Decision, Risk and Management Sciences

The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program is administered by the National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across science and engineering disciplines. Within NSF, this program operates under the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences directorate and focuses specifically on advancing knowledge related to decision-making processes. The program reflects NSF’s broader mission to fund foundational research that contributes to scientific advancement while also generating meaningful societal impacts. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support scientific research that improves understanding and effectiveness of decision making at multiple levels, including individuals, groups, organizations, and broader societal systems. The program emphasizes work grounded in social and behavioral science theory and methodology. Research topics supported include judgment and decision making, decision analysis, risk perception and communication, public policy decision processes, and organizational and management science. Both disciplinary and interdisciplinary projects are encouraged, provided they contribute to generalizable knowledge and theoretical advancement. Funding under this program may be used to support a range of research activities, including standard research projects, doctoral dissertation research improvement grants, and conferences. In addition, the program allows for specialized funding mechanisms such as RAPID grants for time-sensitive research tied to unexpected events, and EAGER grants for exploratory, high-risk, potentially transformative ideas. While the program supports a wide range of methodological approaches, proposals that are purely algorithmic without grounding in behavioral or social science theory are directed to other NSF programs. Cost sharing is not required for this opportunity. Eligibility for this program is broadly defined as unrestricted, meaning that a wide range of entity types may apply, including academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other qualified entities, subject to NSF’s general eligibility guidelines. Applications are typically initiated by researchers but must be formally submitted by an affiliated organization registered with NSF. Graduate students generally participate through faculty-led submissions, particularly for dissertation-related funding mechanisms. The application process follows NSF’s standard submission procedures through Grants.gov or Research.gov. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive proposal that includes required components such as a project summary, project description, budget, and supporting documentation in accordance with NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide requirements. Applications are subject to rigorous merit review, evaluating both intellectual merit and broader impacts. Compliance with formatting, submission, and documentation standards is strictly enforced. The timeline for this opportunity reflects a recurring funding cycle. The current application deadline is August 18, 2026, with the program historically maintaining annual deadlines around the same timeframe. While specific award timelines are not stated, NSF typically requires several months for review and decision-making. Applicants are encouraged to begin preparation well in advance of the deadline due to the complexity of proposal requirements. For technical issues or questions related to submission, applicants may contact NSF grants support via email.

Ensure proposals are grounded in social and behavioral science theory and demonstrate both intellectual merit and broader impacts; avoid purely algorithmic approaches without theoretical framing