The Russell Sage Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $6,343,919 (2023, distributed across 155 awards)
Success Rate: 8-9% (core research grants); 12-15% (early-career grants); 20% (visiting scholars)
Decision Time: 3 funding cycles per year; decisions sent ~1 month before proposal deadline
Grant Range: $10,000 - $200,000
Geographic Focus: United States only

Contact Details

Website: www.russellsage.org
Email: info@rsage.org, programs@rsage.org
Phone: 212-750-6000
Address: New York, NY
Pre-application Support: Contact programs@rsage.org for questions about alignment with funding priorities

Overview

Founded in 1907 by Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage with a $10 million endowment, the Russell Sage Foundation is America's first general purpose foundation and the principal American foundation devoted exclusively to research in the social sciences. With net assets of $412.7 million (2023), RSF dedicates itself to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences to improve social and living conditions in the United States. Under the leadership of President Bruce Western (who assumed the role July 1, 2025), the foundation maintains its century-long commitment to bringing social science research to bear on the nation's most pressing social problems. RSF awarded $6.3 million in grants in 2023 across 155 awards, supporting rigorous empirical research that addresses inequality, work, immigration, and behavioral decision-making. The foundation's prestigious Visiting Scholars Program is considered one of the preeminent fellowships in the social sciences.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Research Grants: Up to $200,000 for PhD holders conducting research aligned with RSF's priority areas. Three funding cycles per year with application by invitation only following Letter of Inquiry (LOI) review.

Presidential Awards: Up to $50,000 (no indirect costs) over a two-year period for innovative research projects.

Pipeline Grants Competition: Up to $35,000 (individual applicants) or $50,000 (teams), plus up to $15,000 per eligible PI for salary support/course buyout. Funded in collaboration with the Economic Mobility and Opportunity Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Designed for early-career scholars (Assistant Professors or those who received PhD after January 1, 2014) who have not received prior RSF research grants. Encourages applications from scholars traditionally underrepresented in the sciences.

Dissertation Research Grants: Up to $10,000 for PhD candidates at U.S. institutions conducting innovative dissertation research relevant to RSF priority areas.

Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System (CRCJ): Annual grants competition for early-career scholars conducting causal research on the criminal justice system.

Visiting Scholars Program: 15-17 residential fellowships annually (10-month or 5-month terms) at RSF headquarters in New York City. Minimum salary support to reach $100,000 for full-year fellows ($50,000 for half-year). Partially subsidized housing provided for scholars outside NYC area, plus childcare subsidies available for children under 13. Application deadline typically end of June for fellowship starting the following September.

All programs operate on a rolling basis with three annual funding cycles. Applications accepted through online portal only after invitation from initial LOI review.

Priority Areas

Core Programs:

Future of Work: Labor markets, working conditions, unionization efforts, digital marketplace platforms, gig economy, workplace discrimination
Social, Political, and Economic Inequality: Income and wealth inequality, educational disparities, social mobility, residential segregation, political participation
Race, Ethnicity and Immigration: Immigrant integration, racial/ethnic identity development, discrimination and bias effects, immigration enforcement, unaccompanied minors in immigration system
Behavioral Science and Decision Making in Context: Decision-making processes, cognitive biases, behavioral interventions

Special Initiatives:

Promoting Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility After the 2023 Supreme Court Ruling on Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities
Effects of social movements (unionization drives, mass protests)
Climate change responses and climate migration
Gun violence impacts on education
Legal representation in eviction cases
Online interactions about race and social cohesion

What They Don't Fund

Research Types:

Routine use of publicly available data (Current Population Survey, American Community Survey, Panel Study of Income Dynamics, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, etc.) unless demonstrating novel linkages to new datasets or using restricted versions
Edited volumes (no longer funded since launch of RSF journal)
Unsolicited proposals (invitation required)
Research projects without fully-developed research design, sample framework, and data access

Eligibility Restrictions:

Applicants without PhDs (both PIs and Co-PIs must hold doctorates)
Post-docs as PIs (can be included as research assistants)
Students as applicants

Geographic Limitations:

Research conducted outside the United States
Research not focused on improving social and living conditions in the U.S.

Governance and Leadership

President: Bruce Western (since July 1, 2025) - Bryce Professor of Sociology and Social Justice and former Director of the Justice Lab at Columbia University. Member of the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Academy of Political and Social Science, and American Philosophical Society. Internationally renowned expert on poverty, inequality, and criminal justice policy.

Board Chair: Jennifer Lee (since November 2023) - Sociologist from Columbia University and the first Asian American to hold this position.

