Core Research Grants - Russell Sage Foundation
Russell Sage Foundation Core Research Grants fund rigorous, innovative social science research using strong designs and novel data to address key issues in RSF’s program areas.
Funder: Russell Sage Foundation
Due Dates: June 18, 2026 (Invited proposal) | July 15, 2026 (LOI) | October 26, 2026 (Invited proposal) | October 28, 2026 (LOI) | February 22, 2027 (Invited proposal)
Funding Amounts: Up to $200,000 for Trustee Grants (2 years max); up to $75,000 for Presidential Grants; typical duration is up to 2 years.
Summary: Funds innovative, rigorous social science research aligned with RSF priorities, supporting projects with strong design and novel data use.
Key Information: All applicants must submit a letter of inquiry before a full proposal; only 15% of LOIs are invited to submit.
Description
The Russell Sage Foundation's Core Research Grants support PhD-level researchers conducting projects that align with the Foundation’s core research priorities. The program emphasizes rigorous, well-developed research designs and encourages methodological diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration. Projects should utilize newly available or innovative uses of existing data, and can include original data collection, field experiments, qualitative interviews, or ethnographies. Funding supports research assistance, data acquisition, data analysis, and investigator time for both research and dissemination. The Foundation prioritizes projects offering innovative approaches to emerging or longstanding issues in its program areas.
