Arnold Ventures issues RFP
Arnold Ventures launched a transportation research RFP focused on public transit, passenger rail, and trucking policy impacts with LOIs due March 27 — an opportunity for policy research teams and evaluators. The timeline compresses the window for collaborators to assemble proposals and emphasize measurable policy outcomes. (x.com)
Arnold Ventures will notify LOI-invited applicants on April 10, 2026, invitees must submit full proposals by May 8, 2026, and award decisions are scheduled for May 26, 2026. (assets.arnoldventures.org)) Applicants must be U.S.-based organizations with an EIN and must submit LOIs through AV’s Transportation RFP applicant portal (the portal uses SurveyMonkey Apply). (assets.arnoldventures.org)) AV’s public FAQs state there is no set maximum budget and that proposal budgets should be well-justified; external grant listings flag a target/typical budget around $200,000 and suggest projects may run up to roughly 18 months. (arnoldventures.org)) The RFP’s LOI guidance asks for a project overview and proposed scope plus a study-team overview outlining roles and brief bios — early-stage materials should describe research approach, data needs, and primary outcome measures. (assets.arnoldventures.org)) AV’s FAQ confirms applicants may submit multiple, separate LOIs, that references do not count toward the four-page LOI limit, and that the funder typically takes about six months from LOI receipt to grant agreement execution. (arnoldventures.org)) The RFP explicitly welcomes projects relevant to federal surface-transportation reauthorization, state DOT reforms, or local/regional transit-agency and municipal reforms—proposals can span research, policy development, and implementation evaluation. (assets.arnoldventures.org))
