Donate to the Society for Applied Anthropology

SfAA General Fund

The Board of Directors of the Society has always made a conscious effort to keep our membership dues competitive. In fact, through a recent survey, our staff determined that SfAA membership dues are less expensive than any other comparable social science association with a similar package of benefits. Contributions to this fund goes to help the Society fill any holes in the operating budget. 

Founders Endowment

In 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the establishment of a “Founders’ Endowment” to assure the long-term financial security of the Society.  Initially, donors contributed $750 or greater to complement the 75th anniversary of SfAA in 2015.  

Distinguished Awards

Malinowski

The Bronislaw Malinowski Award is presented to an outstanding social scientist in recognition of efforts to understand and serve the needs of the world's societies and who has actively pursued the goal of solving human problems using the concepts and tools of social science during one's entire career.

Margaret Mead 

The Margaret Mead Award is presented to a younger scholar for a particular accomplishment such as a book, film, monograph, or service, which interprets anthropological data and principles in ways that make them meaningful and accessible to a broadly concerned public. The award is designed to recognize a person clearly associated with research and/or practice in anthropology. The awardee's activity will exemplify skills in broadening the impact of anthropology -- skills for which Margaret Mead was admired widely.

Sol Tax

Sol Tax was an anthropologist who provided distinguished and innovative service to applied anthropology and to anthropological societies. The Sol Tax Distinguished Service Award is to be presented annually to a member of SfAA, in recognition of long-term and truly distinguished service to the Society.

Other Awards

Hackenberg Prize

The Lecture is held bi-annually at the Annual Meetings of the SfAA, and features a prominent applied social scientist in mid-career.  Prof. Hackenberg was internationally-known for his research in the application of the social sciences to medical care, population dynamics, and economic development. Among many other honors, he was selected by the Society to receive (along with his spouse, Beverly) the prestigious Bronislaw Malinowski Award in 1998.

Peter K. New Award

An annual student research competition in the applied social and behavioral sciences. The award is given to the best paper which reports on an applied research project in these fields. The research and the paper should use the social/behavioral sciences to address in an applied fashion an issue or question in the domain (broadly construed) of health care or human services.

Pelto International Travel Award

The Pelto International Travel Award is awarded every other year to a mid-career applied social scientist who is a citizen or permanent resident of a low or middle-income country. The recipient receives a cash award for travel expenses as well as a special session organized at the meetings for presentation of the recipient's paper.

Special Projects

SfAA Programming and Technology Fund

The Society for Applied Anthropology is committed to working for a socially and racially just, equitable, and sustainable world. As we plan for our future programs, technologies and staffing, we are asking for your help to achieve our current goal of raising $75,000. Your gift will enable SfAA to: expand our digital reach with new technologies to meet and network virtually, support workshops and events focusing on critical timely issues, extend programming and recruitment efforts to internationalize and diversify, and bridge the operational gap created by the cancellation of our annual meeting.

J.T. May Internship

Throughout his career as a professor with the University of Oklahoma and later as Executive Director of SfAA, Tom never hesitated to support young people in developing their careers. Through the J. Thomas May Memorial Internship, students will be able to explore a myriad of career paths by learning about the operations of SfAA and interacting with sister associations, non-governmental organizations, and other groups who seek the expertise of those trained in the applied social sciences.

Oral History Project

The goal of the Society for Applied Anthropology Oral History Project is the documentation of applied and practicing anthropology through recorded oral history interviews that are properly archived, transcribed, and disseminated.

Overseas Library

The Overseas Library Program was started over 15 years ago, prompted by interested members who contributed the funds to cover journal subscriptions for libraries unable to afford the subscription costs. The Society now provides subscriptions of Human Organization to over 20 overseas libraries through this fund. A contribution of $125 will cover the cost of an annual subscription to Human Organization to an overseas library (of your choice). The fund also supports the shipping costs to transfer donated books to university libraries overseas.

Memorial Lectures

Michael Kearney Memorial Lecture

The Michael Kearney Memorial Lecture was inaugurated in 2012 at the Annual Meeting in Baltimore. The Lecture honors the memory of a renown applied anthropologist. A prominent scholar is selected each year and the theme will focus on the topics of migration, human rights, transnationalism - all topics of considerable concern in our current world. Contributions to this fund will cover the costs of the special Lecture at the Annual Meeting. 

James Anthony “Tony” Paredes Memorial Plenary

The James Anthony “Tony” Paredes Memorial Plenary is a featured presentation at each of the annual meetings of the Society. The Plenary highlights and explores an important issue in contemporary Native American life. The Paredes Plenary was established through a distinctive partnership between the SfAA and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. This partnership grew from a long-term relationship between Prof. Paredes and the Tribe dating back to 1971. At that time, Prof. Paredes initiated a series of studies which focused on the history and culture of the Tribe.

Student Travel Awards

John Bodley

The John Bodley Student Travel Award was initiated by former students, and honors an international scholar whose career focused on the impact of development on indigenous peoples. More recently, his research turned to the issue of scale as a way to best understand the contemporary concentration of wealth and power. A travel award ($500) will be presented each year to a student presenting a paper/poster at the SfAA Annual Meeting.

Bea Medicine

The Beatrice Medicine scholarship celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Beatrice Medicine, an internationally prominent anthropologist. Dr. Medicine's professional life was devoted to teaching and research, and with a particular commitment to expanding the understanding of Native peoples. The scholarship provides financial support for two students (graduate or undergraduate) to attend the annual meeting of the Society. Up to four awards ($500 each) will be made to attend the Annual Meeting of the SfAA.

Cernea/Resettlement

The Cernea Resettlement Fund provides a travel award ($500) for a student with an interest in issues associated with displacement/resettlement to attend the annual meeting of the SfAA. The purpose of the Award is to attract young students/scholars to an approach to resettlement which brings the displaced population into the planning and management of the displacement programs. 

Del Jones

The Del Jones Travel Award was established to honor the memory of a prominent scholar and long-time member of the Society. Much of Del Jones’ professional career was devoted to research with marginal and disadvantaged communities. The endowment now supports two $500 travel scholarships per year. 

Erve Chambers Tourism and Heritage

The Erve Chambers Tourism and Heritage Student Paper Award honors the legacy of Dr. Erve Chambers and recognize his contributions to the anthropology of tourism and heritage, as well as encourage new and innovative avenues of inquiry within the field through an annual student paper competition ($500). 

Spicer

The Edward H. and Rosamond B. Spicer Travel Award was established to honor the memory of Edward and Rosamond Spicer. Travel scholarships (two at $500 each) are awarded for paper abstracts that explore and elaborate in some way the concept of community.

Gil Kushner

The Gil Kushner Student Travel Award was established in 2011 to memorialize a long-time member of SfAA and a prominent leader in graduate education in applied anthropology. Two travel scholarships ($500 each) are presented each year. 

Human Rights Defender

The Human Rights Defender Award was made possible by a generous contribution from Michael Cavendish, a practicing attorney in Florida and a strong advocate of human rights. As a graduate student, he was first exposed to the link between applied anthropology and disciplines like law,  journalism and social work. This award provides a $500 travel scholarship to a student with an interest in human rights issues. The Award seeks to attract young scholars to this field.