Horowitz Foundation Dissertation Grant

The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy was founded in 1997 by Irving Louis Horowitz and Mary Curtis Horowitz to address financial barriers faced by doctoral students conducting research in the social sciences. Originally started through personal support and a grants-in-publication initiative under Transaction Publishers, the foundation became a formal 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1998. Since its inception, the foundation has been dedicated to enhancing understanding and research capacity within the major fields of social science. The core mission of the foundation is to support PhD and DrPH candidates at the dissertation stage by providing small grants to assist in their research. Each award totals $10,000, disbursed in two installments: an initial $7,500 and a subsequent $2,500 upon project completion. In addition to the standard grants, the foundation also awards two discretionary Special Awards. The Trustees’ Award, valued at an additional $3,000, recognizes the most innovative project based on theory or methodology. The Irving Louis Horowitz Award grants an additional $5,000 to the most outstanding overall proposal. The application process is conducted entirely through an online portal managed by Kaleidoscope. Applicants must create an account, fill out personal and project details including a 750-word project description, and upload their CV. They must also provide contact information for two referees, whose recommendations must be submitted via the portal by the deadline. All submissions must be completed in English and incomplete applications, including those missing referee submissions, will not be considered. The annual application deadline is December 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Applicants must have secured departmental approval for their dissertation topic by this date. While proof of approval is not required, candidates must certify the approval and provide the contact information of their dissertation chair. Awards are typically announced in May or June, and funds are issued directly to the recipients rather than through their universities. Eligibility is limited to doctoral candidates who are actively working on their dissertations. Applicants must not yet hold a PhD or equivalent degree. United States citizenship or residency is not required, making the grant accessible to international students. Applicants may only apply once if they have previously submitted applications in or after 2023; those who applied before 2023 may reapply. The foundation does not impose restrictions on how recipients use their grant funds, nor does it require a budget proposal. Instead, it provides flexible support to help candidates advance their scholarly work without financial hindrance.

Incomplete applications or missing referee submissions will not be considered; ensure referee contact early.