[Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation](https://www.kauffman.org)

August 2026 (Letter of Interest) | October 2026 (Full proposal)

$150,000 or more per year; awards typically support one year of research, with larger or multi-year projects considered.

Supports research advancing understanding and solutions for equitable economic mobility and dismantling systemic barriers to opportunity.

--- ## Description The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s research grants fund projects that deepen understanding of the persistent and structural nature of economic inequality in the United States, with a focus on race, gender, geography, and generational wealth gaps. The program seeks to support research aligned with the Foundation’s strategic priorities—college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship—within the broader context of advancing equitable economic mobility. Projects should be innovative, rigorous, and actionable, with an emphasis on community perspectives, systems-level approaches, and real-world policy and practice impact. Proposals from all disciplinary backgrounds and methodological approaches are welcome. --- ## Due Dates - August 2026 (anticipated): Letter of Interest (LOI) deadline - October 2026 (anticipated): Full proposal materials deadline *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Typical award: $150,000 or more per year - Duration: Generally one year; multi-year projects may be considered - Funding frequency: Once annually --- ## Eligibility - Open to researchers and teams from all disciplinary backgrounds. - No geographic restriction for applicants; however, proposals must clearly articulate relevance to the Kansas City region or draw comparisons to it. - Both individuals and organizations may apply. - Projects outside Kansas City should demonstrate how findings are applicable or transferrable to the Kansas City context. --- ## Application Process - **Two-stage process:** 1. Submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) via the Foundation’s online portal. 2. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. - A [full application preview (PDF)](https://www.kauffman.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/kauffman_research-grants_application-preview_july2025_for-reference-only.pdf) is available for reference. - Proposals are evaluated for clarity, alignment with strategic priorities, methodological rigor, practical impact, and community engagement. - Community-engaged research is encouraged and should include plans for partnership development and fair compensation for community partners. --- ## Additional Information - Research should produce actionable insights for practice or policy. - Grantees are expected to participate in learning communities and disseminate findings with support from the Foundation’s Research, Learning, and Evaluation team. - Project topics may include labor market interventions, the impacts of emerging technologies (such as AI), and innovative approaches to data access and integration. - Reporting and impact measurement are integral to the grant. --- ## External Links - [Program page: Research Grants – Kauffman Foundation](https://www.kauffman.org/funding/grants/research/) - [Strategic priorities](https://www.kauffman.org/funding/#priorities) - [Eligibility information](https://www.kauffman.org/funding/grants/#eligibility) - [LOI process overview](https://www.kauffman.org/funding/grants/letters-of-interest-process/) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.kauffman.org/funding/faqs/) - [Contact page](https://www.kauffman.org/contact/) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |--------------|-------------------------------------------| | Address | 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110 | | Phone | 816-932-1000 | | Contact Page | [Contact the Foundation](https://www.kauffman.org/contact/) | ---

Research Grants - Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

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