Arnold Ventures K-12 Policy Research Grant

Arnold Ventures, a US philanthropy that funds evidence-based policy, is inviting letters of interest for research grants that measure the causal effects of state-level K-12 education policies. Studies can look at curriculum, assessment and accountability, school choice and governance, or teacher and leader policies, and Arnold Ventures prefers work that can finish within 18 months or produce findings by the end of 2028.

What you get:

• Funding for a rigorous causal study of a US state K-12 policy, with no set maximum budget
• As a guide, Arnold Ventures has previously funded quasi-experimental studies at about $100,000 to $300,000 over 1 to 3 years, and randomised trials at about $200,000 to $400,000 over 2 to 4 years
• Feedback and a chance to discuss the project if invited to the full proposal stage

What you'll do:

• Submit a letter of interest on Arnold Ventures' template: a one-page Key Study Details section and a study narrative of no more than 3 single-spaced pages
• Upload a 1 to 2 page study team overview, short CVs and a budget narrative of up to one page
• If invited, submit a full proposal with a detailed power analysis and itemised budget by January 31, 2027
• If funded, publicly post a pre-analysis plan before the study launches

Key dates:

• Portal opened September 28, 2026
• Letters of interest due November 13, 2026, 11:59 PM EST
• Invitations to submit a full proposal December 18, 2026
• Full proposals due January 31, 2027
• Award notification expected March 31, 2027 (estimate)

More information:

• RFP document: https://assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/PDFs/202609-AV_RFP_K-12.pdf
• Evidence and Evaluation RFP FAQs: https://www.arnoldventures.org/evidence-evaluation-rfp-faqs
• LOI template: https://assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/AVEE_RFP_Template.docx
• Questions: EvidenceTeam@arnoldventures.org

• Applicants must be at US-based institutions; for-profit institutions are eligible
• Studies must focus on US programs and policies, specifically K-12 policies that can be influenced at the state level
• Must use a rigorous causal design (randomised trial, or quasi-experimental designs such as regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences or instrumental variables)
• Not for evaluating a specific curriculum in isolation
• Letter of interest must use the Arnold Ventures template, narrative no more than 3 single-spaced pages, 11-point font or larger, 1-inch margins