[Arnold Ventures](https://www.arnoldventures.org)

March 2027 (Letter of Interest) | June 2027 (Full proposal, invited applicants)

Typical award range: $250,000–$750,000 (varies by project scope and duration, up to 3 years)

Supports rigorous quasi-experimental research to build actionable evidence on effective U.S. social policies in areas such as education, Medicaid, infrastructure, and public finance.

--- ## Description Arnold Ventures seeks to advance the evidence base on effective social policies and programs by funding high-quality, causal research using quasi-experimental designs (QEDs). The initiative targets six core policy areas: Career Pathways, Contraceptive Choice and Access, Higher Education, Infrastructure, Medicaid, and Public Finance. Projects should employ robust quasi-experimental methods—such as natural experiments, regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, or instrumental variable designs—to generate actionable evidence relevant to current policy challenges. Research should clearly articulate policy relevance, contribute to existing knowledge, and outline a pathway to real-world impact. --- ## Due Dates - March 2027: Letter of Interest deadline (anticipated/projected) - June 2027: Full proposal deadline for invited applicants (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Typical award range: $250,000–$750,000 per project. - Project duration is generally up to 3 years. - Budgets outside this range may be considered if justified by project scope. - Funding may cover research costs and, in limited cases, intervention delivery if necessary to enable a rigorous evaluation. --- ## Eligibility - Open to researchers and institutions proposing studies using strong quasi-experimental designs. - Projects must focus on U.S.-based policies, programs, or interventions in one or more of the following areas: - Career Pathways - Contraceptive Choice and Access - Higher Education - Infrastructure - Medicaid - Public Finance - Proposals should demonstrate clear policy relevance, methodological rigor, and potential for policy impact. - All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. --- ## Application Process - **Step 1: Letter of Interest (LOI)** - Submit a LOI using the mandatory [template](https://assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/PDFs/AV_LOI_Template.docx). - LOIs must address key study details, study narrative, and alignment with AV priorities. - Optional supporting documents: team overview, CVs, budget summary. - **Step 2: Full Proposal (by invitation)** - Invited applicants submit a detailed proposal, including comprehensive study design, power calculations, and full budget. - Proposals are evaluated on policy relevance and study design criteria. - Submit applications via the [AV Proposals Portal](https://proposals.arnoldventures.org/prog/building_evidence/). --- ## Additional Information - Projects should use high-quality administrative or other robust data sources. - Adherence to research transparency and integrity is required (e.g., pre-registration, public posting of pre-analysis plans). - The grant generally does not fund intervention delivery, except in cases where it is essential for a rigorous evaluation. - Updated indirect cost and cost policies apply; review current guidelines before submission. --- ## External Links - [Arnold Ventures RFP PDF](https://assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/PDFs/AV_RFP_Building-Evidence.pdf) - [Program Page & Application Portal](https://proposals.arnoldventures.org/prog/building_evidence/) - [Arnold Ventures Evidence & Evaluation RFPs](https://www.arnoldventures.org/evidence-evaluation-rfps/) - [Arnold Ventures Grantee Opportunities](https://www.arnoldventures.org/grantees#requests-for-proposals) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [info@arnoldventures.org](mailto:info@arnoldventures.org) | | Evidence & Evaluation | [EvidenceTeam@arnoldventures.org](mailto:EvidenceTeam@arnoldventures.org) | | Contact Form | [Arnold Ventures Contact Page](https://www.arnoldventures.org/contact) |

Building Evidence: Support for QEDs to Evaluate Social Programs and Policies

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