Mission

Putting social science to work for society.

We do this by:

Investing in frontier research that responds to tangible needs in society
Supporting scholars and their collaborators to harness research for maximum impact
Promoting a culture of public impact in higher education

Vision

We envision a world where social scientists partner beyond the university to conduct research that meaningfully and measurably improves people’s lives.

Pillars

Science

We believe best-in-class scientific knowledge is a key input to addressing society's most pressing challenges. We therefore support frontier social science that provides rigorous, actionable answers to urgent social questions. We prioritize research that incorporates the experience of relevant communities and institutions and engages with a wide range of perspectives.

Partnership

We believe that science can address social challenges most effectively when researchers engage deeply with critical stakeholders beyond the university—both those who are affected by the issues at hand, as well as those who may not be directly affected but who have the ability to influence change. We encourage ongoing collaboration with partners throughout the research process—in defining questions, gathering background information, designing studies, interpreting results, and scaling up impact. We have found that partnerships work best when they are founded on humility, curiosity, and respect.

Impact

We invest in research to improve people's lives. We focus on supporting social science that has a clear and direct path to impact, including through research on specific solutions; generating knowledge that can shape markets or policy; and other targeted responses to pressing societal needs. We prioritize work that supports those who face hardship, adversity, or limited opportunity. We seek to build a portfolio of research that touches lives across economic, geographic, demographic, and political lines.