Greetings Colleagues,

This month’s listing of private funding opportunities begins with a timely statement issued by the president of the Spencer Foundation. There are currently two opportunities from the Spencer Foundation, four potential funding areas from the Russell Sage Foundation, two from the William T. Grant Foundation, two from the Brady Educational Foundation, and two from Arnold Ventures.

 

During this time of uncertainty, we wanted to reach out with some assurances. The past few days and weeks have left many of us reeling, as education researchers, as family members, as community members. The recent threats to education research and university research infrastructure, and to scholarship and work that centers equity, jeopardize our communities, educators, and our collective ability to design education systems that support all students to reach their full potential.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with our university colleagues, with scholars, and with all of those impacted by recent executive actions. We at Spencer remain steadfast in our commitment to funding education research across the field, to the power of research to improve education, and to the responsibility to steward equitable education systems that serve the needs of young people, families, and communities. ...

             

 

The Spencer Foundation's Racial Equity Research Grants program is now accepting proposals for projects that aim to understand and disrupt racial inequalities in education. This initiative seeks to fund studies that not only examine the reproduction and deepening of inequality but also envision and create new forms of equitable education across various systems, levels, and settings. The foundation encourages proposals employing diverse methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Notably, this cycle emphasizes research in innovative forms of measurement and assessment, artificial intelligence (AI), and current political challenges in K-12 and higher education related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Faculty members interested in applying should note that applications open in March 2025. The Intent to Apply form is due by May 2025, with full proposals required by June 2025. The program supports projects ranging from one to five years, with budgets up to $75,000. This is a valuable opportunity to contribute to meaningful change in educational equity through rigorous and impactful research. For detailed information on application procedures and program priorities, please visit the Spencer Foundation's official webpage.

https://www.spencer.org/grant_types/racial-equity-special-research-grants

The Spencer Foundation's Small Research Grants on Education Program is an excellent opportunity for faculty members to secure funding for innovative education research projects. This program supports rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound studies that address pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. With budgets up to $50,000, projects can range from one to five years in duration. The foundation welcomes proposals employing diverse methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, and encourages submissions from scholars at various career stages across multiple disciplines.

The upcoming application cycle opens in mid-February 2025, with full proposals due by mid-April 2025. This timeline provides ample opportunity to develop a compelling proposal that aligns with the foundation's goals of fostering creative and open-minded scholarship. Given the program's broad scope and emphasis on impactful research, this is a valuable chance to advance your work and contribute to the improvement of education. For detailed information on application procedures and program priorities, please visit the Spencer Foundation's official webpage.

https://www.spencer.org/grant_types/small-research-grant

 

The Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) is currently accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for several of its core programs and special initiatives, with a submission deadline of March 11, 2025. This presents a valuable opportunity for researchers to secure funding for projects that align with RSF's mission to improve social and living conditions in the United States.

 

RSF's program on Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration supports innovative, investigator-initiated research that examines the roles of race, ethnicity, nativity, legal status, and their interactions in shaping social, economic, and political outcomes. The foundation encourages multidisciplinary perspectives and methods that enhance the understanding of how to foster a pluralist society. Proposals may focus on any combination of these issues.

 

https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/behavioral-science-decision-making

This program merges RSF's long-standing interest in behavioral economics with its initiative on decision-making and human behavior in context. It encourages research from multiple disciplines—including economics, psychology, political science, sociology, law, and public policy—to deepen understanding of decision-making processes, attitudes, behaviors, and institutional practices in various contexts such as employment, housing, politics, and racial/ethnic relations.

https://www.russellsage.org/funding/promoting-educational-attainment-and-economic-mobility-among-racially-ethnically-and-economically

In collaboration with the Hewlett, Spencer, and William T. Grant Foundations, RSF seeks to support innovative research on the aftermath of the 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down race-conscious college and university admissions policies. This initiative focuses on ways to promote educational attainment and economic mobility among diverse groups following the court's ruling.

RSF's special initiative on Immigration and Immigrant Integration supports research that examines the effects of immigration policies and practices on the integration of immigrants and their children into U.S. society. The foundation is interested in studies that explore various aspects of integration, including economic, social, political, and cultural dimensions.