Board of Trustees: Recent appointments include Earl Lewis (University of Michigan historian), Peter R. Orszag, and Celeste Watkins-Hayes.

Mission Statement from Leadership: The Board of Trustees and senior staff are "dedicated to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of diagnosing social problems and improving social policies."

Previous President: Sheldon Danziger (2013-2025) stated upon appointment: "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Russell Sage Foundation. My goal is to advance the Foundation's stellar accomplishments in the social sciences and continue to focus on the key economic, political, and social challenges facing the nation."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Required 4-page single-spaced document (maximum)
Submit through online portal at russellsage.org
Three annual deadlines corresponding to funding cycles
Must clearly articulate research questions, data sources, methodology, and alignment with RSF priorities
Include preliminary findings and power calculations where relevant

Step 2: Invitation to Submit Full Proposal

Only approximately 15% of LOI submitters receive invitation
Invitations sent ~1 month before corresponding proposal deadline
Full proposals undergo rigorous multi-disciplinary peer review

Step 3: Final Review

External reviewers from multiple disciplines
Review by standing Advisory Committees
Final funding decisions made by Board of Trustees at March, June, and November meetings

Decision Timeline

Annual Cycles: Three funding cycles per year with regular deadlines (specific dates updated annually on website)

LOI to Invitation: Decisions on LOIs sent approximately 1 month before the corresponding full proposal deadline

Proposal to Final Decision: Final funding decisions made at quarterly Board of Trustees meetings (March, June, November)

Total Timeline: Approximately 3-6 months from LOI submission to final funding decision, depending on cycle

Notification Method: Email notification with detailed feedback for invited proposals; limited feedback provided for declined LOIs due to volume

Success Rates

Overall Competitiveness: Highly competitive with low acceptance rates across all programs

Core Research Grants:

15% of LOI submitters invited to submit full proposals
8-9% overall funding rate (from initial LOI submission)

Early-Career Grants (Pipeline and Dissertation):

12-15% funding rate
Slightly higher success rate than core research grants

Visiting Scholars Program:

Approximately 20% acceptance rate
15-17 fellowships awarded annually

Application Volume: RSF receives hundreds of LOIs per funding cycle, making competition intense. The foundation emphasizes that "the most common reasons for applications being declined are that the application: (1) is not perceived to be well-aligned with the Foundation's funding priorities; (2) lacks sufficient detail on the research design, data, and methods; or (3) is poorly framed or written."

Reapplication Policy

Reapplications Accepted: Yes, unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent funding cycles.

Required Documentation: Applications must include a "point-by-point response memo to previous reviewer comments," demonstrating how the applicant addressed feedback from prior reviews.

No Deferral Policy: For Visiting Scholar fellowships, if a selected applicant cannot attend, "Foundation policy does not generally allow the applicant to defer their visit. If the applicant is not able to come for the fellowship year for which they are selected, they will need to reapply for a subsequent fellowship year."

Limited Feedback: Due to high application volume, RSF provides limited individual feedback on declined LOIs. Invited proposals that are ultimately declined receive more detailed reviewer comments that can inform reapplications.

No Waiting Periods: No specified waiting period between applications, though applicants should ensure they have meaningfully addressed previous concerns before resubmitting.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from RSF

LOI Writing Guidance (from RSF website):

"Letters of inquiry should be treated as 'mini proposals' with key elements including hypothesis, data, power calculations, preliminary findings, and research design"
"Use all 4 pages in describing your project"
"LOIs should be balanced with no more than 1.5 pages devoted to outlining the problem, stating questions, and reviewing literature, while the bulk (50-75%) should be devoted to explaining how and why the data and methods will help answer the questions"
"Be very clear about the question(s) to be addressed and focus the project on a small number of key research questions or hypotheses"

Critical Success Elements:

"Make very clear your main question(s)/hypothesis(es)"
"Indicate the importance of those questions"
"Explain their relevance to RSF interests"
"Include preliminary or pilot findings, if available, as well as power calculations, if relevant"

Project Readiness: "RSF rarely considers projects for which the investigators have not already fully-developed the research design, the sample framework, and access to data." This is crucial - ensure your project is ready to execute before applying.

Focus Over Breadth: "Investigators would have a higher chance of success if they submitted separate LOIs, as including more than one project/experiment in an LOI means there is typically insufficient information on any one on which to base a determination about whether to invite a full proposal."

