Problems of support of fundamental and applied scientific research in the socio-humanitarian sphere are discussed in an exclusive interview for the Polis. Political Studies journal, given by Vladimir Fridlyanov, Chairman of the Board of the Russian Foundation for Humanities, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Fund’s establishment. Such topics are discussed as history of the Foundation’s creation, its basic principles and guidelines, new forms of support of science, encouraging the scientific community to increase its participation in developing more effective ways of defining priorities in the grant policy and of assessing its results.