The Institute for American Cultures (IAC) in collaboration with the Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) Grants Program. These RSJ grants are designed to help launch and support research projects demonstrably centered on exploring the sources and consequences of racial inequities and social justice. The goal of the Racial and Social Justice Grants is to facilitate investigators’ preparedness for attaining extramural funding. Grants must be used to design and launch work-in-progress where the PI has not previously been awarded major research funding for the proposed project. RSJ Grants can be used for the development of proof-of-concepts, the collection of pilot data and archival research, drafting of white papers, creation of functional prototypes, development of preliminary art and multimedia work, training programs that allow the research team to be competitive for future funding, the study of campus climate issues, and other deliverables. As a multi-year commitment, RSJ Grants are a part of the Rising to the Challenge (RTC) initiative announced by Chancellor Block and EVC&P Carter in June 2020. Successful RSJ projects are expected to advance the goals of RTC initiative by enhancing UCLA’s commitment to studying Black life, racial equity, and social justice.
In addition to RSJ grant funding, it is anticipated that the lead principal investigator (PI) will participate, along with other members of their cohort, in grants development workshops/activities hosted by ORCA and IAC during the grant period. This includes meeting with national and local foundation and philanthropic representatives. The goal is to advance academic research by providing grantees with greater access and tools to build and broaden their exposure to major grants development resources.
NOTE: The proposal must represent a research or creative collaboration that substantively engages racial equity and social justice. Each collaborator’s expertise should clearly contribute to developing a racial equity and social justice oriented project competitive enough to be funded through extramural support beyond the RSJ Grant.
Award Amount and Details
It is anticipated that 8-10 projects will be funded, with a maximum award of up to $30,000 per project.
Deadlines and Date Information
The due dates listed below are the most recent due dates our office is aware of. Please see the opportunity home page for information about potential upcoming deadlines or other opportunities.
- Application opens: February 2023
- Application due date: Wednesday, March 27, 2023, 11:59 PM
- Announcement of Awards: May 2023
- Project Start/Funding Date: June 2023
Eligibility Information
- Projects must have one lead principal investigator (PI) and may have at least one co-PI from a school or division at UCLA.
- PIs must hold UCLA academic senate faculty or academic administrator appointments as of 7/1/2023.
- Visiting faculty, postdoctoral fellows, lecturers, adjunct faculty, and individuals without UCLA appointments are not eligible to serve as the PI, although they may serve as team members.
- Activities currently funded by major research awards (over $30,000) are not eligible for consideration. Should any aspect of a proposal receive alternative funding, the primary applicant must notify the RSJ grant program coordinator within 5 business days. Proposals that build off other funded work are eligible, but the application should describe how the proposal is distinct from existing funded work.
- The same project cannot receive both a Transdisciplinary Research Acceleration Grant (TRAG) and RSJ funding in the same year.
The following activities are not eligible for funding under this mechanism:
- Seminars, courses, or curricular development
- Conferences or conference support and workshops
- Publishing subventions
