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Arnold Ventures (formerly Laura and John Arnold Foundation)

Annual Giving
$200.0M
Grant Range
$56K - $35.6M

Arnold Ventures

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $190-200 million
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by RFP; multi-stage process
  • Grant Range: $55,800 - $35,600,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)
  • Application Method: Invitation only via periodic RFPs

Contact Details

Website: https://www.arnoldventures.org
Address: 1717 West Loop South 1800, Houston, TX 77027
Proposals Portal: https://proposals.arnoldventures.org
Newsletter: Subscribe at arnoldventures.org to receive RFP announcements

Overview

Arnold Ventures LLC (formerly the Laura and John Arnold Foundation) was established in 2008 by billionaire philanthropists Laura and John Arnold. The organization was restructured from a traditional foundation to an LLC in January 2019 to allow greater operational flexibility. With assets of $4.31 billion as of 2023, Arnold Ventures is one of the largest philanthropies in the United States, distributing approximately $190-200 million annually. The organization is dedicated to "improving the lives of all Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice." Since inception, the Arnolds have donated over $2 billion, fulfilling their Giving Pledge commitment. Arnold Ventures has earned recognition for its rigorous, data-driven approach to philanthropy, focusing on systemic failures where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the timing is right for transformational change. The organization applies an investment management approach to philanthropy, targeting a significant portion of giving toward high-risk efforts with potential for long-term systemic change.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Arnold Ventures issues periodic Requests for Proposals (RFPs) rather than maintaining open grant programs. Recent RFP categories include:

  • Strengthening Evidence RFP: Funds rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating innovative programs and policies ($100,000 - $2,000,000+ typical range)
  • Building Evidence RFP: Funds rigorous causal research using quasi-experimental methods in key policy areas ($100,000 - $1,000,000+ typical range)
  • Criminal Justice Research Grants: Studies examining community safety, policing, courts, pretrial justice, incarceration, and post-incarceration ($55,800 - $589,400 in recent awards)
  • Education Partnerships: Major investments in proven programs like tutoring and educational technology ($10,000,000 - $35,600,000)
  • State Partnership Programs: Matching grant initiatives with state governments to scale evidence-based programs ($10,000,000 - $20,000,000)

Application methods vary by RFP, with most requiring an initial 3-page Letter of Interest followed by invited full proposals. Some RFPs operate on rolling deadlines.

Priority Areas

Criminal Justice (31% of giving)

  • Pretrial reform and bail reform
  • Community safety and policing
  • Gun violence research
  • Drug courts and sentencing reform
  • Fines and fees policy
  • Reentry and recidivism reduction

Health Care (27% of giving)

  • Prescription drug pricing reform
  • Obesity and nutrition science
  • Reproductive health and contraceptive access
  • Evidence-based health policy

Education

  • Charter schools and portfolio models of school governance
  • Tutoring programs (e.g., Saga Education)
  • Educational technology (e.g., ASSISTments)
  • Higher education access and completion
  • Career education and training

Public Finance

  • Federal tax policy reform (Child Tax Credit, corporate tax loopholes, Opportunity Zones)
  • Pension reform
  • Evidence-based budget policy

Infrastructure

  • Housing policy and zoning reform
  • Homebuilding process simplification

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited proposals outside of RFP cycles
  • Projects lacking rigorous research methodology
  • Programs without clear policy relevance
  • Capital campaigns or general operating support (unless specifically invited)
  • Projects that do not align with evidence-based policy approach

Governance and Leadership

Co-Founders and Co-Chairs

Laura and John Arnold established the foundation in 2008. John D. Arnold founded the Centaurus Advisors hedge fund; Laura Arnold is an attorney and former oil company executive. The Arnolds actively engage in the organization's overall direction and daily execution.

Laura Arnold on their philosophy: "We're in the business of creating better options for people in the long run. And you can expect to see a commitment to replicate things that work."

On their approach to skepticism: "John brings a spirit of skepticism. We like to think that the only people who truly are successful here at Arnold Ventures are skeptics, because in philanthropy, most people are super nice and super optimistic... When you do the policy-related work that we do, you are faced with certain brutal realities, one of which is that most social programs don't work. Changing human behavior is super hard and much of what you try in terms of policy experiments doesn't really move the needle."

