Budget Guidelines

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. RSF only makes such budget decisions after it has decided which projects to fund or present to the board of trustees and further changes may be made by the trustees at the board meeting.

Budget Format and Maximum Amount

PI(s) must use the RSF budget template when submitting an invited proposal. All proposals must include a detailed narrative and breakdown of costs of all line items in the main budget, and any subcontracts. Budgets must be uploaded in Excel format.

Trustee Grants are capped at $200,000. Presidential Grants are capped at $50,000, but PIs may request up to $75,000 when the proposed research project involves labor intensive data collection or access fees to restricted-use data, or when the proposal budget includes salary support for multiple assistant professor PIs.

Project Length

Projects are generally limited to two years. PIs can request either a one- or two-year grant. RSF may consider longer projects in exceptional circumstances.

Indirect Costs

RSF covers indirect costs of up to 15% on grants over $75,000 only. If the budget includes a subcontract to another university or research organization, only the subcontract organization can budget for indirect costs for the funds in the subcontract—the primary grantee organization cannot receive any indirect costs for the subcontract funds.

RSF does not allow indirect costs on data purchases or access fees or on subcontracts to survey firms for survey administration and data collection.

Subcontractors

When projects include work subcontracted to another university or research organization, a detailed budget and budget justification for each line item in the subcontract must also be submitted as part of the main proposal and budget template. Each university or research organizations may include indirect costs only on its portion of direct costs.

Salary Support

Proposals should include no more than five PIs, three of whom may receive funding. In rare circumstances, RSF will consider requests for salary support for additional PIs if it is crucial to the completion of the proposed research. Applicants must provide a detailed explanation in the budget justification of the tasks and time efforts of all PIs. When more than three PIs are requesting funding, the budget justification must explain the expertise those additional individuals bring to the project.

Only individuals with salaries below $300,000 are eligible to request salary support. For all salary support requests, the budget must include the base salary from which the salary request is calculated.

PIs may be funded on more than one RSF grant at the same time but may not receive more than their respective RSF salary caps (see relevant PI salary support category) over the grant period, regardless of the number of projects they have with RSF.

PI Salary Support Categories

Only PIs or co-PIs whose salary is less than $300,000 are eligible to request salary support. If a PI is eligible, the following rules apply.

Faculty PIs and co-PIs: Investigators in tenure-track faculty positions with academic-year salaries up to $250,000 are eligible to request summer salary support up to $15,000 for a 1-year grant and up to $30,000 for a 2-year grant. For grants approved before September 1, 2024: Investigators in tenure-track faculty positions with academic-year salaries up to $250,000 are eligible to request summer salary support up to $12,500 for a 1-year grant and up to $25,000 for a 2-year grant.

If the PI salary is between $250,000 and $300,000, the total summer salary support is capped at $30,000 x ($300,000- [PI salary])/50,000 for a 2-year project, or half that for a 1-year project.

Other PIs and co-PIs: For investigators who do not have a tenure-track position (including research employees, such as research scientists, who must raise all of their salary via grants or contracts) or who are not affiliated with universities, RSF will consider providing support for the percent of time spent working on the RSF project, up to a maximum of 25 percent of their normal salary, but no more than $20,000 per PI in each year of a two-year grant (a maximum of $40,000).

If the PI salary is between $250,000 and $300,000, the total salary support is capped at $40,000 x ($300,000- [PI salary])/50,000, for a 2-year project, and half that for a 1-year project.

Course Buy-outs

As a rule, RSF does not support release time (course buy-outs) from teaching during the academic year. For faculty members with a heavy academic-year teaching load (5 or more courses), RSF will consider supporting release time during the academic year in lieu of summer salary on a case-by-case basis. Such requests are considered part of PI salary support and may not exceed the total salary cap of $25,000 per PI for the duration of a two-year project ($12,500 for a one-year project).

Student Research Assistance

RSF supports salary/wages for research assistance time for undergraduate and graduate students. The budget must include an hourly rate and number of hours to be spent on the project (estimated if students are paid for a semester rather than hourly). RSF pays RA fringe benefits but does not pay student fees or tuition remission (in some cases, student health insurance fees are allowed).

At a minimum, the compensation for research assistants must be based on the minimum wage in the state where the fiscal agent for the grant is located or at least $15.00 per hour, whichever is higher.

