About

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is inviting proposals for a research project focused on workforce retention in public-sector water utilities. The initiative seeks to systematically examine the factors influencing employee retention, including compensation, pension stability, mission alignment, schedule flexibility, leadership support, and career development opportunities. The project will identify and analyze barriers to retaining talent—structural, cultural, compensation-related, and organizational—and benchmark best practices from other sectors to assess their applicability within the water industry. Case studies of high-retention organizations will be developed to highlight replicable strategies and measurable success factors. Applicants may request up to $275,000 in WRF funding, with an anticipated project duration of 24 months from the contract start date.

Eligibility

Proposals are accepted from U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based entities, including educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, consultants, and other for-profit organizations. Researchers who are late on ongoing WRF-sponsored studies without approved no-cost extensions are not eligible to participate in this call.

Post Date: September 09, 2026