Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence

The William T. Grant Foundation's Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence program supports high-quality studies that investigate strategies for enhancing the use, usefulness, and impact of research evidence in decision-making contexts that affect youth aged 5 to 25 in the United States. With an emphasis on bridging research and practice, the Foundation is particularly focused on understanding what it takes to integrate research evidence into real-world decision-making and how such use can influence youth outcomes. The Foundation offers two types of grants under this program: Major Research Grants and Officers’ Research Grants. Major Research Grants range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 over a span of 2 to 4 years, while Officers’ Research Grants range from $25,000 to $50,000 over 1 to 2 years. Awards include up to 15% indirect costs. Studies that involve only secondary data analysis are funded at the lower end, while those involving new data collection or randomized trials in institutional settings can be awarded more. In addition to funding, grantees receive capacity-building support, access to consultation services, and opportunities to participate in collaborative learning communities. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations, particularly those historically underrepresented among grantee institutions, such as HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, AANAPISIs, and other minority-serving institutions. Grants are not awarded to individuals or for non-research activities. Principal Investigators must be approved by their organization and should have the experience necessary to conduct the proposed work. All studies must align with the program’s research interests and benefit youth within the specified age range in the U.S. Applications begin with a letter of inquiry, not a full proposal. Letters are reviewed internally, and successful applicants for Major Research Grants are invited to submit full proposals. The review process for these grants may take up to 15 months, culminating in a funding decision made by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Officers’ Research Grants are awarded based solely on the letter of inquiry, with decisions typically made within 8–10 weeks of submission. The Foundation is interested in two main research aims: first, understanding strategies that improve the use of existing research evidence, and second, testing whether such strategies lead to improved decision-making and youth outcomes. A wide range of methodologies is welcomed, including experimental, observational, comparative case studies, and systematic reviews. Applicants are encouraged to use or adapt existing validated measures and to propose innovative approaches for studying research use. Successful applications will demonstrate rigorous methodology, conceptual clarity, and relevance to both scholarly and practical audiences. Key application deadlines for Major Research Grants in 2025 are January 8, May 7, and August 6, while Officers’ Research Grants have deadlines on January 8 and August 6. All submissions are made via the Foundation’s online system. For more information or to submit a query, applicants can contact the Foundation at info@wtgrantfdn.org or by phone at 212-752-0071.