National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families
This grant funds a center to research and improve policies that support work, economic self-sufficiency, and stable families, connecting researchers with policymakers and sharing actionable findings.
Funder: Administration for Children and Families - OFA
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: One award; $2,700,000–$2,900,000 per year for up to 5 years (total $2,900,000 per cycle)
Summary: Supports a national research center to advance policy-relevant research on work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability, and build connections between researchers and policymakers.
Key Information: Cost sharing/matching required; activities may not support DEI/DEIA initiatives.
Description
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) anticipates a competition for a cooperative agreement to establish a National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families. The Center’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of federal and state policies that foster the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability through research, knowledge dissemination, and policy engagement.
The Center will:
- Support a fellowship program, placing in-residence fellows within ACF and HHS offices to provide expertise on work, earnings, family stability, child care, and human services programs.
- Oversee a competitive extramural research grants program to fund actionable research aligned with ACF priorities.
- Lead knowledge building and communication activities, including hosting events and producing policy-focused materials to ensure research findings are accessible to federal, state, tribal, and local policymakers.
Research should focus on promoting work as a pathway to self-sufficiency and stable families, identifying redundancies in government welfare programs, and ensuring efficient use of public funds. Activities must align with ACF’s statutory authorities and may not support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI/DEIA) activities.