Executive Leadership

  • Kelli Rhee - President & CEO
  • Roxanne Almaraz - Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary
  • Elizabeth Banks - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  • Jennifer Nelsen - Executive Vice President of Partnerships & People

Executive Vice Presidents (by Focus Area)

  • Jennifer Doleac - Criminal Justice
  • Mark E. Miller - Health Care
  • Charlie Anderson - Infrastructure
  • George Callas - Public Finance
  • Justin Milner - Evidence and Evaluation
  • Chris Chen - Mission-Aligned Investments

Arnold Ventures employs over 100 staff members across offices in Houston (headquarters), New York, and Washington D.C.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Arnold Ventures does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The organization sources the majority of proposals through direct outreach and periodically issues formal Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

To apply when RFPs are available:

  1. Subscribe to Updates: Sign up for the Arnold Ventures newsletter at arnoldventures.org to receive announcements of new RFPs
  2. Review RFP Requirements: When an RFP is issued, carefully review eligibility criteria and research priority areas
  3. Submit Letter of Interest (LOI): Submit a 3-page maximum LOI through the proposals portal at proposals.arnoldventures.org using SurveyMonkey Apply
  4. Await Invitation: LOIs undergo review by Arnold Ventures Evidence and Evaluation team and external expert reviewers
  5. Full Proposal (if invited): Only applicants whose LOIs are reviewed favorably will be invited to submit full proposals
  6. Final Review: Full proposals are reviewed by the same external reviewers who assessed the LOI

Some RFPs operate on rolling deadlines with no submission deadline, while others have fixed dates.

Decision Timeline

The timeline from receipt of Letter of Interest to execution of a grant agreement varies by project and RFP. The multi-stage process involves:

  • LOI review by internal team and external experts
  • Invitation to full proposal (timing varies)
  • Full proposal review by external experts
  • Final decision and grant agreement execution

Specific timelines are typically outlined in individual RFP documents.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The organization awards hundreds of grants annually from among applicants responding to targeted RFPs.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants whose LOIs are not selected for full proposal invitation may reapply to future RFPs if their research aligns with the new RFP's priorities. Applicants should address any feedback received from reviewers in subsequent applications.

Application Success Factors

Arnold Ventures has provided specific guidance through webinars and FAQ documents:

Focus on Rigor and Policy Relevance

Arnold Ventures prioritizes applications demonstrating:

  • Rigorous research methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-experimental designs that establish causal relationships
  • Policy relevance: Research that leads to "actionable insights and lasting change"
  • Implementation feasibility: Realistic plans for execution
  • Appropriate budgets: Cost-effective approaches aligned with project scope

LOI Best Practices

Key advice from Arnold Ventures: "Use your space in the 3-page letter of interest to focus on what you plan to do, rather than why the question is interesting." This helps applicants maximize limited space for substantive content.

Address Reviewer Feedback

LOIs are sent to external reviewers for feedback on research design and scientific contribution. Full proposals return to the same reviewers, so applicants must address any questions or concerns raised during LOI review.

Alignment with Priority Areas

While research on any topic will be considered, "priority in the review process will go to proposals" that align with research priority areas listed in the specific RFP. Study the RFP priorities carefully and demonstrate clear alignment.

Examples of Funded Research (2024-2025)

Recent grants demonstrate the types of projects Arnold Ventures supports:

  • University of Texas at Austin: Impact of business cycles on police hiring in Florida ($55,800)
  • University of California at Irvine: Policies around pretextual police stops in California ($80,300)
  • Urban Institute: Drug sentencing changes in Connecticut ($589,400)
  • Brown University: Effects of fines and fees policy reforms in Missouri ($296,700)
  • North Carolina Community College System: Helping low-income students complete studies ($35.6 million)

Partnership Qualities

Arnold Ventures looks for partners "eager to leverage research and data to identify, implement, and scale up the policies proven effective by a robust body of evidence."

Utilize Available Resources

  • Attend webinars offered by Arnold Ventures about RFP requirements and selection criteria
  • Review FAQ documents posted with each RFP
  • Study the organization's published research summaries to understand their standards for rigor

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited proposals accepted - Only apply when a relevant RFP is announced; subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed
  • Evidence is paramount - Arnold Ventures requires rigorous causal research methods (RCTs or quasi-experimental designs); descriptive studies or weak methodologies will not succeed
  • Policy impact matters more than academic contribution - Focus on how research will inform real-world policy decisions and create systemic change
  • Be skeptical and realistic - The Arnolds value skepticism and acknowledge "most social programs don't work"; demonstrate awareness of challenges and realistic expectations
  • LOI is critical - Use the 3-page LOI to focus on methodology and implementation plans, not literature review or background; this is your gateway to full proposal invitation
  • Address reviewer feedback thoroughly - LOI reviewers also review full proposals, so take their feedback seriously
  • Think big on impact, precise on method - Arnold Ventures funds high-risk, high-reward efforts for systemic change but demands methodological rigor

References

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