Building Evidence RFP — Support for Quasi-Experimental Designs to Evaluate Social Programs and Policies

About this program

Arnold Ventures is soliciting Letters of Interest for its "Building Evidence" RFP to fund rigorous causal, quasi-experimental evaluations that strengthen evidence about programs and policies in seven U.S. policy areas: Higher Education, Career Pathways, Health Care, Medicaid, Online Gambling, Infrastructure, and Public Finance. Preferred methods include natural experiments, regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, and instrumental variables (randomized trials should be submitted to a separate RFP), with priority given to projects that demonstrate clear policy relevance and actionable pathways to scale. Applicants must submit an LOI using AV’s required Word template by September 11, 2026, and should show a well-specified, adequately powered study design, feasible data access, and adherence to AV’s open science and cost/indirect cost policies. Invited applicants will be asked to provide a full proposal, plus supporting materials (team overview, brief CVs, and a budget summary).