Competition

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global Buddhism Series

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, administered by ACLS, has launched a new Global Buddhism Series in partnership with Yale University Press. The series will publish first books by fellows and grantees whose research has previously been funded through the program. Books will be published in English, but may cover topics related to any Buddhist tradition worldwide. Submissions will be reviewed by an editorial board comprised of leading scholars of Buddhist Studies, who will recommend up to three manuscripts for publication in 2025-26 and 2026-27.

The series is made possible by generous financial support from The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global.

Eligibility

  • The publication must be a product of research funded by the Program in Buddhist Studies.
  • Applicants must be in compliance with all ACLS program requirements, including reporting requirements, in order to be eligible.
  • The publication should be the applicant’s first monograph.

The monograph may be intended for either academic or popular audiences. We encourage books that aim to reach Buddhist communities of practice and broader public audiences.

Application Guidelines

Applications must be submitted through the online application form by October 1, 2025. Recent awardees will receive an invitation to apply in Fall 2025. Uploaded application materials should be written in English and formatted in Arial or Helvetica 11-point font. The application materials must be submitted as a single upload in PDF format and consist of:

  • A cover letter (maximum one single-spaced page)
  • An academic curriculum vitae  
  • A book proposal, including table of contents, chapter summary, sample chapter, and examples or descriptions of any artwork (e.g. total number of photographs, maps, or graphs) to be used in the text

Evaluation Process

Applications will be reviewed in the fall by an editorial board composed of scholars with expertise in Buddhist Studies. ACLS will make every effort to notify applicants of the board’s decision in a timely manner. The editorial board will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:

  • Significance of the proposed book and its potential contribution to Buddhist Studies.
  • Quality of the proposed book with regard to its clarity, methodology, scope, theoretical framework, and grounding in the relevant scholarly literature.  
  • Appeal of the proposed book for its intended audience(s), which may include scholars, communities of practice, and/or the broader public.  
  • Applicant’s scholarly record and career trajectory.
  • Feasibility of the completion date.

Manuscript Preparation

Authors whose proposals are accepted by ACLS should prepare their manuscripts according to Yale University Press’ manuscript preparation guidelines. Authors are expected to complete their manuscripts by the date they provided in their application materials.

ACLS reserves the right to assign a Developmental Editor to assist authors in the preparation of their manuscript.

Contact

Questions should be directed to [email protected].

Institutional administrators (e.g., Office of Sponsored Projects) should read our general guidance.