PSE/SEF Joint Research Grant Program
Call for Proposals – Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025
Exciting Announcement: PSE/SEF Joint Research Grant and Data Collection Opportunity
The Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE) National Educational Foundation, in partnership with the Sales Education Foundation (SEF), is pleased to announce the launch of its Inaugural Joint Sales Research Grant Opportunity. This initiative aims to foster groundbreaking sales research and further elevate the sales profession.
As a long-standing advocate for sales education, the PSE National Educational Foundation has consistently supported the development of students pursuing careers in professional sales. In addition to being the home of the Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management (JPSSM), the Foundation is also the new home for the Sales Education Foundation (SEF) and a proud, long time supporter of the National Conference in Sales Management (NCSM). These affiliations reflect our deep commitment to advancing the field of sales education and research.
Through this initiative, faculty and doctoral students have the opportunity to make significant contributions to sales research. Up to three grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to support data collection, research software, respondent fees, research assistants, and other essential research-related expenses.
This grant is designed to fuel innovation and collaboration in sales research, equipping academic and practitioner communities with the tools needed to drive new insights and advancements in the field.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
An independent Selection Committee, comprised of respected academic researchers and accomplished practitioners, will review all proposals. Committee members will evaluate submissions anonymously and base their decisions on merit alone. The decisions of the Committee are final.
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Innovation: Does the research offer a novel approach to solving relevant sales challenges or contribute new frameworks, methods, or insights to the field?
- Practicality: Can the research findings be applied by sales managers, executives, or front-line salespeople? Does it address real-world issues?
- Dissemination Potential: Is the research likely to reach a wide audience through journals, conferences, and practitioner channels?
Grant Recipient Responsibilities
Recipients will be expected to:
- Submit a final report or executive summary detailing their research outcomes.
- Demonstrate intent and potential to publish in the Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management (JPSSM) or another leading academic journal.
- Consider presentation of research during the National Conference in Sales Managment (NCSM) during the spring of 2026.
- Deposit the awarded funds into a recognized institution of higher education into an account designated for the research purpose.
Proposal Submission Requirements
Proposals must include:
- A one-page summary of the research.
- A statement of expected contributions to sales theory or practice.
- A brief review of directly relevant literature.
- A clear research question, hypotheses, and model, including rationale. 5. A detailed methodology, including:
- Participant qualifications
- Sample size and recruitment protocols
- Analytical methods
- A timeline with milestones and completion/deliverable dates.
- The vita(e) of the researcher(s).
- A detailed budget for how the funds will be used.
Formatting Guidelines
- Max 15 double-spaced pages of core proposal
- Up to 5 additional pages for appendices (e.g., questionnaires, pretest results)
- Maximum total: 20 pages including all figures, tables, and references
Submission Instructions
Submit your completed proposal via email to:
PSE National Educational Foundation
4811 S 76th Street, Suite 310
Greenfield, WI 53220
(414) 328-1952 | www.pse.org
Proposal Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025
Grant Selections Announced: January 15, 2026
Call to Action
We invite faculty members and doctoral students working with faculty, to apply for this prestigious opportunity to impact the field of sales education. Whether your research is conceptual or empirical, if it pushes the boundaries of current sales theory or provides practical solutions for the industry—we want to hear from you.
Don’t miss this chance to help shape the future of sales research. Submit your proposal by October 31, 2025!
Elevating the Sales Profession Through University Education
