Russell Sage Foundation
The Russell Sage Foundation is a New York–based operating foundation supporting social science research, funding grants, and hosting visiting scholars. The official website provides information about research priorities, grants, publications, fellows, and foundation governance.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Academic departments, university centers, and independent social science research organizations proposing rigorous empirical projects on social inequality, labor markets, race, policy, or related topics.
Good Fit
- • A research-focused project with clear empirical methods and policy relevance.
- • Institutional affiliation with a university or research center (many top recipients are universities).
- • Budget and scope matching mid five-figure to low six-figure grants (the portfolio shows many grants in the $10k–$250k range).
- • Willingness to use the foundation's online application system and follow stated submission instructions.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to recipients in about 25 states, showing a national multi-state footprint rather than a local or single-state focus; California and New York are large recipients but funding is broadly distributed.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 81 distinct recipients across universities, research centers, and nonprofits with low dollar concentration (largest recipient ≈3%, top five ≈12%), indicating a broad and diverse recipient set for the foundation's size.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of openness includes a public website, formal application portal, an email contact, and 26 new recipients in the latest year; multi-year data (three years) show both returning and new grantees, supporting plausibility that unfamiliar applicants can enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
