Applying for Funding

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics supports research by students and ladder faculty working in development economics, broadly defined. The program funds projects that address a wide range of issues affecting less developed countries.

The Weiss Fund invites Expressions of Interest. Deadlines, eligibility details, and application instructions, as well as the types of projects that have been funded in the past, are outlined below.

Read more about eligibility:

RESEARCH GRANTS | Rolling basis (Applications <$25k),

Spring and Fall cycles (Applications >$25k)


TRAVEL AND PILOTING GRANTS | Next rolling cycle closes May 9, 2026 at 11:59 pm CDT.


IMPLEMENTATION & POLICY GRANTS | Rolling basis (Applications <$25k), Spring and Fall cycles (Applications >$25k)

 

Fall 2026 call will open by August end.

Application Tracks
Applications are submitted through one of two types of cycles

  • Rolling Cycles ($25,000 or less): Travel & Piloting, Research, and Implementation & Policy grants. Reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • Full Cycles (more than $25,000): Research, and Implementation & Policy. Reviewed through biannual calls for proposals in Spring and Fall calls.

SPRING and FALL CALLS

Weiss Fund implementation & policy applications and research proposals greater than $25k will be considered twice a year in the Spring and Fall. We expect the Spring and Fall Weiss Fund Calls to run on roughly the following schedule:

FALL

  • Applications for Fall 2026 anticipated to close at the end of August 2026.
  • Decisions communicated mid-December

 SPRING

  • Applications closed on February 19, 2026
  • Decisions communicated in June

ROLLING CALL

Weiss Fund travel applications under $15k, pilot applications under $25k, research applications under $25k, and implementation & policy applications under $25k will be considered on a more frequent schedule, and the committee strives to report decisions within a month after a given submission deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and extensions will not be granted for this program. If necessary, incomplete applications will need to be resubmitted during the following open cycle.

Upcoming deadlines for travel grants up to $15,000, research applications under $25,000, pilot applications up to $25,000, and implementation & policy grants under $25k.

  • May 9, 2026
  • August 1, 2026
  • November 1, 2026
  • February 1, 2027
  • May 1, 2027

Questions?

Visit our FAQ page for additional guidance.