[U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/)

January 20, 2026

Award size varies; typical NSF social science grants range from $100,000 to $500,000 over up to 3 years. DDRIGs and RAPID/EAGER mechanisms available.

Supports research to advance understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society, grounded in social and behavioral sciences.

--- ## Description The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences (DRMS) program supports scientific research aimed at increasing understanding and effectiveness of decision making across individuals, groups, organizations, and society. The program emphasizes research grounded in the theories and methods of the social and behavioral sciences, with a focus on advancing knowledge, addressing fundamental scientific and societal issues, and demonstrating strong broader impacts. DRMS funds disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research improvement grants (DDRIGs), and conferences in areas including: - Judgment and decision making - Decision analysis and decision aids - Risk analysis, perception, and communication - Societal and public-policy decision making - Management science and organizational design The program also supports: - RAPID funding for research involving ephemeral data (e.g., disasters, unanticipated events) - EAGER grants for highly unusual, high-risk, potentially transformational projects All research must be grounded in theory and generalizable. Purely algorithmic management science proposals should be submitted to the Operations Engineering (OE) Program instead. --- ## Due Dates - Full proposals due: **January 20, 2026** _All proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. submitter's local time on the deadline date._ --- ## Funding Amount - **Award size:** Varies by project; typical NSF social science research grants range from $100,000 to $500,000 total, usually over periods of up to 3 years. - **DDRIGs:** Smaller, dissertation-focused awards. - **RAPID/EAGER:** Funding and duration are more limited and intended for special, urgent, or high-risk projects. - **Cost sharing/matching:** Not required. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible applicants:** Unrestricted. Open to universities, colleges, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and other entities as specified in the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). - **Principal Investigators:** Researchers in relevant fields with organizational support. - **International organizations:** May apply if they meet NSF eligibility requirements. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Applications must be submitted via [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/348058) or [NSF FastLane/Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/). - **Format:** Proposals must follow the guidelines in the current [NSF PAPPG](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). - **DDRIGs:** See the separate [DRMS-DDRIG solicitation](https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/decision-risk-management-sciences-doctoral) for dissertation grants. - **Special mechanisms:** For RAPID and EAGER proposals, review Chapter II.E of the [NSF PAPPG](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). --- ## Additional Information - **Research security:** Applicants must comply with NSF's latest research security policies, including training and reporting requirements. See [Important Notice No. 149](https://www.nsf.gov/notices/important/important-notice-no-149-updates-nsf-research-security/in149). - **Broader impacts:** Proposals must clearly articulate the potential broader impacts of the research. - **Program fit:** Proposals that are purely algorithmic in management science should be submitted to the [Operations Engineering (OE)](https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/operations-engineering-oe) program. --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Description (PD-23-1321)](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=506203) - [DRMS Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/drms-decision-risk-management-sciences) - [NSF PAPPG](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [DRMS-DDRIG Solicitation](https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/decision-risk-management-sciences-doctoral) - [Browse Funded Projects](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=132100&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | Organization | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------| | Robert E. O'Connor, Program Director | [roconnor@nsf.gov](mailto:roconnor@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7263 | SBE/SES | | Claudia Gonzalez-Vallejo, Program Director | [clagonza@nsf.gov](mailto:clagonza@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-4710 | SBE/SES | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | | |

Decision, Risk and Management Sciences

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