Post-Doc Support

PIs may request support for post-doctoral researchers who have appointments of no more than three years at their organization. The request should be based on the percent of time spent working on the RSF project, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the researcher’s annual salary, but no more than $35,000 per year (a maximum of $70,000 for the duration of the project).

Other Research Assistance

RSF will consider salary support requests for staff positions that provide research assistance. For most researchers in staff positions, the maximum salary support is limited to $25,000 for a one-year grant, or $50,000 for a two-year grant. Exceptions may be made for junior (pre-doctoral) researchers in staff positions on a case-by-case basis. RSF will also consider limited requests for salary support for project managers/coordinators who conduct research, but not administrative activities, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the project. When requesting support for staff positions, applicants should explain in the budget justification why the work cannot be performed by student research assistants or post-doctoral researchers.

Fringe Benefits

RSF pays fringe benefits where required up to a maximum rate of 40%.

Expert Consultants

The core research team should have all necessary skills to conduct the project. However, if the PIs require the special skills of an outside consultant, the budget justification must specify the expertise the consultant brings to the proposed project which is lacking among the other PIs.

The budget justification should provide the consultant’s rate and time commitment to the project. The maximum allowable payment for expert consultants whose services can be justified is $125 per hr. RSF does not pay fringe benefits on consultant fees. Only consultants whose salary is $250,000 or less are eligible to request support. Any exceptions to the salary and rate caps will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The total fees for an individual consultant cannot exceed $20,000 over the course of a two-year project ($10,000 for a one-year project).

Data Access and Survey Fees

If data collection will be performed by a survey firm, please obtain a quote from at least two firms, including information about the firm’s participant compensation structure (see “Study Participant Compensation” for additional requirements). The budget narrative should include a discussion of the two quotes and justify the decision to use one of the firms—there is no requirement that the applicant engage the firm with the lowest quote if there is a good reason for choosing the higher quote.

RSF may provide limited funding for access to restricted or proprietary data on a case-by-case basis. If the applicants on a project are faculty members or researchers at a university or research organization that is a member of a restricted data center (such as a Federal Statistics RDC), RSF will not typically provide any payment to the center. However, if the center has a formal policy of charging a reduced fee to all members rather than waiving the fee, the applicant must include a letter with their proposal to RSF from the director of the center that explains the fee structure for members and non-members.

If the budget includes fees to access/work with restricted data at a Research Data Center (RDC) or non/governmental facility, the budget narrative must include a breakdown of the fees, including the amount of time required at the RDC to carry out the project and any additional fees that may be associated with the specific dataset the PI(S) wish to access. RSF is a member of the New York RDC (NYRDC), which allows researchers to access restricted-use microdata in physically secure facilities at Cornell University, Yale University, and Baruch College, three of twenty-four Census Research Data Centers across the nation. RSF-supported scholars may use one of the three affiliated sites without paying an access fee if their projects are approved through the NYRDC’S normal application process for conducting research at the sites.

Indirect costs are not provided for survey costs or data or RDC fees.

Study Participant Incentives

When grant funds are used to compensate study participants, applicants must fully describe the compensation plan as well as the reasoning behind the amount, method, and terms of compensation. If a survey firm has been hired to collect the data, applicants must obtain information from the firm about their participant compensation structure. RSF requires that payments to study participants (including for crowdsourced workers) be based on the minimum wage in the state where the grantee organization is located or at least $15 per hour, whichever is higher. Justified alternate compensation structures will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Travel

RSF will consider limited travel expenses directly related to carrying out the research project (e.g. data collection, site visits or access to restricted data). If the approved budget contains funds for travel, RSF funds should be used only for economy class travel and moderately priced restaurants and hotels.

Equipment

RSF will consider limited requests for equipment, such as computers or software, on a case-by-case basis. In no case can more than $5,000 be spent on equipment.

Funds from other organization

Co-funding and/or cost-sharing by the grantee university or organization is encouraged and should be reported in the budget narrative. This includes approved or pending funding. Requested RSF funds must be allocated to budget items that are not covered by other funders.

Unallowable Expenses

Core research grant funds cannot be used for the following expenses: 

• Rent or other payments for office space.
• Sabbaticals or fellowships at other institutions, even if the PI will be working on an RSF project.
• Tuition remission for graduate or undergraduate students. Personnel or other costs related to editing or communications or dissemination or publication, including journal publication fees.
• Travel for collaboration purposes (meetings among PIs/collaborators) or dissemination/presentation of findings (conference travel).
• The development of the data collection instrument and sample design as part of the proposed project.
• Generic costs, such as copying, printing, mailing, phone calls, office supplies, information/computer services, etc.

