The mission of the American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) is to initiate, encourage, and support research and public understanding of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world, from the earliest times. ASOR aims to achieve its mission in a manner that is apolitical and without any religious affiliation.
The grants and fellowships offered by ASOR focus on supporting individuals participating in excavations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Since 2007, ASOR has awarded significant funds to researchers and students for a variety of purposes including scholarships for fieldwork, archaeological project grants, research fellowships, and annual meeting scholarships. Specifically, the Charles Harris Project Grant aims to provide financial assistance to ASOR-affiliated archaeological projects, especially favoring newer and smaller endeavors or specific aspects of larger projects that can be substantially aided by the grant. This support intends to help these projects get started or achieve defined objectives with a $5,000 grant funded by the endowment from the late Rev. Charles Harris.