The Craft Research Fund was created to encourage, expand and support scholarly craft research in the United States.

The graduate grant is one of three categories that make up the Craft Research Fund, a visionary program dedicated to supporting scholarly craft research in United States. Since 2005 the Center annually grants $95,000 to academic researchers, independent scholars, curators, and graduate students writing, revising, and reclaiming the history of craft. In 2019, the Center added an additional $40,000 Artist Fellowship category to support the creation of new research and knowledge through craft practice.