Building Evidence: Support for QEDs to Evaluate Social Programs and Policies
Arnold Ventures funds rigorous quasi-experimental research to evaluate and strengthen evidence on U.S. social policies in six key areas, aiming to inform policy and improve outcomes.
Funder: Arnold Ventures
Due Dates: March 6, 2026 (Letter of Interest) | June 26, 2026 (Full proposal, invited applicants)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards range from $200,000 to $1,000,000 for 1–4 years; budgets outside this range considered if justified.
Summary: Funds rigorous quasi-experimental research to build evidence on effective U.S. social policies and programs across six key areas.
Key Information: LOI required using Arnold Ventures' template; only invited applicants may submit full proposals.
Description
Arnold Ventures invites proposals for rigorous quasi-experimental research (QEDs) to evaluate U.S.-based social policies and programs in six areas: Career Pathways, Contraceptive Choice and Access, Higher Education, Infrastructure, Medicaid, and Public Finance. The goal is to generate actionable, policy-relevant evidence that informs decision-making and improves outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Projects should employ robust quasi-experimental methods (e.g., natural experiments, regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables) and clearly articulate policy relevance, a credible pathway to impact, and methodological rigor. Emphasis is placed on research that fills gaps in the evidence base, leverages high-quality data, and adheres to strong standards of research transparency and integrity.
