The Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History was set up by Ms. Elsie M. B. Naumburg in memory of Dr. Chapman, a long-term Chairman of the Department of Ornithology at the Museum. Grants for research in several aspects of ornithology are supported by the Fund. A Committee composed of Curators in the Ornithology Department at the Museum, along with the Museum’s Richard Gilder Graduate School and other representatives of the Museum and non-Museum communities, handles the administration of the Fund and the grants.

Three categories of grants are available from the Fund, based on a competitive evaluation of the nature and quality of the proposed research.

1. Chapman Grants—The Chapman Small Grants Program preferentially awards grants to graduate students pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees; these grants rarely are awarded to post-doctoral or senior applicants. At the present time, awards are restricted to $3000 or less (most are between $500 and $2000) and are to be used for travel expenses and supplies; they are not to be used for salaries or stipends.  There is one competition per year with a submission deadline of 15 November. Awards are normally announced in early to mid April.
   
   In past years the F. M. Chapman Small Grants Program accepted and funded proposals across all areas of ornithological science.  Beginning with the Fall 2011 grant cycle, the F. M. Chapman Committee is announcing a change in funding-scope for the Program.  In keeping with the original aims of the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund to coordinate its mission with the interests of the American Museum of Natural History and its Department of Ornithology, the small grants program of the Fund encourages and will accept applications for studies in avian evolutionary biology.  Acceptable applications will include studies in systematics, biogeography, along with other broadly comparative and mechanistic evolutionary research on birds (e.g., evolutionary ecology, population biology, behavior, among others).  Proposals that primarily involve autecology, behavior, conservation, physiology, and other studies of single species or species associations will still be considered if they have a clear evolutionary focus but they must include content that describes how the proposed research specifically contributes to evolutionary science.  Please note that this is a change in funding scope.
   
   application for Chapman Grant (Adobe PDF format)
   
   application for Chapman Grant (Microsoft Word format
   
   
2. Collection Study Grants—Collection Study Grants are awarded, competitively, to avian systematists without other funds who wish to perform research on the specimens in the Ornithological Collections of the American Museum of Natural History. There is no deadline for application for these grants; they are considered when they are received. However, it normally takes a month or more to evaluate and process the applications; so grants should be submitted at least two months prior to when the researcher would like to visit the Collection. These grants are for expenses only, no stipends, and cannot exceed $1500; if a larger sum is required to complete a project, then a researcher must apply under the Chapman Grants program with the once per year, 15 November deadline.
   
   application for Collections Study Grant  (Adobe PDF format)
   
   application for Collections Study Grant  (Microsoft Word format)
   
   
3. Chapman Fellowships—One and two year Fellowships are awarded for research in avian systematics, evolution, and biogeography to be performed in residence at the American Museum of Natural History. These grants include a stipend and a budget that depends on the nature of the research. These Fellowships are highly competitive and normally only one or two are awarded per year. The single yearly competition has a submission deadline of 15 November. Normally, an applicant to this program must have prior discussions with one or more members of the Ornithology Department concerning the research project; successful applicants to this program will work with one of the Curators in the Department of Ornithology as a mentor. Chapman Fellowships are normally awarded to recent recipients of a doctoral degree in avian systematics; however, such Fellowships are also occasionally available to senior researchers on sabbatical leave from their home institution—contact should be made with an AMNH Curator to discuss such circumstances. The Fellowships are awarded in early to mid April.
   
   application for Chapman Fellowship  (Adobe PDF format)