As the final quarter of 2025 gets underway, seasoned grant seekers know that the time to plan for next year is now.

While others are winding down, your organization can get a critical head start by targeting major funding opportunities with deadlines in early 2026. Proactive planning is what separates a good grant strategy from a great one.

Finding high-value, legitimate grants with future deadlines can be a challenge.

That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

We’ve scoured the top federal and foundation databases to find and verify three prestigious research grants you can start preparing for today.

These opportunities from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) offer significant funding for groundbreaking work.

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Project Grant (Parent R01)

For biomedical and behavioral researchers, the NIH R01 is the gold standard.

It’s the oldest and most respected grant mechanism used by the NIH, providing substantial support for health-related research and development.

Because this is a “parent” announcement, it accepts a wide range of investigator-initiated projects, allowing you to pitch your most innovative ideas.

  • Official Name: Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • Funding Amount: No upper limit, but budgets must be fully justified.

Awards often range from $250,000 to over $500,000 per year.

Who Should Apply?

This grant is intended for established investigators and research institutions, including universities, colleges, hospitals, and eligible nonprofit organizations.

You’ll need a strong research plan, a qualified team, and the institutional resources to carry out the proposed project.

The principal investigator should typically hold a doctoral degree.

How to Apply

The NIH uses a multi-step application process.

You must be registered with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, which can take six weeks or more—so start now.

Applications are submitted electronically via Grants.gov or the NIH ASSIST system.

The R01 application is extensive, requiring detailed sections on your specific aims, research strategy, budget, and biographical sketches for key personnel.

Pro Tip

Before you even start writing, contact a Program Officer at the NIH institute most relevant to your research.

They can provide invaluable feedback on whether your project aligns with their institute's priorities and offer guidance on strengthening your proposal.

2. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Digital Humanities Advancement Grants

This grant supports innovative projects that use or study the impact of digital technology on the humanities.

The NEH is looking for groundbreaking work that can serve as a model for the field, from developing new digital tools for scholarly research to studying the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence.

  • Official Name: Digital Humanities Advancement Grants (DHAG)
  • Funding Amount: Level I (early stage) up to $75,000; Level II (advanced stage) up to $150,000.
  • Key Deadline: January 15, 2026 (estimated, based on previous cycles)
  • Application Link: View the Official Grant Program Page

Who Should Apply?

U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, accredited higher education institutions, and state and local governmental agencies are eligible.

The DHAG program encourages collaborative projects, so teams of humanists, data scientists, librarians, and archivists are common.

If your work sits at the intersection of culture and computation, this is for you.

How to Apply

Similar to the NIH, the NEH requires registration with SAM.gov and Grants.gov.

Applications are submitted through Grants.gov.

The core of the application is a detailed narrative describing your project's intellectual significance, work plan, and expected outcomes.

You’ll also need to provide resumes for the project team and a comprehensive budget.

Pro Tip

Clearly articulate the dual contribution of your project: how it both advances a specific area of humanities research and contributes to the field of digital humanities.

Successful proposals often demonstrate a deep understanding of both domains.

3. Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) Social, Political, and Economic Inequality Program

The Russell Sage Foundation is a leading supporter of social science research, and its program on inequality is highly prestigious.

This grant funds research that examines the causes and consequences of inequality in the United States. RSF is particularly interested in innovative, data-driven projects that can inform public policy.

  • Official Name: RSF Program on Social, Political, and Economic Inequality
  • Funding Amount: Trustee Grants are typically between $50,000 and $200,000 over two years.

Smaller Presidential Awards are also available.

Who Should Apply?

Principal investigators must hold a Ph.D. or an equivalent terminal degree. RSF primarily awards grants to academic researchers at universities and colleges, though researchers at other nonprofit organizations are also eligible.

This is an ideal opportunity for sociologists, economists, political scientists, and other social scientists with a strong quantitative or qualitative research design.

How to Apply

RSF uses a two-stage process.

First, you must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through their online portal.

The LOI is a concise summary of your project (typically 4-5 pages).

If your LOI is approved, you will be invited to submit a full proposal.

The November deadline provides a perfect timeline for researchers to prepare a compelling LOI this fall.

Pro Tip

The Russell Sage Foundation has a strong preference for research that utilizes new data or innovative methodological approaches.

When writing your LOI, emphasize what makes your data, research design, or analytical strategy novel and how it will generate new insights into social inequality.

How to Prepare Your Grant Application for Success

Targeting the right grant is only the first step.

To secure funding, your proposal needs to be flawless.

As you prepare to apply for these and other opportunities, keep these best practices in mind:

  • Read the Entire Funding Announcement: Every detail matters.

Pay close attention to the review criteria, as this is the rubric reviewers will use to score your proposal.

  • Start Your Narrative Early: Don't wait until the last minute.

Give yourself weeks, or even months, to draft, revise, and get feedback on your project narrative.

  • Build a Justifiable Budget: Your budget should tell the same story as your narrative.

Every cost must be reasonable, allowable, and directly linked to project activities.

  • Leverage Technology: The grant application process is complex.

Using a grant management platform can help you track deadlines, manage documents, and collaborate with your team to ensure a polished, on-time submission.

By planning ahead and focusing on high-quality opportunities like these, you can position your research for major funding success in 2026.