Trustee Grants are generally capped at $200,000, including 15% indirect costs. Presidential Grants are capped at $50,000 (no indirect costs). PIs may request up to $75,000 (no indirect costs) when the proposed research project has special needs for gathering data (e.g.: qualitative research) or gaining access to restricted-use data, or when the proposal budget includes salary support for multiple assistant professor PIs. Budget amounts are over a two-year period.

Researchers interested in these funding opportunities should submit a Letter of Inquiry by March 11, 2025. Detailed application guidelines and additional information are available on the Russell Sage Foundation's official website.

https://www.russellsage.org/how-to-apply/project-presidential-awards

 

The William T. Grant Foundation is inviting proposals for its Research Grants on Reducing Inequality program, which supports studies aimed at building, testing, or increasing understanding of programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes for young people aged 5 to 25 in the United States. The foundation prioritizes research that addresses inequalities related to race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status, language minority status, or immigrant origins. Proposals employing a variety of methodologies, including descriptive studies, intervention studies, and measurement development studies, are encouraged.

The program offers two types of grants: Major Research Grants, ranging from $100,000 to $600,000 over two to three years, and Officers’ Research Grants, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 over one to two years. The next application deadline for Major Research Grants is May 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET, while the subsequent deadline for Officers’ Research Grants is August 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET. This funding opportunity is ideal for faculty members seeking to contribute to meaningful change by addressing pressing inequalities affecting youth. For detailed application guidelines and additional information, please visit the William T. Grant Foundation's official webpage.

The William T. Grant Foundation is currently accepting proposals for its Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence program. This initiative supports studies that aim to enhance the utilization of research evidence by policymakers, agency leaders, organizational managers, intermediaries, and other decision-makers who influence youth-serving systems in the United States. The foundation is particularly interested in projects that:

This funding opportunity is ideal for faculty members interested in advancing the practical application of research to improve policies and practices affecting youth. For detailed application guidelines and additional information, please visit the William T. Grant Foundation's official webpage.

 

The Brady Education Foundation is dedicated to improving educational outcomes for children, particularly those from marginalized communities. The Foundation promotes collaboration among researchers, educators, and other stakeholders by funding two primary types of initiatives:

These projects aim to generate findings that can inform future educational research, practice, major philanthropic efforts, and public policy. The Foundation is especially interested in studies that adopt a strength-based perspective, focusing on the assets and capabilities of children and communities rather than deficits. Projects may address various aspects of education for children from birth through age 18.

 

The Foundation also supports cost-benefit analyses of existing programs aimed at improving educational outcomes.

Successful Stage 1 applicants will be invited to submit a more detailed Stage 2 proposal. It's important to note that Stage 2 applications are accepted by invitation only. Applicants are encouraged to review the Foundation's application guidelines thoroughly to ensure their proposals align with the Foundation's mission and priorities.

https://bradyeducationfoundation.org/application-guidelines/

Arnold Ventures is currently accepting Letters of Interest (LOIs) for two significant research funding opportunities aimed at evaluating social programs and policies. Both initiatives seek to build rigorous evidence to inform policy decisions and improve societal outcomes. The deadline for LOI submissions is March 14, 2025.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) focuses on funding rigorous RCTs across various areas of social policy. RCTs are considered a robust method for evaluating the effectiveness of programs and policies, as they allow for clear comparisons between treatment and control groups. Arnold Ventures is interested in studies that can provide actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. Researchers are encouraged to propose evaluations of innovative interventions that have the potential to produce significant social benefits.

 

This RFP aims to bolster the knowledge base about potentially effective policies, programs, and interventions by funding researchers to conduct rigorous, causal research using quasi-experimental methods. These methods are critical for evaluating interventions where RCTs may not be feasible. The focus areas for this RFP include higher education, career education and training, infrastructure, contraceptive choice and access, and public finance. Researchers employing methods such as natural experiments, regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, and instrumental variable designs are encouraged to apply.

Please let me know if you would like any further information or assistance in applying for any of these grant opportunities.