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.

Budget Format and Maximum Amount

Budgets are limited to $50,000 for individuals or $65,000 for teams of eligible assistant professors. Grantees must use the Pipeline Budget Template provided by RSF staff.

Project Length

Projects are limited to one year.

Indirect Costs

No indirect costs are allowed.

Funds from other organizations

Co-funding and/or cost-sharing by the grantee university or organization is encouraged and should be reported in the budget narrative. This includes approved or pending funding. Requested RSF funds must be allocated to budget items that are not covered by other funders.

Subcontracts

When projects include work subcontracted to another university or research organization, a detailed budget and budget justification for each line item in the subcontract must also be submitted as part of the main proposal and budget template.

Project Team

PI Salary Support/Course Buyouts

PI/co-PI salary support is limited to $15,000 per eligible PI (not including fringe benefits). Course buyouts are allowed in lieu of summer salary, and are not limited to $15,000 but to the cost of one course buyout. If a course buyout is less than $15,000, the remainder is allowed to be taken as summer salary.

Full professors, associate professors, and assistant professors who have previously received RSF funding are eligible to be co-PIs on projects but cannot receive funding.

Student Research Assistant

RSF supports salary/wages for research assistance time for undergraduate and graduate students. PIs must indicate how RA time is calculated (e.g., hourly wage by number of hours; salary by percent of time devoted to project). RSF pays RA fringe benefits but does not pay student fees or tuition remission (in some cases, student health insurance fees are allowed).

At a minimum, the compensation for research assistants must be based on the minimum wage in the state where the fiscal agent for the grant is located or at least $15.00 per hour, whichever is higher.

Post-Doc Support

PIs may request support for post-doctoral researchers who have appointments of no more than three years at their organization. The request should be based on the percent of time spent working on the RSF project, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the researcher’s annual salary, but no more than $35,000.

Other Research Assistance

RSF will consider salary support requests for staff positions that provide research assistance. For most researchers in staff positions, the maximum salary support is limited to $25,000. Exceptions may be made for junior (pre-doctoral) researchers in staff positions on a case-by-case basis. RSF will also consider limited requests for salary support for project managers/coordinators who conduct research, but not administrative activities, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the project. When requesting support for staff positions, applicants should explain in the budget justification why the work cannot be performed by student research assistants or post-doctoral researchers. If research assistants must be paid as consultants for administrative reasons (e.g., because they are not staff members at the grantee institution or at a subcontract institution), the same rules apply.

Fringe Benefits

RSF pays fringe benefits where required up to a maximum rate of 40%.

Expert Consultants

The core research team should have all necessary skills to conduct the project. However, if the PIs require the special skills of an outside consultant, the budget justification must specify the expertise the consultant brings to the proposed project which is lacking among the other PIs.

The maximum allowable payment for expert consultants whose services can be justified is $125 per hr. RSF does not pay fringe benefits on consultant fees. Only consultants whose salary is $250,000 or less are eligible to request support. Any exceptions to the salary and rate caps will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The total fees for an individual consultant cannot exceed $10,000.

Data and Survey Fees

If data collection will be performed by a survey firm, grantees are asked to obtain a quote from at least two firms, including information about the firm’s participant compensation structure (see “Study Participant Compensation” for additional requirements). The budget narrative should include a discussion of the two quotes and justify the decision to use one of the firms—there is no requirement that the applicant engage the firm with the lowest quote if there is a good reason for choosing the higher quote.

RSF may provide limited funding for access to restricted or proprietary data on a case-by-case basis. If the applicants on a project are faculty members or researchers at a university or research organization that is a member of a restricted data center (such as a Federal Statistics RDC), RSF will not typically provide any payment to the center. However, if the center has a formal policy of charging a reduced fee to all members rather than waiving the fee, the applicant must include a letter with their proposal to RSF from the director of the center that explains the fee structure for members and non-members.

