[Russell Sage Foundation](https://www.russellsage.org)

Up to $200,000 per grant (Trustee grants); up to $75,000 (Presidential grants); project duration typically up to 2 years.

Supports rigorous, innovative social science research aligned with RSF’s core program areas and special initiatives.

Application requires a Letter of Inquiry; only invited proposals may submit a full application.

--- ## Description Core Research Grants from the Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) fund well-developed, methodologically rigorous social science research projects that address key issues within the foundation’s core program areas and special initiatives. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological innovation, including original data collection, field experiments, qualitative interviews, and novel uses of existing data. Projects must present strong conceptual frameworks, clearly articulated research questions, and well-specified analytical models. Routine analyses of publicly available data are generally not considered unless they offer innovative approaches or data linkages. --- ## Due Dates - **October 29, 2025:** Letter of Inquiry (LOI) deadline (BSDMC, REI, III, SCD23) — due by 2pm ET - **February 18, 2026:** Invited full proposal deadline for LOIs submitted Oct 29, 2025 — due by 2pm ET - **March 11, 2026:** LOI deadline (SPEI, FOW, SCD23) — due by 2pm ET - **June 18, 2026:** Invited full proposal deadline for LOIs submitted Mar 11, 2026 — due by 2pm ET - **July 15, 2026:** LOI deadline (BSDMC, REI, III, SCD23) — due by 2pm ET - **October 26, 2026:** Invited full proposal deadline for LOIs submitted Jul 15, 2026 — due by 2pm ET - **October 28, 2026:** LOI deadline (SPEI, FOW, SCD23) — due by 2pm ET - **February 22, 2027:** Invited full proposal deadline for LOIs submitted Oct 28, 2026 — due by 2pm ET All applications are due by 2pm Eastern Time. --- ## Funding Amount - **Maximum Award:** Up to $200,000 per grant (Trustee grants, including up to 15% indirect costs) - **Presidential Grants:** Up to $75,000 (with exceptions for certain needs) - **Typical Duration:** Up to 2 years (longer projects considered in exceptional cases) - **Indirect Costs:** Up to 15% on grants over $75,000 only --- ## Eligibility - **Who can apply:** Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs must hold a doctorate. In rare cases, applicants with equivalent research experience may be considered. - **Institution/Nationality:** No restrictions on institution type or nationality. - **Student eligibility:** Students may not apply. - **Project focus:** Research must address U.S. social and living conditions or demonstrate strong relevance to the U.S. --- ## Application Process 1. **Letter of Inquiry (LOI):** - Required for all applicants (max 4 pages, single-spaced, excluding references) - Must include: hypotheses, data and research design, sample size/power calculations (if applicable), preliminary findings, and a brief budget summary - Submitted via the [RSF Fluxx online portal](https://rsf.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new) 2. **Full Proposal:** - By invitation only, after LOI review (approx. 15% of LOIs are invited) - Proposal (max 10 pages, single-spaced), detailed budget, budget justification, abbreviated CVs (5 pages max), and other supporting materials as specified 3. **Review:** - Rigorous multi-stage peer review; only invited proposals are considered for funding 4. **Notification:** - Applicants are notified by email; decisions are typically communicated at least one month before the proposal deadline --- ## Additional Information - **Research Priorities:** Behavioral Science and Decision Making in Context, Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration, Immigration and Immigrant Integration, Social, Political, and Economic Inequality, and select special initiatives. - **Funding Restrictions:** RSF does not fund routine analyses of publicly available data unless the approach is novel. No support for general institutional expenses, tuition, conference travel, or dissemination costs. - **Budget Requirements:** Use the RSF budget template; see [budget guidelines](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core/budget) for details. - **Competitiveness:** Funding rate is approximately 6–10% for core research grants. --- ## External Links - [Core Research Grants Program Page](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core) - [Application Deadlines](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/application-deadlines) - [Research Priorities](https://www.russellsage.org/research/priorities) - [Application Requirements](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core/requirements) - [Budget Guidelines](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core/budget) - [FAQ](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/faq) - [Apply via Fluxx Portal](https://rsf.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new) - [Grant Writing Tips](https://www.russellsage.org/apply/core-research-grants/tips) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General | [info@rsage.org](mailto:info@rsage.org) | | Program | [programs@rsage.org](mailto:programs@rsage.org) | | Phone | +1 212-750-6000 | | Contact Form| [Contact RSF](https://www.russellsage.org/about/contact) | ---

Core Research Grants - Russell Sage Foundation

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