The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy is now accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Grant Program, providing funding to graduate students conducting innovative research with significant social policy applications at the local, national, or global level.
The grant supports outstanding research projects across the social sciences that have the potential to influence public policy and address pressing societal challenges. Applications are open until 1 December 2026.
About the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grant
The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy is dedicated to advancing high-quality social science research by supporting doctoral students whose work contributes to the understanding and improvement of social policy.
The Foundation welcomes research from a wide range of social science disciplines, provided the proposed project demonstrates clear relevance to social policy and offers practical or theoretical contributions that can inform decision-making.
Projects may focus on issues affecting communities locally or globally.
Grant Details
- Funding Organization: Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy
- Program: Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grant 2026–2027
- Eligible Applicants: Graduate students conducting social science research
- Research Focus: Social policy
- Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
Research Areas
The Foundation supports projects with policy relevance across diverse areas of the social sciences, including but not limited to:
- Public Policy
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Economics
- Education
- Criminology
- Public Health
- Social Work
- International Development
- Environmental Policy
- Gender Studies
- Urban Studies
- Human Rights
- Community Development
- Governance and Social Justice
Projects may address local, regional, national, or international policy issues.
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated holistically based on the overall quality and potential impact of the proposed research.
Reviewers consider factors such as:
- Significance of the policy issue being addressed
- Originality and innovation of the proposed research
- Feasibility of the project
- Potential policy application and impact
- Strength of the research methodology
- Theoretical foundation of the study
- Quality of empirical evidence or research design
- Practical recommendations arising from the research
The Foundation does not assign a fixed weighting to individual criteria. Instead, proposals are assessed based on their overall merit.
Who Can Apply?
The grant is intended for graduate students undertaking research that contributes to social policy knowledge and practice.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A well-developed research proposal
- Strong methodological design
- Clear policy relevance
- Academic excellence
- Potential to generate meaningful research outcomes
Why Apply?
The Horowitz Foundation Grant offers graduate researchers an opportunity to secure funding for impactful research while gaining recognition from a respected international foundation. Successful applicants join a distinguished network of scholars whose research informs public policy and contributes to addressing important social challenges around the world.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to review previously funded projects to better understand the types of research supported by the Foundation.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should prepare a complete research proposal and submit their application through the Horowitz Foundation’s online application portal before the closing date.
Applicants should carefully review all application requirements and ensure that their proposal clearly demonstrates the project’s policy relevance, originality, and feasibility.
Application Deadline
1 December 2026
Early submission is recommended to avoid last-minute technical issues.
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