CAHSS faculty are invited to submit a pre-proposal to be nominated for the 2026 William T. Grant Scholars Program competition, sponsored by the William T. Grant Foundation (WTGF). The WTGF Scholars Program supports career development for promising early-career researchers.
Eligible applicants should have received their doctorate within seven years of the WTGF program's application deadline of June 30, 2026, and seven years after the year the doctorate was conferred. Applicants must currently be employed in a tenure-track position.
The program makes awards totaling $425,000 for five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers’ expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas. Applicants should have a track record of conducting high-quality research and an interest in pursuing a significant shift in their trajectories as researchers. This award includes a mentoring component, as well as a supportive academic community.
WTGF’s Research Focus Areas:
1. Reducing Inequality. WTGF funds research studies that examine programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5–25 in the United States, along dimensions of race, ethnicity, economic standing, sexual or gender minority status (e.g., LGBTQ+ youth), language minority status, or immigrant origins.
2. Improving the Use of Research Evidence. In this focus area, WTGF supports research studies that examine strategies to improve the use of research evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States. The Foundation seeks proposals for studies that advance theory and build empirical knowledge on ways to improve the use of research evidence by policymakers, public agency leaders, organizational managers, intermediaries, community organizers, and other decision-makers that generally shape youth-serving systems in the United States.
CAHSS Internal Competition:
An internal CAHSS competition will be held to select the CAHSS nominee. Pre-proposals are due to the CAHSS Dean’s Office, via a box link, by May 11, 2026. Review the attached instructions and box link for detailed information.
The nominee will be notified on May 20, 2026, and will work with CARAT to develop a complete application, following the application guidelines. Complete applications will be due to WTGF, via the program's application portal, by June 30, 2026 (3:00 PM, ET).
The CAHSS nominee must be PI Eligible, with active status, in order to prepare a proposal and receive an award at UMBC. PI Eligible active status entails the successful completion (with issued certificates) of PIRATE training; CITI Research Security Training - combined; and completion of a PI Eligibility form, with attached certificates of completion for the trainings, and your appointment letter. See UMBC Policy # IV-2.00.03 for more information. Contact Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu) for assistance.
Successful applicants will be notified by WTGF on March 27, 2027. Five-year awards, made to the applicants’ institution, will begin on July 1, 2027.
Contact Marc Ruppel (mruppel@umbc.edu), CARAT Director, or Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu), to discuss your pre-proposal.
WTGF Program Resources:
- Scholars Program website: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program
- Program application guide: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Application-Guide-WTGF-Scholars.pdf
- Applicant resources, including a webinar and annotated excerpts: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program/applicant-resources#annotated-excerpts
- Program FAQ: https://WTGFrantfoundation.org/funding/william-t-grant-scholars-program/faq