RCDC Roots and Wings Session I: Funding and Political Realities: Navigating Uncertainty as an Early Career Scholar

Social work research is political. Through systematic inquiry, we examine and challenge the very systems designed to produce and replicate inequities, interrogate the root causes of complex social conditions, and develop interventions to transform them. Yet, the political nature of this work also renders it uniquely vulnerable. Sudden shifts in the funding landscape—driven by changing political priorities and ideological battles—have left many early career scholars struggling to secure resources necessary for conducting research vital to the wellbeing of historically marginalized communities. These constraints do more than restrict academic freedom; they actively shape what is studied, how research questions are framed, and which methods are considered fundable. The result is a narrowing of scholarly inquiry at precisely the moment when bold, justice-oriented work is most needed. Early career faculty, already navigating the intense pressures of teaching, service, and national visibility, are often forced to pivot or abandon their research agendas to comply with university directives, appease federal requirements, and/or align with donor priorities. The highly competitive scramble for limited funding opportunities, particularly from private foundations and major donors, amplifies this precarity. Today’s session is designed to provide early career scholars with practical insights and collective strategies for navigating current funding and political realities without losing momentum or trading in your research agenda in the process.