Budget Guidelines - Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System

A budget is not required at the time of submission. The budget will be finalized with the PI, their university's research office, and RSF after approval of the grant. A budget template will be shared with PIs after approval.

For general budget guidelines, see our budget requirements. The following are special budget exceptions that are specific to this competition. The budget guidelines listed here supersede any conflicting guidelines listed on the general budget webpage.

Budgets are limited to $100,000 (including up to 15 percent for indirect costs)

• Projects are limited to 1-year
• PI/co-PI salary support is limited to $15,000 per eligible investigator
• Course buyouts are allowed as equivalent salary support
• US-based conference travel is allowed, limited to $3,000 per investigator
• Associate professors are eligible to be co-PI’s on these grants, but cannot receive salary support
• RSF will pair grantees with mentors working in the same field and provide an honorarium for the mentors.

RSF has limited funds to allocate across projects. Proposed budgets may be reduced by RSF if they do not adhere to RSF’s budget guidelines. Proposed budget categories may also be reduced or eliminated during the review process if requested amounts are considered excessive or if they exceed RSF allowable costs as outlined below (for example, for salary support, travel, etc.) or if the PI has access to other resources for the same or closely related project.)