[Sehefac] Fwd: Call for Proposals: UC Essential Needs Research Grant Program - Fall 2026

[dana.simmons at ucr.edu]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <ceja at ucsc.edu>
Date: Mon, Sep 14, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Subject: Call for Proposals: UC Essential Needs Research Grant Program -
Fall 2026
To:



*Please share this opportunity widely with your network. Thank you!*


The Center for Economic Justice and Action (CEJA) is pleased to release our
sixth call for research proposals for the *UC Essential Needs Research
Grant Program*
<https://economicjustice.ucsc.edu/uc-essential-needs/research-evaluation/>
*. *This initiative is part of the *UC Essential Needs Research, Training,
and Promising Programs Consortium*
<https://economicjustice.ucsc.edu/uc-essential-needs/about-uc-essential-needs/>
 housed at the *Center for Economic Justice and Action*
<https://economicjustice.ucsc.edu/> at the University of California, Santa
Cruz (UCSC).

*The Projects may be funded up to $100,000 (maximum budget), with all
projects completed within one year (12 months) of the award date. **Proposals
are due November 6, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. (PST). *

CEJA’s UC Essential Needs Grant Program funds research that (1) advances our
understanding of UC students’ essential or basic needs; (2) identifies
barriers to accessing basic needs programs and/or promising practices for
addressing these challenges; (3) assesses the impact of basic needs
programs on student well-being and success; and (4) investigates strategies
or interventions for better meeting students’ basic needs and/or promoting
equitable access to existing basic needs programs. We use “basic needs” and
“essential needs” interchangeably but encourage using the term “essential
needs” to highlight their crucial role in thriving and student success.

All UC faculty and professional research staff (with principal investigator
status) are invited to apply. We welcome proposals from any discipline,
including fields in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and
public health. Individual and multi-campus proposals may be submitted. We
are especially excited about research proposals that involve partnerships
among principal investigators and campus basic needs units.

To learn about previous awards, please visit our Research and Evaluation
webpage
<https://economicjustice.ucsc.edu/uc-essential-needs/research-evaluation/>.

More information about this funding opportunity and application guidelines
are provided in the attached request for research proposals and on CEJA’s
website <https://economicjustice.ucsc.edu/>. An informational session about
this grant program will be held via zoom on Thursday, October 9, 12:00 p.m.
(PT). Please register at: https://forms.gle/FdHZWumwTbvYe3Zw8 and a google
calendar invite with zoom link will be sent to you. If you cannot attend
the information session, please contact  <ceja at ucsc.edu> <ceja at ucsc.edu>
<ceja at ucsc.edu> <ceja at ucsc.edu> <ceja at ucsc.edu>ceja at ucsc.edu
<//ceja at ucsc.edu> with any questions about this request for proposals or
program eligibility.


—————————



*UC Essential Needs Grant Program Call for Research Proposals and
Guidelines *
*DEADLINE: November 6, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PST) *

*An informational session about this grant program will be held via zoom on
Friday, October 9th at 12:00 p.m. (PT). *
*Register here: **https://forms.gle/FdHZWumwTbvYe3Zw8
<https://forms.gle/FdHZWumwTbvYe3Zw8> *

*Overview *

The University of California (UC) system is a national leader in addressing
students’ basic needs. Within the UC system, “basic needs” encompasses “an
ecosystem that supports financial stability by ensuring equitable access to
nutritious and sufficient food; safe, secure and adequate housing (to
sleep, study, cook, and shower); healthcare to promote sustained mental and
physical well-being; affordable transportation; resources for personal
hygiene care; and emergency needs for students with dependents”. The Center
for Economic Justice and Action (CEJA) uses the terms “basic” and
“essential” needs interchangeably but encourages using “essential needs” to
highlight their crucial role in thriving and student success.
Beginning with the establishment of the UC Global Food Initiative (GFI) in
2014 and continuing today, significant investments are being made to
strengthen campus basic needs resources, develop effective programs, and
build skills in serving students who are experiencing basic needs
challenges. However, students of color, low-income students,
first-generation students, student parents, students who are former foster
youth, and LGBTQ+ identified students remain at high risk of experiencing
these challenges. Ensuring equitable access for and the retention and
success of these students in the UC system is crucial to the university’s
mission.

Essential needs research and evaluation are vital to understanding UC
students’ experiences, validating effective programs and promising
practices, and identifying needed strategic investments. Equally important
is providing evidence to policymakers, academic communities, campus
practitioners, and UC families that our interventions reduce food and
housing insecurity, foster health and well-being, and increase retention
and student success. A strong systemwide research agenda is needed to fully
understand the impact of basic needs programs and initiatives.

CEJA’s UC Essential Needs Research Grant Program funds innovative research
that advances our understanding of students’ essential needs and informs
programs and services to meet these needs. This program is made possible by
basic needs funding from the California Legislature, which is administered
by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). CEJA’s UC
Essential Needs Research Program is co-chaired by Professor Heather E.
Bullock, University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and Associate
Professor Suzanna M. Martinez, University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF), with guidance from a review committee of UC faculty from across the
system.

*Program Description, Priorities, and Eligibility *

*Program Description. *This research initiative seeks to identify and
advance promising practices to meet all students’ basic needs. CEJA’s UC
Essential Needs Grant Program funds research that advances our
understanding of UC students’ basic or essential needs and identifies
effective strategies and programs for addressing them. To build a strong
essential needs research community, awardees will present their findings to
the UC essential needs community and be invited to attend other related
events.

*Program Priorities. *Priority will be given to research studies that:
● Advance our understanding of UC students’ essential or basic needs
(please note: this program funds research focused on essential or basic
needs of UC students who are predominantly U.S. residents)
● Identify barriers to accessing basic needs programs and/or promising
practices for addressing these challenges
● Investigate strategies to improve students’ housing security
● Assess the impact of basic needs programs on student well-being and
success
● Investigate strategies or interventions for better meeting students’
basic needs and/or promoting equitable access to existing basic needs
programs
● Include partnerships with campus basic needs units and/or community basic
needs programs/providers (here is a link to UC Basic Needs Campus Centers
<https://basicneeds.ucop.edu/contact/> and contact information)
● Engage graduate and/or undergraduate students as research team members

To find information about previously awarded grants, please visit our Research
and Evaluation webpage
<https://economicjustice.ucsc.edu/uc-essential-needs/research-evaluation/>.

*We will award high impact proposals up to $100,000 each (maximum budget),
with all research activities completed within 12 months of the award date. *

*Eligibility**. *All UC faculty and professional research staff (with
principal investigator status) with a research track record are eligible to
apply. We welcome proposals from any discipline, including fields in the
humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and public health. Both
single and multi-campus proposals are encouraged. Please note that this
funding opportunity is not intended to support student projects (e.g.,
capstones, theses).

*Allowable expenses. *Include research personnel (e.g., graduate and
undergraduate research assistants), travel for data collection, materials
(e.g., photocopying, analytic software), and other research expenses (e.g.,
participant compensation). Funding is not available for basic computer
equipment, faculty and staff salary (including summer salary), or
conference travel. Research focusing exclusively on international students
is not prioritized. All awardees must submit a final report of their
findings and expenditures. Any unused funds remaining at the end of the
award period must be returned to the Center for Economic Justice and Action.
Timelines should also consider the time required for obtaining IRB approval
(see Documentation of Compliance with Campus IRB below).

*Application Review and Award Criteria. *Members of CEJA’s UC system-wide
review committee will review each proposal. The following criteria will be
considered during the review process: scholarly merit of the proposed
research (e.g., originality, potential contribution to the field,
conceptual/theoretical grounding, soundness of methodology); proposal
alignment with the goals and principles of CEJA’s UC Essential Needs
Research Grant Program; potential impact of the proposed research;
principal investigator and collaborator track record, qualifications, and
preparation to conduct the proposed research; partnership or engagement
with campus basic needs units; budget justification; ability to complete
the project within the designated time frame; and dissemination plan.

While every effort will be made to ensure that a range of disciplines,
focal areas, and campuses are represented among awardees, final awards will
be granted based on the overall strength of the proposal in meeting the
criteria above.

*Research Timeline. *This is the third funding round of an annual
grantmaking program. All grant activities should be completed within one
year (12 months) of the award date. Grant applicants and recipients can
contact the Center for Economic Justice and Action at ceja at ucsc.edu with
any questions about grant timelines or potential extensions.

*Proposal Format**. *The following information will be requested as part of
your application: Principal Investigator/s (e.g., name, applicant title
department, campus, email address); Project Title; Amount of Funding
Request; Project Abstract or Summary; Research Narrative; Itemized Budget
and Budget Narrative; Project Timeline; and CV or Biosketch (2-page limit).


*Proposal Submission, Review, and Award Notification *

*Submission and Award Notification. *Proposals are due online on Friday,
November 6th 2026 by 5:00 p.m. (PST). Please submit your application on
this form at:
https://forms.gle/oz4D9HePTRfLSDkVA. Award decisions will be announced in
December 2026.

*Abstract or Summary. *Please provide a 500-word summarizing your study.
Abstracts of funded projects will be posted
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sr-pYIFR8hY6zMqdYC6yZq89DYz0BGBu/view> on
CEJA’s website.

*Research Narrative. *Please include a 2,000-word narrative describing the
proposed study and its goals, relationship of the proposed study to
existing research, description of essential needs focus, theoretical
framework, methodology, role of principal investigator(s) and
collaborator(s), tentative project timeline, and plan for disseminating
findings. If the study is being conducted in partnership with a campus
basic needs unit, please describe this collaboration. A reference list (not
included in the 2,000-word limit) should follow the project description.
Proposals should be written in language accessible to non-specialists. The
research narrative is the most heavily weighted component in the review
process.

*Itemized Budget and Budget Narrative. *A detailed budget and budget
justification must be submitted with the proposal. The maximum budget for
proposals is $100,000. Please note that this funding is exempt from
Indirect Costs. Allowable use of funds includes the following:
● Personnel Salary/Stipend. Allowable for graduate and undergraduate
research assistants. The role of graduate and undergraduate research
assistants should be clearly defined. Funds may not be used for faculty or
staff salaries, stipends, or other types of payments, post-doctoral
researcher salaries.
● Participant Compensation. May include cash or gift card compensation.
Please check your campus regulations.
● Travel. Allowable for data collection/research purposes only, including
destination, purpose, estimated number of trips, economy-class airfare,
daily food and lodging expenses, and number of days covered. Applicants
must adhere to UC travel policies and obtain the most economical rates.
Expenses related to conference travel are not permissible.
● Research Materials. May include the acquisition of data (specify data)
and project-specific expendable supplies. Funding for general-purpose
equipment such as computers and video cameras is not permitted.

*Curriculum Vitae. *All principal investigators should provide abbreviated
2-page CVs or bio-sketch focusing only on relevant activities and
publications during the past five years.

*Appendices. *Applicants may include collaborators’ CVs and supplementary
study materials (e.g., questionnaires, detailed methodological procedures,
and letters of support from campus partners).


*Documentation of Compliance with Campus Institutional Review Board (IRB) *

Applicants must ensure that their research meets all federal and state
regulations, including those concerning human participants. IRB approval is
not required before submitting your grant application, but funds will not
be released until institutional approval is secured. The award expires 12
months from the date of notice of award, not from the date of IRB approval.
To avoid a delayed start time, please submit your proposals for IRB review
as quickly as possible. Applicants should consult with their Office of
Sponsored Research or its equivalent on their home campus to ensure
familiarity with requirements, and we encourage applicants to submit
proposals for review by their IRB prior to submission of their proposal if
possible.

*Reporting *

To facilitate widespread dissemination of findings, award recipients will
provide the Center for Economic Justice and Action (CEJA) with a final
report and presentation slides summary of their findings and participate in
virtual convenings of systemwide essential needs researchers and
practitioners. We encourage using publicly accessible language in all
materials and presentations.

*Quarterly Meetings. *Awardees will participate in 2-3 meetings to provide
updates on progress of their research and as an opportunity to connect
grantees with the UC community of essential needs researchers. At a final
webinar meeting, grantees will give 10-minute slide presentations of their
final results.

*Final Report. *Awardees will submit a final report (2,000 words)
summarizing core findings and recommendations within three months of the
grant’s end date. A list of presentations and publications from the funded
study should be appended to the report.

*Presentation Slides. *Awardees will prepare presentation slides
summarizing their study and share their findings via a virtual convening of
UC essential needs researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.

*Acknowledgement. *Submitted manuscripts and conference presentations
funded by this initiative should acknowledge this grant program and the UC
Essential Needs Research, Training, and Promising Programs Consortium.
Specific language will be provided to awardees.
CEJA maintains a web archive of projects. Final reports, presentation
slides, and published work from funded projects may be shared on the Center
for Economic Justice and Action website with awardee permission. We ask
that any published manuscripts and presentations after the reporting
deadline be reported to the Center for Economic Justice and Action (
ceja at ucsc.edu) <ceja at ucsc.edu> as they become available.


________________________________
UC Essential Needs Consortium at the
UCSC Center for Economic Justice and Action
University of California, Santa Cruz
economicjustice.ucsc.edu
ceja at ucsc.edu
instagram.com/ceja_ucsc
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