Sheldon Danziger Pipeline Grants

The Sheldon Danziger Pipeline Grants, administered by the Russell Sage Foundation (RSF), are a recurring funding opportunity designed to support early-career scholars in the social sciences. The program began in 2020 and was renamed in 2025 to honor economist Sheldon Danziger. It promotes diversity in academia by prioritizing applications from scholars who are underrepresented in the social sciences and those employed at under-resourced institutions. The grants aim to support innovative, methodologically diverse research on economic mobility and access to opportunity in the United States. Applicants are encouraged to investigate structural barriers to upward mobility and how individuals and institutions engage with systemic inequalities. Eligible applicants include Assistant Professors, Lecturers, and Adjunct Assistant Professors based in U.S. colleges and universities who have not previously received a research grant or visiting fellowship from RSF. The foundation provides up to $50,000 for individual projects and up to $65,000 for team projects involving two or more eligible applicants. All projects are expected to be completed within one year. In addition to funding, RSF pairs each grantee with a mentor—a senior scholar working in a related field—who provides guidance on both the research and career development. Mentors receive a separate honorarium funded directly by RSF. Proposals must be submitted through RSF’s online FLUXX portal under the “Pipeline Grants Competition” designation. Applicants are required to submit a proposal of no more than seven single-spaced pages detailing the research question, methodology, data sources, analytical strategy, and project timeline. Additional required components include an abbreviated CV of no more than five pages and a brief budget narrative. A full budget breakdown, justification, and compliance materials (e.g., IRB approval, preregistration) are only required from successful applicants after funding decisions have been made. Applications for the upcoming cycle are due by October 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Grantees will be required to present preliminary research findings during a conference hosted by RSF in Summer 2027. This conference will bring together mentors, fellow grantees, and other senior scholars to provide constructive feedback, facilitate collaboration, and strengthen the quality of the research ahead of eventual publication. Travel costs to attend the conference will be reimbursed separately and are not included in the grant award. Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to, income and wealth disparities, neighborhood segregation and gentrification, labor market dynamics, immigration and integration policies, and systemic barriers within public policy or legal institutions. RSF does not prioritize projects focused exclusively on health outcomes, health behaviors, or educational curricula. However, studies addressing the structural causes of inequities in education or other key outcomes may still be eligible. The foundation also supports novel uses of administrative data, exploratory fieldwork, qualitative research, and pilot studies that lay the groundwork for future randomized evaluations. Interested applicants are encouraged to register for an informational webinar or to contact RSF program staff directly with any questions regarding eligibility or the application process. This grant competition is distinct from RSF’s Presidential Grants and LOI opportunities, and applicants may only apply to one track per cycle.

Emphasize underrepresented status and institutional context; demonstrate innovative methods and systemic relevance.