The mission of the Palestinian American Research Center (PARC), formed in 1998, is to improve scholarship about Palestinian issues, expand the pool of experts knowledgeable about the Palestinians, and strengthen linkages among Palestinian, American, and foreign research institutions and scholars. Pre- and post-doctoral awards underwrite research in a wide range of fields, including history, literature, anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, health sciences, and museology.

The field office in Ramallah reaches out to Palestinian academics and provides a support base for visiting scholars. The U.S. office, currently based just outside of Washington, DC, coordinates the fellowship competition and produces the twice-yearly newsletter that highlights the achievements of current and past grantees. PARC’s website is a virtual library that contains detailed chronologies, specialized maps, an annotated bibliography, links to relevant organizations and research sources, and excerpts from the Facts on File Encyclopedia of the Palestinians, as well as information on the fellowship program and on grantees’ research. PARC is supported by individual and institutional memberships and grants from private foundations and the federal government.