WorkRise Request for Proposal and Information – Jun 29

Posted by Urban Institute on June 23, 2020

Request for Proposal and Request for Information

WorkRise, a research-to-action network for jobs, workers, and mobility, is launching a drive to rapidly develop and share actionable evidence on what works to shore up workers’ economic security during the COVID-19 crisis and promote their longer-term upward mobility as they rebuild their lives. This initiative will

• provide up to $2 million for research on pilot or existing programs, policies, and practices to rapidly develop rigorous evidence that can inform and drive effective action toward a labor market that boosts workers’ mobility;
• create a clearinghouse for innovative responses to the current labor market crisis taken by the private sector, civil society, and government; and
• elevate promising policies and practices to key decisionmakers, including philanthropic leaders; local, state, and federal policymakers; worker advocates; and business leaders.

To achieve these objectives, WorkRise is issuing both a request for proposals (RFP) and a request for information (RFI) to identify and accelerate innovative solutions—including programs, policies, and practices—that both provide immediate economic relief to struggling workers and create pathways for long-term economic security and upward mobility.

The RFP is designed for those with research projects in need of funding, while the RFI is designed for those implementing promising practices in need of additional support and/or research and evaluation. Both the RFP and the RFI are open to all: practitioners, policymakers, researchers, advocates, employers, and others. Select RFI respondents will be offered support in developing a response to the RFP that includes a research- or data-focused outcome and, where appropriate, additional program funds.

LOIs in response to the RFP are due by 11:59 p.m., June 29, 2020. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal (invitations will be sent on a rolling basis). Award decisions will be made on a rolling basis beginning in mid-July. Awards amounts are anticipated to range between $50,000 to $500,000 for a 12-to-18-month grant period.

Learn more and apply: https://www.urban.org/workrise/rfp-rfi