USA Scholarships
Nila Banton Smith Dissemination Grant 2027
The Nila Banton Smith Research Dissemination Support Grant helps International Literacy Association members package literacy research for teachers, administrators, and researchers who need usable summaries rather than raw datasets. ILA, formerly the International Reading Association, typically funds one project up to $5,000 for activities such as literature reviews, meta-analyses, monographs, or other dissemination work that makes reading research accessible. You must be an ILA member, including student members in historical program descriptions, and you may request support for expenses tied to the project, including salary support in some cycles. Projects generally must be completed within one year of the award. Applications are submitted through ILA''s ScholarOne awards portal with a short title, abstract, and uploaded proposal documents. For the 2027 ILA awards cycle, the association lists 1 February 2027 as the unified deadline for nominations and grant applications on literacyworldwide.org.
What is the Nila Banton Smith Research Dissemination Support Grant?
The Nila Banton Smith Research Dissemination Support Grant exists because literacy research only helps classrooms when someone translates it into forms teachers can actually use. The International Literacy Association, still remembered by longtime members as the International Reading Association, names this award after a scholar who spent her career connecting research to practice. Today the grant offers up to $5,000 for a member-led project that packages reading research for educators, whether that means a structured literature review, a meta-analysis, a monograph, or another dissemination format spelled out in your proposal.
Membership is the first gate. ILA opens the ScholarOne portal to members, including students in many historical cycles, who can describe a concrete product and a one-year timeline. Reviewers from ILA''s studies and research community score proposals on the significance of the questions, the rationale, methods for handling existing research, expected impact on practice, and clarity of writing. You can apply individually or as a group, but ILA limits winners to one research grant per award year even if you submit multiple applications.
Deadlines shifted as ILA modernized its awards site. CareerOneStop still lists older June and September dates for scholarship ID 9994130, while literacyworldwide.org now advertises 1 February 2027 as the unified cutoff for 2027 ILA awards and grants. Treat the association page as authoritative, upload every document separately in ScholarOne, and email [email protected] if the system rejects a file. For nearby funding models, see the AAUW Research Publication Grant for manuscript completion support, the Rising Explorer Grant for early-career field work, and the Tech Journalism Fund for another small professional development award.
Eligibility
-
✓Active ILA membershipApplicants must be members of the International Literacy Association when they apply. Historical program descriptions also allowed student members; confirm current membership categories on literacyworldwide.org before you start the ScholarOne profile.
-
✓Dissemination-focused literacy projectThe grant funds work that spreads existing or in-progress reading research to the educational community, such as syntheses, reviews, or monographs, not primary data collection alone.
-
✓Individual or group applicationScholarOne allows individual or group applications. Each co-applicant needs a profile and uploaded materials as separate documents.
-
✓One research grant win per award yearYou may apply for multiple ILA research grants in a cycle, but program rules limit you to one research grant award per year if you win.
-
✓Completion within one yearAward materials describe finishing the dissemination project within one year of receiving the grant. Build a realistic timeline before you budget.
-
✓U.S.-based literacy field relevanceThe grant serves ILA's U.S. membership and the broader literacy education community. Proposals should address reading instruction, literacy development, or closely related research questions.
Benefits
- Maximum award Up to $5,000
- Project types Reviews, meta-analyses, monographs, dissemination activities
- Salary support May be allowable per program rules
- Timeline Complete within one year of award
- Number of awards Typically one grant (varies by year)
- Primary data collection Not the focus of this grant
- Non-member applicants Ineligible without ILA membership
- Multi-year funding Single-year dissemination project
Document checklist
-
✓ScholarOne awards profileCreate a ScholarOne account for ILA awards, select the correct manuscript or grant type so the form refreshes, and enter applicant contact details.
-
✓Project title and running headProvide a full title within the stated word limit (historically 15 words maximum) and a running head within the character cap (historically 50 characters).
-
✓150-word abstractSummarize the purpose, methods, and potential significance of the dissemination project in about 150 words, as required in the ScholarOne submission screen.
-
✓Full proposal uploadUpload the narrative proposal and budget as separate documents. Explain research questions, rationale, methods for synthesizing literature, expected products, and impact on practice.
-
✓Application type selectionIndicate whether you apply as an individual or a group so reviewers see the correct co-applicant fields.
-
✓Budget justificationItemize how up to $5,000 will be spent, including allowable salary support, materials, or dissemination activities listed in the current ILA guidelines.
-
✓Membership verificationKeep your ILA membership number handy. ILA customer service at 800-336-7323 or [email protected] can confirm status if ScholarOne flags an account problem.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Nila Banton Smith Research Dissemination Support Grant?
It is an International Literacy Association grant of up to $5,000 that helps members turn literacy research into products educators can use, such as literature reviews, meta-analyses, or monographs. The goal is dissemination to the field, not starting a brand-new empirical study from scratch.
How much is the Nila Banton Smith grant worth?
Program listings describe a single award of up to $5,000 per cycle, though ILA may adjust the number of grants depending on funding. Budgets can include project expenses and, in many cycles, limited salary support.
Who can apply for the Nila Banton Smith Research Dissemination Support Grant?
You must be an ILA member with a dissemination project focused on reading or literacy research. Student members have been eligible in historical descriptions, but confirm current rules on literacyworldwide.org before applying.
When is the Nila Banton Smith grant deadline?
ILA now groups many awards under a 1 February 2027 deadline for the 2027 cycle. Older federal scholarship directories listed June or September dates for this grant name; always follow the live ILA awards page when you submit.
How do I apply for the Nila Banton Smith grant?
Apply through ILA's ScholarOne awards system. You will enter a short title, running head, 150-word abstract, application type, and upload proposal documents separately. Questions go to [email protected].
Is ILA membership required for this grant?
Yes. Applicants must be International Literacy Association members. Join at literacyworldwide.org and keep membership active through the review period.
What is the difference between the Dissemination Support Grant and the Teacher as Researcher Grant?
Both are ILA research awards, but the Dissemination Support Grant funds sharing and synthesizing research for the field, while the Nila Banton Smith Teacher as Researcher Grant supports teachers conducting inquiry in their own classrooms. ILA lists both names under research grants on literacyworldwide.org.
Can I win more than one ILA research grant in the same year?
You may apply for multiple ILA research grants, but program rules limit winners to one research grant per award year. Plan your strongest proposal rather than splitting effort across several applications.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website