Researchers, academics, charities and other organisations working on racial diversity, inequality and inclusion can now apply for grants of up to £500,000 each for research projects through the Nuffield Foundation’s Racial Diversity UK (RDUK) fund.
Applications are open, with a deadline of Monday 5 October. A second funding round will follow in autumn 2027, with both focusing on distinct themes addressing opportunities and challenges in building a more equitable society.
This year our theme is Inter-generational changes, continuities and challenges in a racially diverse UK. We are interested in the opportunities and challenges of the UK’s racially diverse future, how these change over generations, and how they are shaped by legacies of the UK’s colonial past.
At a time of significant social, economic and demographic change, the impact of, and relationship between, racial diversity and people’s experiences and outcomes across generations is central to understanding how the UK is evolving. Our new themes recognise that building an inclusive, prosperous and fair society requires deeper insight into these shifts. Through the RDUK fund, we’re looking to support ambitious research that explores both the potentials and the challenges, helping to create a more inclusive and equitable future.Liz Gilfillan, RDUK Programme Head
RDUK currently funds four projects:
- Decline to renewal: Race, deindustrialisation and working lives led by the Runnymede Trust
- Voices for equity: Moving from evidence to action, led by British Future
- Better mixing: Supporting Scotland’s diverse future, led by Migration Policy Scotland
- Racial equality since devolution: Divergences, outcomes and frontiers led by Professor Nasar Meer at the University of Glasgow
In late summer we will announce details of new projects recently awarded funding on the theme of migration, arrivals, and legacies as we continue to build a portfolio of impactful research.
The 2027 application round (with an expected deadline in October), will be on ‘The economics of racial diversity’.
Background to RDUK
The Nuffield Foundation’s new strategy supports projects that contribute to a racially just, fair, and inclusive society through both RDUK and our Main Grants fund
RDUK focuses on research that strengthens understanding, informs public debate, and helps shape policy and practice to address racial inequalities and discrimination. It supports work exploring how the complex histories and dynamics of race and ethnicity are shaping the experience and future of the UK’s increasingly diverse towns and cities. Grants are for projects lasting from six months to three years.
How to apply
Applications for the first founding round are open, with a deadline of Monday 5 October.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, particularly from individuals and organisations from racially minoritised communities, and we strongly welcome partnership proposals that bring together researchers and communities.
