The Local Societies Initiative is now closed. A new grant program, the Metanexus Global Network Initiative, will launch in late 2007. Check www.metanexus.net for updates!

The Local Societies Initiative provides three-year grants to fund start-up costs for dialogue groups exploring the dynamic interface between religion and science. While focused on colleges, universities and seminaries, the program also welcomes applications from a wide spectrum of interested parties in other venues worldwide. Each grant is for $15,000 paid over three years. The applicant must be able to match the grant with $15,000 in additional funding over the three years. There will be a number of supplemental grants of $10,000 each awarded annually to those projects that are particularly innovative, creative and effective. Thus each group is eligible for $30,000 in additional funding over the three years of the grant. Funds may be used for society events, speakers, the purchase of books for group study, communications, publicity, outreach, public forums and travel directly related to the project. All societies will send representatives to annual conference each June in Philadelphia.