Causal Research on Community Safety and the Criminal Justice System

About this program

Arnold Ventures (AV) offers grants for causal research projects aimed at enhancing community safety and the fairness and effectiveness of the U.S. criminal justice system. Funding supports studies evaluating policies, practices, and interventions with real-world impact and potential to influence federal or state policies. Eligible applicants include researchers proposing projects with robust causal designs, focusing on U.S.-based outcomes, and prioritizing studies led by early-career or underrepresented researchers, utilizing administrative data, and demonstrating clear paths to policy adoption. There is no deadline for submitting letters of interest, which should be concise (up to three pages), and full proposals are by invitation only.