FACULTY research funding

Applications Open: April 2, 2025     

Pre-Proposal Deadline: June 30, 2025  

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline: Sept. 30, 2025, noon CDT

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers — $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. Within each of our funding tiers, we evaluate projects within tier and strongly encourage applicants to submit for funding that best fits their project rather than applying for the highest amount. We accept Intent to Apply forms twice a year.

Applications Open: Sept. 17, 2025     

Full Proposal Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025, noon CST

The Small Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets up to $50,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications three times per year.

This program supports research on strategies focused on improving the use, usefulness, and impact of evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States.

Major Research Grants

• $100,000 to $1,000,000 over 2-4 years, including up to 15% indirect costs.
• Studies involving secondary data analysis are at the lower end of the range (about $100,000-$300,000), whereas studies that involve new data collection can have larger budgets (typically $300,000-$600,000). Generally, only proposals to launch experiments in which settings (e.g., schools, child welfare agencies, justice settings) are randomly assigned to conditions are eligible for funding above $600,000.
• 2025 application deadlines for major research grants are: January 8, May 7, and August 6 at 3:00 PM ET.

Officers’ Research Grants

• $25,000–$50,000 over 1-2 years, including up to 15% indirect costs.
• Studies may be stand-alone projects or may build off larger projects. The budget should be appropriate for the activities proposed.
• 2025 application deadlines for Officers’ research grants are: January 8 and August 6 at 3:00 PM ET.

This program supports research to build, test, or increase understanding of programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5-25 in the United States. Research grants on reducing inequality fund research studies that aim to build, test, or increase understanding of programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5-25 in the United States. We prioritize studies that aim to reduce inequalities that exist along dimensions of race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status, language minority status, or immigrant origins.

Major Research Grants

• $100,000 to $600,000 over 2-3 years, including up to 15% indirect costs. Projects involving secondary data analysis are typically at the lower end of the budget range, whereas projects involving new data collection and sample recruitment can be at the higher end. Proposals to launch experiments in which settings (e.g., classrooms, schools, youth programs) are randomly assigned to conditions sometimes have higher awards.
• 2025 application deadlines for major research grants are: January 8, May 7, and August 6 at 3:00 PM ET.

Officers’ Research Grants

• $25,000–$50,000 over 1-2 years, including up to 15% indirect costs. Studies may be stand-alone projects or may build off larger projects. The budget should be appropriate for the activities proposed.
• 2025 application deadlines for Officers’ research grants are: January 8 and August 6 at 3:00 PM ET.

Community wisdom and research show that for very young children to thrive, we must acknowledge and seek to address the historical and intentional harm done to Black and Brown bodies and the impacts those wrongs have had on the mental, physical, and emotional health of the caregivers and communities in which the youngest children live.

Irving Harris Foundation believes that to eradicate the staggering level of disparities in BIPOC communities, we must address systemic harms and increase investment in models that are innovating around more caring and less punitive support. The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) program invests in grassroots mental health, maternal and paternal mental health, and birth justice interventions that are shifting power, resources, and systems so that all pregnant and birthing people, infants, toddlers, families, caregivers, and communities can thrive.

Goals

• Support and grow BIPOC-led community and grassroots organizations.
• Increase public investment to better support the mental health of parents, caregivers, and young children to eliminate racial and economic disparities.
• Achieve equitable access to culturally responsive mental health care for pregnant and birthing people.
• Advance intersectional policy solutions designed by communities in collaboration with public and private partners.

Irving Harris Foundation believes that a radical shift is needed to achieve equitable outcomes for young children and families. The Early Childhood program invests in organizations, leaders, and movements that are transforming systems, policies, and practices to shift power and center equity so that all pregnant and birthing people, infants, toddlers, families, caregivers, and communities can thrive.

Goals

• Achieve equitable access to comprehensive early childhood services.
• Eliminate racial and economic disparities in young children’s outcomes.
• Grow the power and resources of BIPOC-led community-driven organizations.
• Advance intersectional policy solutions designed by communities in collaboration with public and private partners.

This grant supports projects in three key areas: the arts, underprivileged populations, and medical research. By fostering creativity, promoting social equity, and advancing health, the Foundation aims to uplift communities across the state through targeted, meaningful support.