CSBS Small Grant Program
The CSBS Small Grant Program funds interdisciplinary research in social and behavioral sciences that addresses inequity, health, or the digital revolution, emphasizing innovation and societal impact.
Funder: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Due Dates: August 15, 2026: Pre-proposal deadline (fall cycle) | October 15, 2026: Full proposal deadline (fall cycle) | January 15, 2027: Pre-proposal deadline (spring cycle) | March 15, 2027: Full proposal deadline (spring cycle)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$30,000 per award, up to 18 months project duration.
Summary: Funds interdisciplinary research in social and behavioral sciences addressing inequity, health, or the digital revolution, with potential for significant societal impact and external funding.
Key Information: Only tenure-track UIUC faculty may serve as PI; pre-proposal approval required before full proposal submission.
Description
The CSBS Small Grant Program, administered by the Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, supports ambitious, innovative research projects that advance social and behavioral science to address major societal challenges. Projects must relate to at least one of CSBS’s three grand challenges: inequity and poverty, social and behavioral health, or the digital revolution. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of diverse conceptual and methodological approaches.
Eligible activities include:
- Collection and analysis of new or existing data
- Development and testing of novel methodological approaches
- Implementation and evaluation of interventions or publicly engaged programming
Projects should be grounded in social and behavioral science theory and evidence, aim to generate generalizable knowledge, and demonstrate potential for future external funding.
