Community Action Research Initiative Grants

Scholarship Sponsored by American Sociological Association

The Community Action Research Initiative (CARI) grants, promoted by the American Sociological Association, are open for applications. These grants are intended for projects that apply social science expertise and methodologies to tackle community-focused problems. Candidates should be interested in collaborating with community organizations or initiatives, and either hold a sociology PhD or be part of a graduate program that offers a sociology PhD.

The association invites applications from individuals across various environments, such as academia, research institutions, private and non-profit entities, and governmental bodies. Although graduate students may apply, the CARI grants cannot be utilized for dissertation research purposes. While being an ASA member is not a prerequisite for application, grant recipients must be members. All ASA members are required to adhere to the ASA Code of Ethics, and if needed, grant recipients must furnish relevant IRB approval. Grants can cover up to $3,000 in direct costs. However, they cannot be used for institutional overheads, academic meeting costs, or the lead investigator's salary.

How to Apply

Applications are to be submitted digitally via Foundant, the ASA's grant application system. It's important to note that a profile is required on the online grant platform. For those who have previously applied for an ASA grant, use your existing login credentials. If a new account is required, complete the registration form, providing basic personal details, including your email address. After the registration form is completed, ensure that you have received a confirmation email and acknowledge its receipt. Make sure your spam filters are set appropriately to receive system emails. Video instructions for account creation can be found here.

A comprehensive application includes:

• Principal Investigator(s) contact details: Name, current institution or organization, postal address, email address
• Project title
• A project overview, its objectives, the means to achieve them, and its sociological relevance to a policy issue (500-word limit)
• A description of the community organization or initiative you plan to collaborate with, and how your project aligns with their mission (500-word limit)
• An outline of the project's expected tangible results, including your strategy for disseminating any findings (dissemination may occur after the grant period) (500-word limit)
• A letter of support from the community organization or initiative partnering with the project (one-page limit)
• A CV for each Principal Investigator
• A comprehensive project budget and timeline

Application Schedule

Final date for application: August 28, 2025 (before 5:00 p.m. ET)

Grant recipients announcement: No later than December 4, 2025