Royal Economic Society

Registered charity 231508 · since 1964res.org.uk·United Kingdom·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Society's remit covers economics research, knowledge exchange between academic and non-academic economists, conference attendance and university outreach events for school and college students, and its stated focus is the UK, so a small organisation working in one of these areas can see where it might fit.
Its stated maximums are modest: up to £2,000 for RES Knowledge Transfer Projects and Research Dissemination Grants, up to £500 for the Conference Grant Scheme, and up to £5,000 for the Discover Economics Grant, where grants are anticipated typically to be £2,000-£3,000.
Research Dissemination Grants do not fund research projects or research assistance, so a project of that kind is outside that scheme.
Timing matters: conference grant applications close in February, and the Discover Economics Grant closes on 28 October, with applicants directed to the scheme information and application form on its website.
For Discover Economics, the Society aims to spread events across institutions, considering geographical spread and the nature of the student groups targeted, so a proposal should show how it reaches a different institution or group of students.

Overview

Royal Economic Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 231508).

The Royal Economic Society exists to promote and foster the study of economic science and the application of its results, and to advance economic knowledge, publish economic writings and organise discussions on questions of economic interest. Its grants include RES Knowledge Transfer Projects, Research Dissemination Grants, the Conference Grant Scheme and the Discover Economics Grant. Under the previous round, the Discover Economics scheme was able to fund eight Discover Economics days around the country.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The Society promotes and fosters the study of economics and the application of its results through research, publications, events, training, policy work and outreach. It supports students from school through postgraduate study with educational opportunities and professional development, and helps academics and economists share research and connect across the profession. Its grant descriptions cover knowledge exchange between academic and non-academic economists, discussion and dissemination of economic research, and attendance at economics-related conferences. It also describes funding university outreach events for school and college students, with emphasis on increasing diversity in undergraduate economics. Its work serves students, researchers, economists and the wider economics community through research, networks and events as well as targeted funding.

Themes

Knowledge transfer
Research dissemination
Economics outreach
Conference attendance

Geographic Focus

UK.

What they don't fund

Research Dissemination Grants only: funding of research projects or research assistance

How to apply

For the Discover Economics Grant, applicants are directed to scheme information and an application form on the Society’s website.

Deadlines: Conference grant applications have a February closing date.

Application windows:

Discover Economics Grant: Closes on 28 October

Application success factors

What the charity says:

For the Discover Economics Grant, it aims to support a range of events across institutions, considering geographical spread and the nature of the student groups targeted.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

United Kingdom

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Royal Economic Society.

Economic History SocietyNo public processGave £2,000 The Royal Astronomical SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £321k Cambridge Philosophical SocietyFixed deadlines British Society for NeuroendocrinologyMixed deadlinesGave £54,566

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2021	£1,491,315	£1,950,423	£31,800	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£1,406,171	£1,562,062	£1,797	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£1,521,457	£1,769,954	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£1,498,151	£1,519,185	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025	£2,423,358	£1,636,991	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2025

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2021

£31,800 grants

YE 2022

£1,797 grants

Grants paid stayed within income across the 2 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).

— No grants figure for those years.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.