If the budget includes fees to access/work with restricted data at a Research Data Center (RDC) or non/governmental facility, the budget narrative must include a breakdown of the fees, including the amount of time required at the RDC to carry out the project and any additional fees that may be associated with the specific dataset the PI(S) wish to access. RSF is a member of the New York RDC (NYRDC), which allows researchers to access restricted-use microdata in physically secure facilities at Cornell University, Yale University, and Baruch College, three of twenty-four Census Research Data Centers across the nation. RSF-supported scholars may use one of the three affiliated sites without paying an access fee if their projects are approved through the NYRDC’S normal application process for conducting research at the sites.

Study Participant Incentives

When grant funds are used to compensate study participants, applicants must fully describe the compensation plan as well as the reasoning behind the amount, method, and terms of compensation. If a survey firm has been hired to collect the data, applicants must obtain information from the firm about their participant compensation structure. RSF requires that payments to study participants (including for crowdsourced workers) be based on the minimum wage in the state where the grantee organization is located or at least $15 per hour, whichever is higher. Justified alternate compensation structures will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Travel

RSF will consider travel expenses directly related to carrying out the research project (e.g. data collection, site visits or access to restricted data). If the approved budget contains funds for travel, RSF funds should be used only for economy class travel and moderately priced restaurants and hotels.

Conference travel is allowed and limited to $3,000.

Equipment

RSF will consider limited requests for equipment, such as computers or software, on a case-by-case basis. In no case can more than $5,000 be spent on equipment.

Unallowable expenses

Pipeline grant funds cannot be used for the following expenses:

• Rent or other payments for office space.
• Sabbaticals or fellowships at other institutions, even if the PI will be working on an RSF project.
• Tuition remission for graduate or undergraduate students.
• Personnel or other costs related to editing or communications or dissemination or publication, including journal publication fees.
• Generic costs, such as copying, printing, mailing, phone calls, office supplies, information/computer services, etc.

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.

Budget Format and Maximum Amount

The maximum allowable budget is $15,000. Grantees must use the Budget Template provided by RSF staff.

Project Length

Projects are limited to one year.

Indirect Costs

No indirect costs are allowed.

Project Team

PI Stipend

The PI can request a stipend up to $7,500.

Student Research Assistant

RSF supports salary/wages for research assistance time for undergraduate and graduate students. PI must indicate how RA time is calculated (e.g., hourly wage by number of hours; salary by percent of time devoted to project). RSF pays RA fringe benefits but does not pay student fees or tuition remission (in some cases, student health insurance fees are allowed).

At a minimum, the compensation for research assistants must be based on the minimum wage in the state where the fiscal agent for the grant is located or at least $15.00 per hour, whichever is higher.

Data and Survey Fees

If data collection will be performed by a survey firm, grantees are asked to obtain a quote from at least two firms, including information about the firm’s participant compensation structure (see “Study Participant Compensation” for additional requirements). The budget narrative should include a discussion of the two quotes and justify the decision to use one of the firms—there is no requirement that the applicant engage the firm with the lowest quote if there is a good reason for choosing the higher quote.

RSF may provide limited funding for access to restricted or proprietary data on a case-by-case basis. If the applicants on a project are faculty members or researchers at a university or research organization that is a member of a restricted data center (such as a Federal Statistics RDC), RSF will not typically provide any payment to the center. However, if the center has a formal policy of charging a reduced fee to all members rather than waiving the fee, the applicant must include a letter with their proposal to RSF from the director of the center that explains the fee structure for members and non-members.

If the budget includes fees to access/work with restricted data at a Research Data Center (RDC) or non/governmental facility, the budget narrative must include a breakdown of the fees, including the amount of time required at the RDC to carry out the project and any additional fees that may be associated with the specific dataset the PI(S) wish to access. RSF is a member of the New York RDC (NYRDC), which allows researchers to access restricted-use microdata in physically secure facilities at Cornell University, Yale University, and Baruch College, three of twenty-four Census Research Data Centers across the nation. RSF-supported scholars may use one of the three affiliated sites without paying an access fee if their projects are approved through the NYRDC’S normal application process for conducting research at the sites.

Study Participant Incentives

When grant funds are used to compensate study participants, applicants must fully describe the compensation plan as well as the reasoning behind the amount, method, and terms of compensation. If a survey firm has been hired to collect the data, applicants must obtain information from the firm about their participant compensation structure. RSF requires that payments to study participants (including for crowdsourced workers) be based on the minimum wage in the state where the grantee organization is located or at least $15 per hour, whichever is higher. Justified alternate compensation structures will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Travel

RSF will consider travel expenses directly related to carrying out the research project (e.g. data collection, site visits or access to restricted data). If the approved budget contains funds for travel, RSF funds should be used only for economy class travel and moderately priced restaurants and hotels.

