Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grant Program 2026-2027

The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grants provide financial support to PhD and DrPH candidates conducting dissertation research in social sciences with a focus on social policy applications. Each selected researcher receives a $10,000 grant, with additional awards available for outstanding and innovative research projects.

The programme supports doctoral students whose dissertation projects contribute to understanding social issues through innovative theories, methodologies, and evidence-based research.

About the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grants

The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy offers small research grants to support doctoral students during the dissertation stage of their PhD or DrPH programmes.

The grants are designed to encourage social science research that addresses important policy questions at local, national, or global levels.

The Foundation supports innovative dissertation projects that strengthen knowledge in areas such as:

• Social policy.
• Sociology.
• Political science.
• Economics.
• Public policy.
• Social research.
• Other related social science disciplines.

Purpose of the Grant Programme

The programme aims to:

• Support emerging social science researchers.
• Encourage innovative dissertation research.
• Promote research with practical social policy applications.
• Strengthen understanding of social challenges.
• Support doctoral candidates completing high-quality research projects.

Funding Amount and Awards

Each grant provides:

• Total grant amount: $10,000.

The funding is distributed as:

• Initial award: $7,500.
• Completion payment: $2,500 after successful completion of the project.

Additional recognition awards include:

Trustees’ Award

• Additional funding of $3,000.
• Awarded to the project demonstrating the most innovative approach in theory and/or methodology.

Irving Louis Horowitz Award

• Additional funding of $5,000.
• Awarded to the most outstanding overall project.

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a PhD or DrPH candidate.
• Be currently working on their dissertation.
• Have an approved dissertation topic.
• Be actively conducting dissertation research.
• Have approval from their dissertation committee.
• Not have already received a PhD degree.
• Receive their doctorate after the application submission deadline.

Eligible applicants include doctoral researchers working in social science fields where their research has a social policy application.

Research Eligibility Requirements

Applicants’ projects must:

• Address a social policy issue.
• Contribute to social science knowledge.
• Demonstrate academic research quality.
• Have potential relevance at local or global levels.
• Present clear research objectives and methodology.

Projects may focus on various social policy challenges, depending on the applicant’s discipline and research area.

Why This Grant Matters

Doctoral research often requires significant resources for data collection, analysis, and project completion.

The Horowitz Foundation grant helps researchers:

• Advance dissertation work.
• Conduct deeper social science investigations.
• Develop innovative research approaches.
• Contribute evidence for policy discussions.
• Build academic research experience.
• Strengthen future career opportunities.

The programme also recognizes emerging scholars whose research can influence understanding of important social issues.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application through the official application portal.

The application process includes:

1. Creating an application through the online portal.
2. Providing personal information.
3. Completing required short-answer questions.
4. Preparing a project overview.
5. Writing a 750-word project description.
6. Uploading an English-language CV.
7. Providing recommender contact details.
8. Ensuring recommendation forms are completed.
9. Submitting all required materials before the deadline.

All application materials must be submitted in English.

Required Application Materials

Applicants must provide:

• Personal details.
• Dissertation project overview.
• 750-word research description.
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• Recommendation information.
• Completed recommendation forms.

Applications with missing documents or incomplete recommendation forms will not be reviewed.

Project Description Requirements

The project description should clearly explain:

• Research objectives.
• Social policy relevance.
• Research methodology.
• Expected contribution to the field.
• Innovation in theory or methods.
• Potential impact of findings.

Applicants should demonstrate how their dissertation research contributes to broader understanding of social issues.

Selection Criteria

Projects are evaluated based on:

• Research quality.
• Social policy relevance.
• Innovation.
• Methodological strength.
• Potential contribution to social science.
• Clarity of research objectives.
• Overall impact.

Special recognition is given to projects with particularly innovative theoretical or methodological approaches.

Important Application Tips

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Clearly explaining the social policy importance of their research.
• Highlighting innovative research methods.
• Demonstrating strong academic preparation.
• Providing a focused and well-structured project description.
• Ensuring all documents are complete.
• Requesting recommendation forms early.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying before dissertation approval.
• Submitting research without a social policy connection.
• Providing unclear project descriptions.
• Missing required documents.
• Submitting materials in languages other than English.
• Forgetting to confirm recommendation form completion.
• Applying after receiving a doctoral degree.

Application Timeline

Key points include:

• Applications must be submitted through the online portal.
• All materials must be complete before submission.
• Award decisions are announced in June.

Applicants should plan ahead to ensure recommendations and supporting documents are submitted on time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grant?

It is a research grant programme that supports PhD and DrPH candidates conducting dissertation research in social sciences with social policy applications.

How much funding does each grant provide?

Each selected project receives $10,000, including $7,500 initially and $2,500 after project completion.

Who can apply for the grant?

PhD and DrPH candidates currently working on approved dissertations can apply if they have not yet received their doctorate.

Can researchers who already completed their PhD apply?

No. Applicants must still be doctoral candidates at the dissertation stage.

What research topics are eligible?

Projects from social science disciplines are eligible if they address social policy issues at local or global levels.

What additional awards are available?

The Foundation offers a $3,000 Trustees’ Award for innovative research approaches and a $5,000 Irving Louis Horowitz Award for the strongest overall project.

When are winners announced?

Award winners are announced in June.

Conclusion

The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grants provide valuable support for doctoral researchers advancing social science knowledge through dissertation research. By funding innovative and policy-relevant projects, the programme helps emerging scholars address important social challenges and contribute meaningful evidence to academic and policy communities.