The Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS) and the MacMillan Center invite proposals for large research projects that extend across traditional disciplinary and program boundaries. We seek proposals that use social science methods and data to engage with fundamental social and policy issues. We welcome proposals from a wide array of disciplines and approaches within the social sciences and in collaboration with other approaches and perspectives (including critical, historical, ethnographic, and experimental). We especially aim to fund proposals that make a persuasive case these initial results will have a positive impact, describe strategies for measuring such impact, and catalyze further support from internal and external stakeholders.
Funded proposals will be awarded to multi-disciplinary teams of two or more researchers and range from $50,000 to $100,000. We anticipate funding approximately four proposals in that range.
The grant is designed to cover a one or two-year project, with an expectation that at least one publication-quality research report will emerge within three years.
Priority Areas
Priority will be given to innovative projects that advance:
- Collaboration by multi-disciplinary teams. Proposals from all social science disciplines are welcome. We especially encourage collaborations across academic divisions or schools that arguably might not have occurred without the catalyst of these seed funds.
- Social science research methods. We invite proposals that contribute to the advancement of social science research methods and data, for example, by gathering or using novel data, or improving research methods. Proposals from all social science research approaches are welcome.
- Core themes. We invite proposals that examine key areas of interest: political behavior, political institutions, representation, and governance. Proposals can be either domestic or international in focus. The ISPS-MacMillan Fund provides the flexibility for faculty to assemble multidisciplinary research teams and submit research proposals on these general themes without concern for the distinction between domestic or international coverage and through one simple process.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed based on the above criteria. In addition, proposals will be evaluated on the importance, excellence, and innovativeness of the research given the size of the budget request. Pilot projects and projects with potential to evolve into larger collaborative studies are particularly welcome and upon request may be considered as additions to MacMillan’s Global Programs.
Submission Guidelines
The proposal includes a three-page project description (see details below).
The deadline for proposals is March 7, 2025, and we expect to update applicants on their application status by mid-April 2025.
We hold one request for proposals (RFP) during the academic year, in the spring semester.
Eligibility
Yale University faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, graduate or professional students, or groups comprising faculty, postdocs, and/or graduate or professional students may submit proposals.
We encourage collaborations across academic divisions or schools that arguably might not have occurred without the catalyst of these seed funds. In addition, we encourage early career faculty and researchers to apply for this funding, although we will give full consideration to proposals from faculty at all career stages.
To Apply
Scholars interested in applying for an ISPS funding are strongly encouraged to review ISPS guidelines and to learn more about what we fund.
- Visit General information about ISPS Research Funding to learn about eligibility and more.
- Visit Information about ISPS Research Procedures to learn about ISPS requirements. If an award is granted, some further steps – including a data archiving plan and IRB approval if applicable – will be required before funds are released.
- Visit our Research page to see information about ISPS research! For original data see the ISPS Data Archive.
Submit Your Proposal Using the ISPS-MacMillan Grant Application Form. Please note, we will only accept submissions via this form.
Information requested in the form:
- Applicant information. All student submissions and some postdoc and researcher applications (as determined by IRB PI eligibility) must include the name of a Yale faculty member as adviser or principal investigator and provide a separate statement from the faculty member in support of the proposed project.
- Results and positive impact (the expected outputs/outcomes and positive impacts of the project and a description of the strategy for measuring results, evaluation, and demonstration)
- IRB status at time of application (if human subjects will be used).
- Curriculum vita.
- Additional sources of funding. Indication if applying for other funds for this project (and if yes, which).
Information to be included in the proposal:
- Project Description. Up to three pages. Must include the following:
- Research design
- Data analysis strategy
- International component, if any
- Project timetable
- Funds requested, itemized budget, and budget justification (listing any additional or pending sources of funding). Please note that the MacMillan Center is currently supporting three other RFPs, and researchers may apply for funding for their project from more than one of these but must indicate that they’ve done so and offer a budget justification that clarifies all proposed funding sources. The justification should clarify what will happen should the full amount not be funded;
- Any additional relevant information
- References
**Updated December 16, 2024**