The mission of the ACLS (American Council of Learned Societies) is to promote inclusion, equity, and diversity in the scholarly enterprise. They aim to enhance the scholarly enterprise by being broadly inclusive and welcoming of different backgrounds, cultures, and identities. This reflects in their fellowship programs which encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, recognizing the value that such diversity brings to scholarship.
The ACLS Digital Justice Grant program aims to promote diversity, justice, and equity in the digital scholarly realm. It supports projects that focus on the interests and histories of historically marginalized communities, including people of color, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community, among others. The initiative intends to correct inequalities regarding access to digital tools and support, particularly benefiting scholars working with neglected materials or those at institutions lacking resources for digital endeavors. Grantees benefit from financial planning coaching by the Nonprofit Financing Fund, reinforcing the project's sustainability. The Digital Justice Development Grants specifically support projects beyond the initial stages, focusing on engagement with marginalized communities, advancing to subsequent project phases, fostering openness to new knowledge sources, and capacity building through training, community collaboration, and cross-institutional projects. This effort is made possible through funding from The Mellon Foundation.