $10,000
  • Geographic Focus: International (indigenous communities worldwide)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.firebirdresearchgrants.org/

Email: Firebird@FirebirdFoundation.org

Phone: (207) 639-3939

Mailing Address: P.O. Box A, Phillips, ME 04966, USA

Overview

Founded in 1986 by renowned anthropologists George N. Appell and Laura W.R. Appell, the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research began with the Sabah Oral Literature Project to record the unique oral traditions of the Rungus people of Borneo. Formalized as a foundation in 1999, Firebird has grown to support over 300 projects worldwide, distributing approximately $18.6 million in grants in 2023 alone across 41 awards. The foundation operates with assets exceeding $10 million and maintains a focused mission: preserving rapidly disappearing oral traditions and traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous populations. Following the deaths of founders George (2020) and Laura (2015), the foundation is now led by their daughters Laura P. Appell-Warren and Charity Reynolds Appell, continuing the founders' legacy of supporting urgent anthropological research that directly benefits indigenous communities through locally-led documentation efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Grants for the Documentation of Oral Literature and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Up to $10,000

The foundation awards fellowships to anthropologists, linguists, scholars, and critically, to individuals or teams of local researchers within indigenous societies who are dedicated to preserving their own oral traditions. The program particularly encourages the development of local teams of collectors to continue recording work after external researchers depart. Grants are awarded quarterly following application deadlines of March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via email submission.

Eligible Expenses:

  • Travel costs directly related to fieldwork
  • Essential living expenses during fieldwork
  • Recording equipment and supplies
  • Research assistance
  • Other project-essential expenditures

Ineligible Expenses:

  • Applicant salary or benefits
  • Tuition
  • Non-project personnel costs
  • Conference travel
  • Institutional overhead

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on urgent and unique projects addressing:

  • Oral Literature Documentation: Ritual texts, curative chants, epic poems, musical genres, folk tales, songs, myths, legends, historical accounts, life history narratives, word games, and other oral traditions
  • Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Indigenous understanding of ecosystem functioning, resource management, and environmental knowledge systems
  • Language Preservation: Recording unwritten languages and developing phonemic orthographies
  • Community-Based Research: Projects that train local community members to continue documentation work
  • Endangered Cultural Practices: Work with indigenous populations facing rapid cultural loss due to modernization and schooling

What They Don't Fund

Based on their stated guidelines, the foundation does not support:

  • Research unrelated to oral literature or traditional ecological knowledge
  • Projects without indigenous community focus
  • Academic expenses (tuition, conference attendance, institutional overhead)
  • Salary support for applicants
  • Projects lacking urgency or documentation of disappearing traditions
  • Research that does not benefit the indigenous communities being studied

Governance and Leadership

Current Board of Directors

Laura P. Appell-Warren, Ed.M, Ed.D.

  • President
  • Director of Global Citizenship, St. Mark's School
  • Daughter of founders George and Laura Appell
  • Experienced in global education and cultural exchange

Charity Reynolds Appell, B.F.A., M.A.

  • Board Member
  • Executive Director, Bhutan Oral Literature Project
  • Daughter of founders, actively engaged in oral literature preservation

Steven Hoch, B.A.

  • Board Member
  • Partner, Brown Advisory

Advisory Board

  • Anton Ploeg, Ph.D. (Nijmegen University)
  • Vinson Sutlive, M.A., Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus, College of William and Mary)
  • John C. Warren (Head of School, St. Mark's School)
  • Ethan Warren (Writer/Editor)
  • Amanda Warren (Elementary Educator)
  • Hawxhurst D. A. McNabb (Artist/Educator)

Leadership Philosophy

The foundation's approach reflects the founders' deep commitment to indigenous rights and cultural preservation. George N. Appell, who received the Patron's Medal from the Royal Anthropological Institute in 1994, emphasized that researchers must approach oral literature collection "with compassion" because "you are dealing with the hearts, minds and souls of people." This philosophy permeates the foundation's work, with President Laura P. Appell-Warren continuing the family's dedication to supporting research that respects and empowers indigenous communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Email submission to Firebird@FirebirdFoundation.org (or postal mail to P.O. Box A, Phillips, ME 04966)

Required Materials:

  1. Proposal (maximum 10 pages) addressing:

    • Ethnic group being studied
    • Types of oral literature to be recorded
    • Recording methodology and approach
    • Project urgency and timeline
    • Relevant literature review demonstrating knowledge of the field

  2. Applicant Background: Brief description of background and interest in oral literature, or CV

  3. Itemized Budget: All costs in USD, clearly specifying which amounts will be covered by Firebird versus other funding sources

  4. Academic Advisor Letter: Required for graduate student applicants

Format: .doc or .pdf files

Language: Applications must be submitted in English (though applicants of all nationalities are welcome)

Application Deadlines: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (quarterly)

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed quarterly following each deadline. Specific timeframes from submission to notification are not publicly disclosed, but awards are made on a quarterly cycle. The foundation made 41 awards in 2023 and 26 in 2022, indicating active and regular grant-making.

Post-Award Requirements:

  • Sign and return letter of agreement within one month of notification
  • Provide periodic field updates during research
  • Deposit copies of recordings, transcriptions, and final report within one year of fieldwork completion
  • Maintain ownership of original research materials (Foundation receives copies only)

Success Rates

Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed. However, with 41 awards made in 2023 from quarterly review cycles, the foundation demonstrates active engagement with applicants. The foundation's history of supporting over 300 projects since 2008 suggests a meaningful success rate for well-prepared applications aligned with their mission.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish explicit restrictions on reapplication. Given their encouragement of ongoing documentation work and support for local teams developing long-term projects, reapplication appears to be permitted, particularly for new phases of work or different communities.

