Federal Funding Programs
There are numerous grant programs administered by the federal government. Those most relevant to the social sciences are listed below.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ supports health services research that will improve the quality of health care and promote evidence-based decisionmaking.
- AHRQ Funding Announcements
- AHRQ Application Submission Dates
- AHRQ Grant Process and AHRQ Application Basics
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent grant-making agency dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.
National Institute of Justice
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is dedicated to researching crime control and justice issues. NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the state and local levels.
- NIJ Current Funding Opportunities and NIJ Forthcoming Funding Opportunities
- NIJ Guidelines (pdf)
- NIJ Lists of Awards
National Institutes of Health
The mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that promotes the progress of science. The NSF is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences. Among the programs relevant to the social sciences are:
- NSF Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Funding includes Anthropological Sciences; Geography and Environmental Sciences; and Psychology and Language Sciences
- NSF Social and Economic Sciences Funding includes Decision, Risk, & Management Sciences; Economics: Innovation & Organizational Sciences; Law & Social Sciences; Methodology, Measurement & Statistics; Political Science; Science,Technology & Society; and Sociology
- NSF Due Dates
- NSF Grant Proposal Guide
- NSF Awards Database
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education is charged with ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence throughout the nation. The department awards research funding through a number of its offices and programs.
U.S. Institute of Peace
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is an independent, nonpartisan, federal institution created by Congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
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