US-based conference travel when the applicant is presenting a paper or poster will be considered on a case-by-case basis if the applicant certifies that such funding is not available from the home institution or other sources.

Other Direct Costs

RSF funds can also be used for transcription expenses and laboratory costs. Other research expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Equipment

RSF does not generally approve the purchase of personal computers.

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.

Budget Format and Maximum Amount

Budgets are limited to $100,000 (including up to 15 percent for indirect costs). Grantees must use the Budget Template provided by RSF staff.

Project Length

Projects are limited to one year.

Indirect Costs

RSF covers indirect costs of up to 15%.

RSF does not allow indirect costs on data purchases or access fees or on subcontracts to survey firms for survey administration and data collection.

Project Team

PI Salary Support/Course Buyouts

PI/co-PI salary support is limited to $15,000 per eligible PI (not including fringe benefits). Such requests are considered part of PI salary support and may not exceed the total salary cap of $15,000 per PI.

Associate professors are eligible to be co-PIs on these grants but cannot receive salary support.

Student Research Assistant

RSF supports salary/wages for research assistance time for undergraduate and graduate students. PIs must indicate how RA time is calculated (e.g., hourly wage by number of hours; salary by percent of time devoted to project). RSF pays RA fringe benefits but does not pay student fees or tuition remission (in some cases, student health insurance fees are allowed).

At a minimum, the compensation for research assistants must be based on the minimum wage in the state where the fiscal agent for the grant is located or at least $15.00 per hour, whichever is higher.

Post-Doc Support

PIs may request support for post-doctoral researchers who have appointments of no more than three years at their organization. The request should be based on the percent of time spent working on the RSF project, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the researcher’s annual salary, but no more than $35,000.

Other Research Assistance

RSF will consider salary support requests for staff positions that provide research assistance. For most researchers in staff positions, the maximum salary support is limited to $25,000. Exceptions may be made for junior (pre-doctoral) researchers in staff positions on a case-by-case basis. RSF will also consider limited requests for salary support for project managers/coordinators who conduct research, but not administrative activities, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the project. When requesting support for staff positions, applicants should explain in the budget justification why the work cannot be performed by student research assistants or post-doctoral researchers. If research assistants must be paid as consultants for administrative reasons (e.g., because they are not staff members at the grantee institution or at a subcontract institution), the same rules apply.

Fringe Benefits

RSF pays fringe benefits where required up to a maximum rate of 40%.

Expert Consultants

The core research team should have all necessary skills to conduct the project. However, if the PIs require the special skills of an outside consultant, the budget justification must specify the expertise the consultant brings to the proposed project which is lacking among the other PIs.

The maximum allowable payment for expert consultants whose services can be justified is $125 per hr. RSF does not pay fringe benefits on consultant fees. Only consultants whose salary is $250,000 or less are eligible to request support. Any exceptions to the salary and rate caps will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The total fees for an individual consultant cannot exceed $10,000.

Data and Survey Fees

If data collection will be performed by a survey firm, grantees are asked to obtain a quote from at least two firms, including information about the firm’s participant compensation structure (see “Study Participant Compensation” for additional requirements). The budget narrative should include a discussion of the two quotes and justify the decision to use one of the firms—there is no requirement that the applicant engage the firm with the lowest quote if there is a good reason for choosing the higher quote.

RSF may provide limited funding for access to restricted or proprietary data on a case-by-case basis. If the applicants on a project are faculty members or researchers at a university or research organization that is a member of a restricted data center (such as a Federal Statistics RDC), RSF will not typically provide any payment to the center. However, if the center has a formal policy of charging a reduced fee to all members rather than waiving the fee, the applicant must include a letter with their proposal to RSF from the director of the center that explains the fee structure for members and non-members.

If the budget includes fees to access/work with restricted data at a Research Data Center (RDC) or non/governmental facility, the budget narrative must include a breakdown of the fees, including the amount of time required at the RDC to carry out the project and any additional fees that may be associated with the specific dataset the PI(S) wish to access. RSF is a member of the New York RDC (NYRDC), which allows researchers to access restricted-use microdata in physically secure facilities at Cornell University, Yale University, and Baruch College, three of twenty-four Census Research Data Centers across the nation. RSF-supported scholars may use one of the three affiliated sites without paying an access fee if their projects are approved through the NYRDC’S normal application process for conducting research at the sites.

