Deadline: 01-Dec-2025

The Horowitz Foundation provides merit-based small grants to emerging scholars pursuing dissertation-level research in the social sciences. Grants support projects with social policy applications, including two special awards for exceptional and innovative research, and are open to PhD and DrPH candidates worldwide.

Program Overview

The Horowitz Foundation offers financial support for dissertation research in the social sciences, focusing on projects with practical social policy applications. The program encourages scholarship addressing contemporary social issues and fosters innovative theoretical or methodological approaches.

Funding Details

• Total Available Funding: $10,000 per grant

• Disbursement: $7,500 initially; $2,500 upon project completion with evidence of dissemination (journal article, book chapter, or dissertation approval)

• Special Awards:

  • Irving Louis Horowitz Award: $5,000 for the most outstanding project

  • Trustees’ Award: $3,000 for innovative theoretical or methodological research

• Grant Duration: Must be completed within five years from the award announcement

Who is Eligible?

• Current PhD or DrPH candidates actively working on their dissertation

• Candidates must not hold a PhD yet

• Must have defended their dissertation proposal or received departmental approval for their topic

• Open to applicants from any country and any university

• Applicants can apply once per cycle; previous applicants before 2023 may reapply

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Personal details and short-answer responses

• A 750-word project description outlining objectives, methodology, and expected impact

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Referee contact information and completed recommendation forms

• All materials must be submitted in English

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed on:

• Feasibility and methodological rigor

• Originality and innovation in approach

• Applicability to social policy

• Strength of theoretical or empirical foundation

• Overall merit and strong recommendations

Special Notes

• Grants are non-renewable and merit-based

• If administered through an institution, an overhead waiver is required

• Recipients must acknowledge the Foundation in publications and provide updates on outputs

• No criterion carries more weight; proposals are evaluated holistically

Selection Process

• Applications undergo review by a panel of scholars in the social sciences

• Special awards are granted at the discretion of the Trustees

• Award winners are announced in June each year

• Referee recommendations must be submitted by December 1, 11:59 pm EST

How to Apply

1. Complete the online application portal

2. Provide all requested personal, academic, and project information

3. Upload your CV and project description

4. Submit referee contact information and ensure forms are completed

5. Confirm all documents are in English before submission

Why It Matters

The Horowitz Foundation Small Grants program supports emerging scholars who:

• Advance socially relevant research in the social sciences

• Contribute to evidence-based policy solutions

• Strengthen academic rigor and innovation in dissertation-level studies

• Gain access to mentorship, recognition, and dissemination opportunities through special awards

Conclusion

The Horowitz Foundation Small Grants provide an essential platform for emerging social science researchers to conduct impactful, policy-relevant dissertation research. With merit-based funding, global eligibility, and special recognition awards, the program encourages innovation, scholarly excellence, and meaningful contribution to social policy research worldwide.

For more information, visit Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy.