Russel Sage Foundation

Funding Guidelines for November 11 Deadline

The Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) has long supported social science research with the aim of improving social and living conditions in the United States.  In response to the crises of 2020, the foundation is dedicating its next funding cycle exclusively to research that seeks to improve our understanding of these extraordinary times. The severe consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, including its economic disruptions, and the recent mass protests to combat systemic racial inequality in policing and other institutions have reaffirmed the importance of social science research examining economic, political, racial, ethnic, generational, and social inequalities relevant to public policy and social change.

For its November 11, 2020 deadline, RSF will return to accepting letters of inquiry under the following core programs and special initiatives: Future of Work; Immigration and Immigrant Integration; Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; Social, Political and Economic Inequality. RSF will continue to accept letters of inquiry relevant to any of RSF’s core programs that address at least one of the following issues:

1. Research on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession in the U.S. Specifically, research that assesses the social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences of the pandemic, especially its effects on marginalized individuals and groups and on trust in government and other institutions. Our priorities do not include analyses of health outcomes or health behavior.
2. Research focused on systemic racial inequality and/or the recent mass protests in the U.S. Specifically, research that investigates the prevalence of racial disparities in policing and criminal justice and their social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences; the effects of the current social protest movement and mass mobilization against systemic discrimination; the nature of public attitudes and public policies regarding policing, criminal justice, and social welfare; and the effects of those attitudes in the current political environment.. 

All LOIs should include sufficient information about the proposed data and research design in order to be considered for support. Successful proposals from this round can have a start date on or after July 1, 2021. If you are unsure about the foundation's expectations in this regard, we strongly recommend that investigators review the grant writing guidelines on our website, where you can also view an instructional webinar. Those applying for funding from RSF should also consider participating in our next scheduled grant writing webinar led by our program staff.

Note: Applicants can either apply to the Pipeline Grants (11/4 deadline) or our regular research grants (11/11 deadline), but not both.

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Research Grants | Fellowships | Small Grants | RSF Journal | Summer Institutes | Pipeline Grants Competition | Targeted Competitions

Research Grants (Core Programs and Special Initiatives)

Core Programs:
Behavioral Economics = BE | Future of Work = FOW | Race, Ethnicity and Immigration = REI | Social, Political and Economic Inequality = SPEI

Special Initiatives:
Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context = DM | Immigration & Immigrant Integration = III

*ALL applications (LOIs & Proposals) are due by 2pm ET/11am PT

Before applying, review our Budget and Eligibility requirements.

• Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) or Proposal
• See information on Research Grants

Fellowships (Visiting Scholars, Visiting Journalists, Visiting Researchers)

Visiting Scholars

• Submit a Visiting Scholar Application
• See information on Visiting Scholars

Visiting Journalists & Visiting Researchers

• Submit a Visiting Journalist Application
• See information on Visiting Journalists
• See information on Visiting Researchers

Small Grants

Behavioral Economics: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

• Submit a Small Grants Application
• See information on Small Grants

RSF Journal

There are no open calls for applications at this time.

• Submit an Abstract
• See information on RSF Journal

Summer Institutes

• See information on RSF Summer Institutes

Pipeline Grants Competition

The next deadline will be Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 2pm ET. 

• See information on the Pipeline Grants Competition

Targeted Competitions

Improving Education and Reducing Inequality in the United States

The next call for proposals is expected to be released in Fall 2020.

• See information on the Special Initiative on Improving Education and Reducing Inequality in the United States