Application Success Factors

Key Selection Criteria

According to the foundation's guidelines, "The primary selection criteria are the importance of collecting oral literature among the society in which the applicant will be working, the methods to be used, the goals to be achieved, and the urgency of the project."

Foundation's Direct Advice

The foundation provides extensive methodological guidance emphasizing:

On Approach: "Remember when you are recording oral literature...you are dealing with the hearts, minds and souls of people." This statement reflects the foundation's expectation of cultural sensitivity and respect.

On Community Involvement: Applicants are "encouraged to foster the development of local teams of collectors to continue the work of recording these materials." Projects that train indigenous community members to continue documentation work are particularly valued.

On Methodology: "Anyone attempting to record oral traditions must have elementary knowledge of linguistics, sociocultural anthropology, and ecosystem functioning." The foundation expects applicants to demonstrate interdisciplinary competence.

On Systems Thinking: The foundation operates from the principle that "Language, culture, and the environment form a closely integrated, dynamic system," and expects applicants to understand these interconnections rather than treating oral literature in isolation.

Successful Project Examples

Recent Recipients:

  • Maaz Shaikh (University of Alberta, 2024): "Documentation of the Zangskari version of the epic of Gesar" - documenting oral literary traditions in Ladakh region
  • David Hecht (University of Georgia): "Protective Deities, Protected Beings: Mapping Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Deity Citadels in Bhutan" - combining ecological knowledge with spiritual practices

These examples demonstrate successful integration of oral literature, cultural significance, and traditional ecological knowledge.

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate Urgency: Clearly articulate why this oral literature is at risk and why documentation cannot wait. The foundation responds to time-sensitive needs.

  2. Show Community Partnership: Proposals that demonstrate collaboration with indigenous communities and plans to train local researchers are strongly preferred.

  3. Use Systems Approach: Frame your research within the interconnected system of language, culture, and environment rather than treating oral literature as an isolated phenomenon.

  4. Emphasize Benefit to Community: Make clear how the indigenous community itself will benefit from and access the documented materials.

  5. Detail Methodology: Provide specific information about recording techniques, transcription plans, and archival procedures. The foundation values methodological rigor.

  6. Demonstrate Cultural Competence: Show understanding of the society's classification systems for oral literature rather than imposing external academic categories.

  7. Budget Appropriately: Ensure all expenses are directly related to fieldwork and documentation. Avoid including institutional overhead or personal salary support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Urgency is paramount: The foundation prioritizes projects documenting traditions at immediate risk of disappearance due to modernization, loss of elder knowledge-keepers, or language shift.

  • Community empowerment matters: Applications demonstrating plans to train local researchers and ensure community ownership of materials have significant advantage over purely extractive research models.

  • Interdisciplinary knowledge required: Successful applicants must demonstrate competence across linguistics, anthropology, and ecology—not just one discipline. The foundation expects holistic understanding.

  • Quarterly deadlines offer flexibility: With four annual deadlines, applicants have multiple opportunities to submit and can time applications to align with fieldwork schedules.

  • Modest funding, significant impact: At up to $10,000, grants are sized for equipment, travel, and fieldwork expenses rather than full salary support. Budget accordingly and seek complementary funding if needed.

  • Methodology resources available: The foundation provides extensive guidance on their website about recording techniques and ethical approaches—review these materials before applying to demonstrate alignment with their standards.

  • Foundation values feedback: They explicitly request information about "problems or unexpected experiences" from grantees to improve guidance for future applicants, indicating openness to learning and relationship-building.

References

  1. Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research Official Website. "Research Grants for the Documentation of Oral Literature and Traditional Ecological Knowledge." https://www.firebirdresearchgrants.org/ (Accessed November 2024)

  2. Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research. "Application Guidelines." https://www.firebirdfellowships.org/application-guidelines.html (Accessed November 2024)

  3. Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research. "Overview of The Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research." https://www.firebirdresearchgrants.org/overview-firebird-foundation.html (Accessed November 2024)

  4. Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research. "George N. Appell, In Memoriam." https://www.firebirdresearchgrants.org/george-n-appell.html (Accessed November 2024)

  5. Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research. "Laura W. R. Appell, In Memoriam." https://www.firebirdresearchgrants.org/laura-w-r-appell.html (Accessed November 2024)

  6. Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research. "Board of Directors." https://www.firebirdresearchgrants.org/firebird-foundation-board-of-directors.html (Accessed November 2024)

  7. GuideStar Profile. "Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research Inc." https://www.guidestar.org/profile/01-0524375 (Accessed November 2024)

  8. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Firebird Foundation For Anthropological Research Inc." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10524375 (Accessed November 2024)

  9. Cause IQ. "Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/firebird-foundation-for-anthropological-research,010524375/ (Accessed November 2024)

  10. University of Chicago. "Firebird Foundation Research Grants for the Documentation of Oral Literature and Traditional Ecological Knowledge." https://grad.uchicago.edu/fellowship/firebird-foundation-for-anthropological-research-grants/ (Accessed November 2024)

  11. University of Alberta Department of Linguistics. "Congratulations to Maaz Shaikh, recipient of a research grant from the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research." https://www.ualberta.ca/en/linguistics/news/2024/congratulations-to-maaz-shaikh-recipient-of-a-research-grant-from-the-firebird-foundation-for-anthropological-research.html (Accessed November 2024)

  12. University of Georgia Anthropology Department. "David Hecht awarded fellowship from the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research." https://anthropology.uga.edu/news/david-hecht-awarded-fellowship-firebird-foundation-anthropological-research (Accessed November 2024)

  13. Terralingua. "A Tribute to George N. Appell, Champion of the World's Oral Traditions." https://terralingua.org/2020/06/03/a-tribute-to-george-n-appell-champion-of-the-worlds-oral-traditions/ (Accessed November 2024)

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