TINKER FIELD RESEARCH
COLLABORATIVE
Since 1979, the Tinker Foundation has provided support to graduate students attending U.S. universities to conduct pre-dissertation, exploratory research in Latin America through its Field Research Grant (FRG) program. The FRGs, awarded to universities and typically administered by Centers for Latin American Studies, supported more than 9,000 recipients over its 40-year history. Following a comprehensive external evaluation of the program in 2019, we have launched an enhanced program that seeks to deepen the impact of the field research experience for students and create a learning community of Centers.
The new program, the Tinker Field Research Collaborative, provides five years of support to selected Centers. Through the Collaborative, Tinker will fund student field research and promote opportunities for joint experimentation, tool-building, and knowledge exchange on the institutional level. This may include pre-departure support to students, resources to encourage responsible practices in field research, networking of current and former FRG recipients, and approaches for monitoring, evaluation, and program improvement.
In addition, members of the Collaborative commit to supporting graduate students for whom field research would not otherwise be possible.
We will provide updates on the progress of the Collaborative on our website and social media. Please note that going forward, Tinker will fund field research only through the Collaborative. We will no longer operate the Tinker Field Research Grants program beyond completing grants with current partners.
COLLABORATIVE MEMBERS FOR 2020-2025
Following an open Call for Applications and rigorous selection process, we are pleased to announce the selection of the following inaugural members of the Collaborative:
| University | Center |
|---|---|
| Columbia University* | Institute for Latin American Studies |
| Florida International University | Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center |
| New York University | Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies |
| San Diego State University | Center for Latin American Studies |
| Stanford University* | Center for Latin American Studies |
| Tulane University | Stone Center for Latin American Studies |
| University of Arizona | Center for Latin American Studies |
| University of California, Berkeley | Center for Latin American Studies |
| University of Chicago* | Center for Latin American Studies |
| University of Florida | UF Center for Latin American Studies |
| University of Illinois | Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies |
| University of Kansas | Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies |
| University of Michigan | Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies |
| University of Texas at Austin | Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison* | Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program |
*Affiliate member funded through existing Tinker endowment and other Center resources
Tinker acknowledges the commitment of each Collaborative member to match Foundation funds with university resources.