William T. Grant Scholars Program – 2026 Funding Opportunity

The William T. Grant Scholars Program is a prestigious five-year career development award supporting early-career researchers committed to expanding their expertise and transforming their research trajectories. Designed for scholars ready to take meaningful risks in their work, the program funds ambitious research and mentoring plans that build new skills, methods, and cross-disciplinary knowledge.

This award uniquely combines funding, mentorship, and a supportive academic community to empower emerging leaders whose work will improve outcomes for young people across the United States.

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Focus Areas

1. Reducing Inequality

Supports research on programs, policies, and practices that reduce academic, social, behavioral, or economic inequality among youth aged 5–25, particularly across dimensions such as:

• Race/ethnicity
• Economic standing
• Sexual or gender minority status
• Language minority status
• Immigrant origins

The Foundation is especially interested in research that addresses systemic racism and the structural roots of inequality across youth-serving systems such as justice, housing, child welfare, mental health, and education.

2. Improving the Use of Research Evidence

Funds studies that examine how policymakers, agency leaders, managers, and other decision-makers can better use research evidence in ways that benefit young people.

Projects may explore:

• Strategies that improve research uptake
• Organizational structures that support evidence use
• Measurement approaches for assessing research use
• Impact of evidence-informed decision-making on youth outcomes

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Capacity Building & Mentoring

Selected Scholars receive:

• Participation in the annual Scholars Retreat, providing in-depth workshops, project feedback, and professional development
• Access to Foundation-sponsored methodological workshops
• Opportunities for additional grants to mentor junior researchers of color, supporting diversity and strengthening academic pipelines
• A network of senior researchers, committee members, and peers

Mentorship is a core component of the program, with Scholars proposing one to two mentors who will guide the first two years of the award.

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Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organizations

• U.S. tax-exempt organizations
• Encouragement for institutions historically underrepresented among grantees, including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, AANAPISIs, and others

Eligible Applicants

• Must be nominated by their institution
• Doctorate earned within seven years of application submission (adjusted for medical residencies)
• Must hold a career-ladder research position (e.g., tenure-track or equivalent)
• International applicants are eligible if research benefits U.S. youth
• Applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds strongly encouraged

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Selection Criteria

Applicant

• Evidence of potential to become an influential scholar
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed outlets
• Clear plan to stretch into new disciplines, methods, or content areas

Research Plan

• Aligned with one of the two focus areas
• Grounded in rigorous theory and empirical evidence
• Feasible within five years
• Methodologically robust (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods)
• Addresses implications for policy and practice

Mentoring Plan

• Specific, well-structured activities that build new expertise
• Mentors with strong credentials and commitment
• Clear added value beyond existing relationships

Institutional Support

• Institution must guarantee ≥50% time for research
• Provide necessary resources and support structures
• Only one nominee per major division per year

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Application & Review Process

1. Initial Screening of abstracts and CVs by Foundation staff
2. Full Review by the Scholars Selection Committee
3. Finalists Announced – approximately 10 candidates invited to interviews in New York City (Feb 2027)
4. External Review of full proposals
5. Final Interviews with Committee members
6. 4–6 Scholars Selected and approved by the Board
7. Notification by end of March 2027

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Additional Resources

• Download the 2026 Application Guidelines
• View annotated excerpts of successful proposals

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For more details about the program: Click Here