Application Deadlines
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Core Research Grants (Core Programs and Special Initiatives)
Funding Guidelines for July 16, 2025 Deadline
RSF will accept letters of inquiry (LOIs) under the core programs for Future of Work (FOW) and Social, Political and Economic Inequality (SPEI). The foundation will also accept LOIs under its special initiatives on Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision to Ban Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities for Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility.
LOIs must include specific information about the proposed data and research design. After peer review, about 15% of those who submit an LOI will receive an invitation to submit a proposal. If you are unsure about the foundation's expectations, we strongly recommend that you review the grant writing guidelines on our website and also view an instructional webinar.
*ALL applications (LOIs & Proposals) are due by 2pm ET/11am PT
| Letter of Inquiry Deadline | Invited Proposal Deadline | Funding Decision | Grant Start Date (on/after) |
| Mar 11, 2025 (BSDMC, REI, III, SCD23) | Jun 17, 2025 | Nov 2025 | Jan 1, 2026 |
| July 16, 2025 (SPEI, FOW, SCD23) | Oct 27, 2025 | Mar 2026 | May 1, 2026 |
| Oct 29, 2025 (BSDMC, REI, III, SCD23) | Feb 18, 2026 | Jun 2026 | Sept 1, 2026 |
| Mar 11, 2026 (SPEI, FOW, SCD23) | Jun 22, 2026 | Nov 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 |
Before applying, review our Budget and Eligibility requirements
Pipeline Grants Competition
The next deadline is Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
Note: Applicants can apply for either the Pipeline Grants Competition or the October LOI deadline, but not both.
Dissertation Research Grants
The next deadline is expected to be in February 2026
Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System
The next deadline is expected to be in early April 2026
- See information about the program on Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System
Fellowships (Visiting Scholars, Visiting Journalists, Visiting Researchers)
Visiting Scholars
| Year in Residence | Application Deadline | Decision |
| 2026-2027 | June 25, 2025 (2pm ET) | December 2025 |
Visiting Journalists & Visiting Researchers
Only Visiting Researcher applications will be considered for the May 6, 2025 deadline. The Foundation will not be accepting Visiting Journalist applications in 2025.
| For Residency Between | Application Deadline | Decision |
| September 2025 - June 2026 | May 6, 2025 (2pm ET) | June 2025 |
- Submit a Visiting Researcher Application
- See information on Visiting Journalists
- See information on Visiting Researchers
Summer Institutes
RSF Journal