Future of Work Research Grants - Russell Sage Foundation
Supports research on how changes in jobs, employer practices, and labor markets impact low- and moderate-wage workers in the U.S., with a focus on technology, policy, and workforce trends.
Funder: Russell Sage Foundation
Due Dates: July 16, 2025 (Letter of Inquiry) | Oct 27, 2025 (Invited Proposal)
Funding Amounts: Trustee Grants: up to $200,000 (2 years, incl. 15% indirects); Presidential Awards: up to $50,000 (2 years, no indirects); up to $75,000 for special data needs (no indirects)
Summary: Supports research on how changes in jobs, employer practices, and labor markets impact low- and moderate-wage workers in the U.S., with a focus on technology, policy, and workforce trends.
Key Information: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) required before full proposal; only ~15% of LOIs are invited to submit a full proposal.
Description
The Russell Sage Foundation’s Future of Work program funds innovative, investigator-initiated social science research on the changing nature of work and job quality for low- and moderately paid workers and their families in the United States. The program seeks to broaden understanding of how employer practices, labor market dynamics, and public policies affect employment, earnings, and job quality. Of particular interest are projects using novel or underutilized data, original data collection, and a mix of methodologies—including experiments and qualitative studies.
Key research areas include:
- Impacts of emerging technologies (e.g., AI, automation) on work and workers
- Labor force changes post-pandemic, including remote work and labor force participation
- Labor market power, wage dynamics, institutions, and worker organizing
- Workforce development, training, and employer adaptation to new challenges
- Alternative work arrangements, fissured workplaces, and nonstandard employment
- Policy responses to changing economies and family structures
Interdisciplinary and methodologically rigorous projects are encouraged. Projects must have clear conceptual frameworks and well-specified research designs.