Study Participant Incentives

When grant funds are used to compensate study participants, applicants must fully describe the compensation plan as well as the reasoning behind the amount, method, and terms of compensation. If a survey firm has been hired to collect the data, applicants must obtain information from the firm about their participant compensation structure. RSF requires that payments to study participants (including for crowdsourced workers) be based on the minimum wage in the state where the grantee organization is located or at least $15 per hour, whichever is higher. Justified alternate compensation structures will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Travel

RSF will consider travel expenses directly related to carrying out the research project (e.g. data collection, site visits or access to restricted data). If the approved budget contains funds for travel, RSF funds should be used only for economy class travel and moderately priced restaurants and hotels.

US-based conference travel is allowed and limited to $3,000 per investigator.

Equipment

RSF will consider limited requests for equipment, such as computers or software, on a case-by-case basis. In no case can more than $5,000 be spent on equipment.

Unallowable expenses

Pipeline grant funds cannot be used for the following expenses:

• Rent or other payments for office space.
• Sabbaticals or fellowships at other institutions, even if the PI will be working on an RSF project.
• Tuition remission for graduate or undergraduate students.
• Personnel or other costs related to editing or communications or dissemination or publication, including journal publication fees.
• Generic costs, such as copying, printing, mailing, phone calls, office supplies, information/computer services, etc.

The award to the institution provides direct salary support only and does not include funds for fringe benefits or indirect costs.

Salary support

The Visiting Scholar fellowship provides an award to the scholar’s university of up to 50 percent of the scholars direct academic salary up to a maximum of $150,000 for the full academic year, or $75,000 for a half year. RSF support will be limited to less than 50 percent when funds from other sources (including university sabbatical support) provide more than 50 percent of the academic-year salary. The award amount will be adjusted before the start of the fellowship to reflect raises for the fellowship academic year.

There are two situations in which a scholar may receive more than 50% of their current academic salary:

1. If the scholar’s employer will not provide a paid sabbatical for one of the following reasons: (a) the scholar is a tenure-track assistant professor, and the university does not provide paid sabbaticals to assistant professors; (b) the scholar is in a non-tenure track position; or (c) the scholar is employed at a non-profit organization, government agency, or other similar research organization. In this case RSF would cover 100 percent of the scholar’s salary up to a maximum of $150,000 for a full-year fellowship or $75,000 for a half-year fellowship.
2. Because of the high cost of living in New York City, RSF provides a minimum salary for scholars. Scholars with an academic-year salary below $100,000 will receive a salary supplement from RSF that is in addition to its standard 50 percent contribution. The sum of the supplement and the scholar’s annual salary would total $100,000 for the fellowship period ($50,000 for half-year visitors).

Housing

Scholars who reside outside the greater New York City area are provided with a partially subsidized apartment near the Foundation offices. If scholars are fully funded by external sources, the RSF apartment may be fully subsidized.

Travel and shipping reimbursements

The Foundation will reimburse non-NYC scholars economy-rate travel expenses incurred to be in residence. That includes one round-trip fare and/or ground transportation from their home institution for them, spouse or partner, and any dependent children who accompany them for the entire term of their residency (year or half-year). RSF will reimburse scholars residing outside the NYC metro area for up to $800 in domestic shipping expenses for personal or work-related belongings. An additional $250 will be provided for those coming from the Pacific time zone and an additional $150 per child (up to age 18) residing full-time with the scholar during the fellowship.

Childcare subsidy

RSF offers a limited childcare allowance to scholars to offset any additional costs (i.e., charges that exceed those they were paying or expected to pay at their home university) for childcare incurred because of the fellowship. Visiting scholars with children under the age of thirteen are eligible to apply for a childcare allowance. The maximum allowance is $30,000 per preschool child and $10,000 per elementary school child, minus 10% of household income from all sources in excess of $125,000. No subsidy will be provided for middle school children (NYC public schools provide free after school care for middle school students) and for families whose income exceeds $300,000.

The Visiting Researcher award does not provide any salary or other financial support. Visiting Researchers who reside outside the greater New York City area are provided with a partially subsidized apartment near the Foundation offices.