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Education & Diversity:

Sarah Reber (Brookings Institution): How transfer students affect racial and ethnic diversity at selective colleges
Matthew Hall & Jiwon Lee (Cornell University): Racial and ethnic identity development among multiracial Americans from infancy to young adulthood

Labor & Immigration:

Joanna Dreby (SUNY Albany): Working conditions in Chinese-owned restaurants and grocery stores
Susan B. Long, Austin Kocher & Laila Hlaas: Impact of "juvenile dockets" on unaccompanied minor children in deportation proceedings

Social Justice:

Jennifer Eberhardt & Dan Jurafsky (Stanford): Online interactions about race on Nextdoor platform
Sara Heller & Ashley Craig (University of Michigan): Whether violence-reduction interventions change criminal behavior in participants' social networks
Stephanie Pierce, Solange Muñoz & Wendy Bach (University of Tennessee, Knoxville): Legal representation impacts on eviction outcomes

Common Rejection Reasons

RSF explicitly states the most common reasons for decline:

Poor alignment: "Not perceived to be well-aligned with the Foundation's funding priorities"
Insufficient detail: "Lacks sufficient detail on the research design, data, and methods"
Poor framing/writing: "Poorly framed or written"

Tips for Standing Out

Demonstrate Methodological Rigor: RSF values cutting-edge social science methods. Highlight innovative approaches, causal inference strategies, and strong research designs.

Novel Data Use: If using publicly available datasets, clearly explain the novel linkages, restricted data access, or unique analytical approaches that set your work apart.

Policy Relevance: Connect research to actionable policy implications while maintaining scholarly rigor.

Preliminary Evidence: Include pilot findings, power calculations, or preliminary analyses that demonstrate feasibility and promise.

Interdisciplinary Review: Remember your proposal will be reviewed by experts across multiple disciplines. Write clearly for a sophisticated but broad social science audience.

Provide Examples: RSF maintains a library of successful LOIs and proposals on their website for reference.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Project Readiness is Non-Negotiable: Have your research design, data access, and sample framework fully developed before applying. RSF rarely funds projects still in the planning phase.
The LOI is Your Make-or-Break Moment: With only 15% of LOI submitters invited to submit proposals, your 4-page LOI must be exceptional. Dedicate 50-75% of the space to methods and data, not literature review.
Alignment is Critical: Review RSF's priority areas carefully and explicitly articulate how your research addresses their core concerns about inequality, work, immigration, or behavioral decision-making in the U.S. context.
Competition is Intense: With an 8-9% overall success rate for core grants, every element must be polished. Use all available resources including RSF's example successful applications.
Novel Approaches Matter: If using standard public datasets, you must demonstrate truly innovative linkages or analytical approaches. Routine analyses will be rejected regardless of quality.
Plan for the Long Haul: With 3-6 month decision timelines and potential need for reapplication (with point-by-point response to reviewers), factor adequate time into your funding strategy.
Consider the Full Portfolio: If you're an early-career scholar or PhD candidate, explore Pipeline or Dissertation grants which have higher success rates (12-15%) than core research grants.

References

Russell Sage Foundation - Apply. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/apply
Russell Sage Foundation - Core Research Grants. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core
Russell Sage Foundation - Tips for Research Grant Writing Success. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core/tips
Russell Sage Foundation - LOI and Proposal Writing Tips. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/apply/grants/core/loi-proposal
Russell Sage Foundation - Grant Seeker FAQ. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/grants/faq
Russell Sage Foundation - Eligibility and Application Requirements. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/eligibility-and-application-requirements
Russell Sage Foundation - Research Priorities. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/research/priorities
Russell Sage Foundation - Foundation History. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/about/history
Russell Sage Foundation - Who We Are. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/about/who-we-are
Russell Sage Foundation - Recent Grants. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/research/all/recent-grants
Russell Sage Foundation - Dissertation Research Grants. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/research/dissertation-research-grants-program
Russell Sage Foundation - Pipeline Grants Competition. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/research/pipeline-grants-competition
Russell Sage Foundation - Visiting Scholars Program. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/fellows/visiting-scholars
Russell Sage Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer (ProPublica). 2023 Form 990-PF data. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131635303
Bruce Western Named New President of the Russell Sage Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/news/bruce-western-named-new-president-russell-sage-foundation
RSF Board of Trustees Update. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/news/rsf-board-trustees-update
Sheldon H. Danziger Named New President of the Russell Sage Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.russellsage.org/news/sheldon-h-danziger-named-new-president-russell-sage-foundation
Northwestern University Office of Research - Russell Sage Foundation Social Science Research Grants. Retrieved from https://research.soc.northwestern.edu/russell-sage-foundation-rsfs-social-science-research-grants-loi-due-july-16-2025/

All references accessed November 2024.