Doris G Quinn Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Doris G. Quinn Foundation is a specialized academic fellowship foundation based in Crown Point, NY (Lake Champlain region), with $2.56M in assets. Unlike most foundations, Quinn has a highly specific and consistent funding model: it funds PhD dissertation fellowships in history at the top 13 US graduate history programs, and separately supports international humanitarian medical operations through the International Organization for Women's Development (IOWD).

The Quinn Fellowship is described as a "prestigious honor" and has been operating for 25+ years at some partner universities. Fellows receive a stipend matched 100% by the participating university — meaning the foundation's grant effectively doubles in value through institutional matching. This is an efficient, high-leverage philanthropic structure.

For PhD history students seeking dissertation support, this is among the most prestigious dissertation fellowships available specifically for historians. The competitive, merit-based selection, broad subject matter acceptance (American, European, Asian, Latin American, Business History), and institutional prestige make Quinn Fellowships highly coveted at the 13 participating universities.

For universities in the top 25 history departments not currently participating, a direct inquiry to the foundation is the stated pathway to partnership.

## Funding Patterns

• Asset Base: ~$2.56 million (EIN 13-3406777)
• Fellowship Structure: 1-2 PhD students per year at each of 13 universities = approximately 13-26 fellowships annually
• Grant Mechanism: Foundation grants to the university, not directly to the student; university matches 100%
• Subject Matter: History broadly defined — Business, American, European, Asian, Latin American History all eligible
• Fellowship Stage: Final dissertation writing year only (not earlier stages)
• Established Program: 25+ years of operation at some partner universities, making this a proven, stable funding source
• Secondary Program: Humanitarian medical funding through IOWD (amount not disclosed)
• Partner Universities (currently active): UCLA, Columbia, U Chicago, Johns Hopkins, U Michigan, Wisconsin-Madison, Illinois-Urbana, U Penn, NYU, UNC Chapel Hill, Indiana U, Northwestern
• Geographic Scope: National (US universities) plus international (IOWD medical operations)
• Application to Foundation: Not accepted from individuals; institutional partnerships only

## Peer Comparison

The Quinn Foundation occupies a specialized niche among history dissertation fellowship funders. Key peers and comparators:

• Mellon Foundation — The premier history/humanities PhD funder nationally, but much larger ($6B+ assets); Quinn focuses specifically on the dissertation writing year with university matching
• ACLS (American Council of Learned Societies) Dissertation Fellowships — National competitor for dissertation-stage funding; Quinn is more prestige-concentrated at fewer elite programs
• Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowships — Education-focused but similar dissertation-stage structure
• Social Science Research Council — Broader social science focus but overlapping history constituency
• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Dissertation Fellowship — Direct peer in prestige and stage; Mellon has broader scope

What makes Quinn distinctive: (1) the 100% university matching requirement, which effectively doubles each fellowship's value, (2) the 25-year institutional relationships at partner universities, (3) the narrow focus solely on historians in their final writing year, and (4) the limited geographic scope of partner universities (no state schools outside Big Ten/AAU elite).

The humanitarian medical component (IOWD funding) is entirely separate from peer history foundations — this dual mandate is unusual and reflects the founder's personal priorities.

## Application Tips

For PhD History Students:

The Quinn Fellowship is accessible only through your university's graduate history department if your institution is one of the 13 current partners. There is no direct application to the foundation.

Eligible Universities (current partners): UCLA, Columbia University, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Illinois–Urbana, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Indiana University, Northwestern University (plus one unlisted 13th partner).

Application Path: 1. Confirm your institution participates in the Quinn Fellowship program 2. Contact your graduate history department administrator or director of graduate studies to ask about Quinn Fellowship nominations 3. The department committee selects the nominee — typically a student in their final dissertation writing year 4. Subject matter is not restricted: American, European, Asian, Latin American, and Business History dissertations are all eligible 5. Competition is keen at each university — you will likely be competing with other advanced PhD candidates in the department

For Universities Not Currently Participating: If your history department is ranked in the top 25 nationally and is not yet a Quinn partner, contact the foundation to express interest: Doris G. Quinn Foundation, P.O. Box 478, Crown Point, NY 12928

For Humanitarian/Medical Organizations: The foundation's secondary focus is funding IOWD medical missions. International humanitarian medical organizations with missionary or faith-based medical service delivery to developing countries may be a fit, though the foundation appears to have an established relationship with IOWD and no open application process is described.