Research Grants on Reducing Inequality

The William T. Grant Foundation is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting high-quality research that improves the lives of young people in the United States. Its Research Grants on Reducing Inequality program focuses specifically on generating actionable knowledge about how to address disparities in youth outcomes. The foundation prioritizes research that goes beyond documenting inequality and instead examines concrete strategies—programs, policies, and practices—that can reduce disparities affecting individuals ages 5 to 25. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support rigorous research studies that build, test, or expand understanding of interventions designed to reduce inequality in academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes. The program emphasizes disparities related to race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status, language minority status, and immigrant origin. Funded studies may be descriptive, exploring how and why interventions work, or intervention-based, providing causal evidence of effectiveness. However, the foundation explicitly excludes studies focused primarily on physical health outcomes or those that only examine the causes or consequences of inequality without proposing solutions. Funding is available through two primary tracks: Major Research Grants and Officers’ Research Grants. Major grants range from 100000 to 600000 dollars over a period of two to three years, while Officers’ grants provide between 25000 and 50000 dollars over one to two years. Indirect costs are capped at 15 percent of total direct costs. Projects involving new data collection or experimental designs typically receive funding at the higher end of the range, while secondary data analyses are generally funded at lower levels. The foundation does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Eligibility is limited to tax-exempt organizations, as the foundation does not award grants directly to individuals. Institutions such as universities, research organizations, and nonprofit entities are eligible to apply. The foundation encourages submissions from underrepresented institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions. Principal investigators must be affiliated with eligible organizations and demonstrate the expertise necessary to conduct the proposed research. Only one application per cycle may be submitted by a principal investigator. The application process begins with a required letter of inquiry, which serves as a preliminary proposal. For Major Research Grants, successful letters of inquiry may lead to an invitation to submit a full proposal, while Officers’ Research Grants are awarded based solely on the letter of inquiry. Letters of inquiry must include project information, a concise description, investigator credentials, and a detailed project narrative outlining research questions, theoretical framework, methods, and analysis plans. Additional materials such as budgets and institutional documentation are required for Officers’ grants. Applications are accepted twice annually, with deadlines in early January and late July. The July deadline for the current cycle is July 29, 2026. Decisions for Officers’ grants are typically communicated within approximately 14 weeks of submission, while Major Research Grant applicants may wait 10 to 12 months from initial submission to final funding decisions. The foundation employs a rigorous review process that evaluates alignment with program priorities, conceptual strength, methodological rigor, and feasibility. Reviewers include internal staff, external experts, and in some cases youth reviewers. In addition to financial support, the foundation provides capacity-building opportunities, including collaboration networks, learning communities, and engagement with policymakers and practitioners. These resources are designed to enhance the impact of funded research and ensure that findings contribute meaningfully to policies and practices aimed at reducing inequality among young people in the United States. The program operates on a recurring basis with two annual submission cycles, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based solutions to inequality.

Ensure strong alignment with reducing inequality focus; clearly articulate theory of change; use rigorous methods aligned with research questions; avoid vague population descriptions; demonstrate feasibility and data access