Funding Opportunities from Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy

Matrix is pleased to partner with the UC Berkeley Office of Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy in sharing resources to assist researchers in their corporate and foundation giving. Visit the FRCP’s website for an up-to-date list of current funding opportunities. You can also join FRCP’s mailing list to receive monthly communications with new funding opportunities.

The Blue Dot Foundation Science of Perception Box

Deadline: 10/28/2024

We seek to support broad neuroscience-based research to allow children, teenagers, and adults to understand that the reality they experience is a construct of their mind, amenable to change. That is, they can learn to expand their Perception Box to reduce the anxieties that come with living in the modern world, minimize strife and to be more mindful and compassionate with others and themselves. We fund innovative research involving mindfulness, breathwork, high-quality listening, psychedelics, neuromodulation and other techniques. For this RFP, we are particularly, but not exclusively, interested in research related to mental health and wellness in pediatric populations aged 5-18. Up to 10 awards of $900k (over 3 years)

Russell Sage Foundation Educational Attainment & Economic Mobility

Deadline: 10/29/2024

The initiative focuses on ways to promote educational attainment and economic mobility among racially, ethnically, and economically diverse groups following the court’s ruling that the declared that use of race-conscious admissions policies violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and was, therefore, unconstitutional. The foundation is especially interested in proposals that will advance social science research on the social, political, and economic effects of the Supreme Court decision and the future of race-conscious policies more generally. Analyses that make use of newly available data or demonstrate novel uses of existing data are of particular interest. Original data collection, such as surveys, field or survey experiments, in-depth qualitative interviews, and ethnographies will also be supported. This initiative encourages methodological variety and interdisciplinary collaboration. Proposals must have well-developed conceptual frameworks and research designs.” Funding: Up to $200k (over 2 years).

Russell Sage Foundation: Future Of Work

Deadline: 10/29/2024

The Future of Work program supports innovative research on the causes and consequences of changes in the quality of jobs for low- and moderately paid workers and their families in the U.S. Investigator-initiated research proposals should broaden our understanding of the role of changes in employer practices, the nature of the labor market and public policies on employment, earnings, and job quality. Proposals that address questions about the interplay of market and non-market forces in shaping the wellbeing of workers will be given priority. Funding: $75k – $200k.

Russell Sage Foundation: Social, Political, and Economic Inequality

Deadline: 10/29/2024

The program supports original research on the factors that contribute to social, political, and economic inequalities in the U.S., and the extent to which those inequalities affect social, political, psychological, and economic outcomes, including educational and labor market opportunities and consequences, social and economic mobility within and across generations, and civic participation and representation. Funding: $75k – $200k.

Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship

Deadline: 11/1/2024

The IAF aims to bridge the gap between the study and making of U.S. foreign policy by creating the next generation of scholar-practitioners. This transformational program offers fellows the chance to experience a new environment and gain a different perspective at a pivotal moment in their careers. Up to $120k (over 12 months)

Sociological Initiatives Foundation Research Grant

The Sociological Initiatives Foundation supports social change by linking research to social action. It funds research projects that investigate laws, policies, institutions, regulations, and normative practices that may limit equality in the U.S. It gives priority to projects that seek to address racism, xenophobia, classism, gender bias, exploitation, or the violation of human rights and freedoms. It also supports research that furthers language learning and behavior and its intersection with social and policy questions. Funding: $15K- $20K (over 2 years)

William T. Grant Foundation Institutional Challenge Grant

The Institutional Challenge Grant supports university-based research institutes, schools, and centers in building sustained research-practice partnerships with public agencies or nonprofit organizations in order to reduce inequality in youth outcomes.  Funding: Up to $650k (over three years)

Andrew Mellon Foundation: Humanities in Place: Monuments Project

Deadline: Rolling

The Monuments Project is a signature initiative to reimagine and rebuild commemorative spaces and transform the way history is told in the United States. The project seeks to ensure that future generations inherit a memorial landscape that venerates and reflects the vast, rich complexity of the American experience, and tells a fuller, more inclusive story of our history and our many different forbearers. Funding: Up to $250M

Arnold Ventures: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Deadline: Rolling applications

Arnold Ventures is accepting letters of interest for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) focused on testing criminal justice programs and practices. The ultimate goal of this effort is to build credible evidence about “what works” to improve criminal justice outcomes and, in particular, grow the number of criminal justice interventions rigorously shown to better people’s lives. Funding: No amount limitations.

Impact Fund: Social, Environmental and Economic justice programs

Deadline: Rolling applications

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and/or small law firms who seek to advance justice in the areas of civil and human rights, environmental justice, and/or poverty law. Funding amount: $10K – $50K.

Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation

Deadline: Two funding cycles annually: June 10th, November 30th

The program aims to create a more equitable and humane justice system. Current funding priorities include multi-pronged approaches to eliminate the use of solitary confinement, including supporting a national campaign that provides resources to state and local coalitions. No amount limitations.

Rosenberg Foundation: LOI Submissions

Deadline: Rolling Applications

The Rosenberg Foundation currently makes grants in four priority areas – Leading Edge Fund, Justice and Public Safety, Immigrant Rights and Immigrant Workers’ Rights, and Civil Rights and Civic Participation. The foundation works closely with social justice advocates, policy makers and other thought leaders throughout the state to identify the strategies that will best help us achieve positive impact in California within each program. As such, most of our grantee partners are identified and contacted by foundation staff first. In addition, we frequently invest in emerging initiatives and organizations, and are committed to long-term relationships with our grant partners. Application Procedure: Letter of Inquiries accepted by email to Grants Manager, Linda Moll. Budget: Grants are typically in the $10K-$50K range.

Impact Fund: Social, Environmental and Economic justice programs

Deadline: Rolling Applications

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and/or small law firms who seek to advance justice in the areas of civil and human rights, environmental justice, and/or poverty law. Funding amount: $10K-$50K

Internet Society Foundation: Future & Sustainability of the Internet

Deadline: Rolling Applications

Through the program grants are available for research focused in one of two categories: (1) Greening the Internet and (2) the Internet Economy.

Arnold Ventures: Moving the Needle Initiative

Deadline: Rolling Applications

This initiative seeks to demonstrate the power of evidence-based programs to “Move the Needle” on major U.S. social problems. No amount limitations.

Unchartered: Economic Inequality Initiative

Deadline: None

Unchartered is dedicated to elevating solutions that increase wealth in the near term while building towards addressing the root causes themselves. In support of this mission, they are launching the Economic Inequality initiative to support eight early-stage social entrepreneurs, movement builders, and nonprofit innovators who are tackling wealth inequality in the U.S. Applications accepted via website. Budget: up to $25K.

Smith-Richardson Foundation:
Domestic Policy
International Security & Foreign Policy

Deadline: Rolling Applications

The mission of the Smith Richardson Foundation is to contribute to important public debates and to address serious public policy challenges facing the United States. The Foundation seeks to help ensure the vitality of our social, economic, and governmental institutions. It also seeks to assist with the development of effective policies to compete internationally and to advance U.S. interests and values abroad.

  • Budget: No limitations
  • Application Procedure: The Foundation has a two-stage application process. Initial inquiries should be submitted by mail in the form of the concept paper. Interested applicants may contact Sylvia Bierhuis for pre-application counseling.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Evidence for Action

Deadline: Rolling Applications

E4A awards grants to encourage and support innovative, rigorous research on the impact of programs, policies, and practices on health and well-being, with a particular focus on research that will help advance health and racial equity. Racial equity refers to the conditions in which race or ethnicity no longer predicts a person’s ability to live a healthy life. Letters of intent are accepted on a rolling basis. Contact Sylvia Bierhuis (sbierhuis@berkeley.edu) or David Siegfried (dsiegfried@berkeley.edu).

Public Welfare Foundation: Adult Criminal Justice Program

Deadline: Rolling applications

The program aims to create a more equitable and humane justice system. Current funding priorities include multi-pronged approaches to eliminate the use of solitary confinement, including supporting a national campaign that provides resources to state and local coalitions. No amount limitations.

Charles Koch Foundation: Trade Policy Research

Deadline: Rolling

The foundation invites proposals for research and related projects aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practice and contributing to contemporary debates around important trade-policy issues. Areas of priority include: National Industrial Policy, Getting Our Approach to Trade with China Right, and Free Trade and Flourishing.

Andrew Mellon Foundation: Humanities in Place Monuments Project

Deadline: Rolling

The Monuments Project is a signature initiative to reimagine and rebuild commemorative spaces and transform the way history is told in the United States. The project seeks to ensure that future generations inherit a memorial landscape that venerates and reflects the vast, rich complexity of the American experience, and tells a fuller, more inclusive story of our history and our many different forbearers. Funding level: up to $250M (over five years).

Arnold Ventures: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Deadline: Rolling        

Arnold Ventures is accepting letters of interest for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) focused on testing criminal justice programs and practices. The ultimate goal of this effort is to build credible evidence about “what works” to improve criminal justice outcomes and, in particular, grow the number of criminal justice interventions rigorously shown to better people’s lives. No amount limitations