The Spencer Foundation is dedicated to advancing research aimed at enhancing education in its broadest sense. Recognizing a critical need for innovative, diverse, and large-scale research initiatives to drive equity within education systems, the foundation emphasizes the importance of addressing challenges, problems, and opportunities inherent within these systems. To catalyze transformative research endeavors, the Spencer Foundation endeavors to provide scholars and collaborators with the necessary resources, support, and time to conceive and plan ambitious studies or research programs.
These efforts are specifically tailored to yield real-world impacts on equity, drawing from a variety of disciplines and methodologies, and fostering meaningful collaboration with practitioners, policymakers, communities, and other stakeholders. The foundation’s Vision Grants program specifically targets research planning, offering funding for teams to collaboratively develop ambitious, large-scale projects over a period of 6 to 12 months. This initiative recognizes that visionary, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research endeavors require dedicated time, space, and thoughtful planning to incubate effectively.
The Spencer Foundation Vision Grants Program represents a pivotal initiative aimed at fostering transformative research within the field of education. As a prominent philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing educational research, the Spencer Foundation recognizes the importance of addressing complex challenges and inequalities within education systems. To this end, the Vision Grants Program provides critical support to scholars and research teams seeking to develop ambitious, large-scale projects focused on transforming educational systems towards greater equity.
Central to the Vision Grants Program is the belief that visionary and interdisciplinary research endeavors require dedicated time, resources, and collaboration to incubate and evolve effectively. Recognizing this need, the program offers funding for research planning, enabling teams to come together over a period of 6 to 12 months to collaboratively develop innovative research proposals. This extended planning period allows scholars and collaborators the necessary space and support to refine their ideas, identify key research questions, and design comprehensive methodologies that address the complex challenges faced by education systems.
A distinctive feature of the Vision Grants Program is its emphasis on real-world impact and equity-driven research. Supported projects are expected to draw on a diverse range of disciplines and research methodologies, reflecting the multifaceted nature of educational systems and the need for holistic approaches to address equity issues. Moreover, the program encourages meaningful collaboration with practitioners, policymakers, communities, and other stakeholders, recognizing the importance of engaging diverse voices and perspectives in the research process.
Benefits
Vision Grants are $75,000 total and two cycles of this grant program will be held annually.
Requirements For The Spencer Foundation Vision Grants Program
Proposals to the Vision Grant program must be for planning research projects that study education and/or learning, broadly conceived, though they will likely include scholars and partners in other sectors and fields. Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Vision Grant must have appropriate experience or an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or terminal degree in a professional field. While graduate students may be part of the research team, they may not be named the PI or Co-PI on the proposal.
The PI must be affiliated with a non-profit organization or public/governmental institution that is willing to serve as the administering organization if the grant is awarded. The Spencer Foundation does not award grants directly to individuals. Examples include non-profit private or public colleges, universities, school districts, and research facilities, as well as other non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS (or equivalent non-profit status if the organization is outside of the United States).
PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a Vision Grant if they have another active research grant from the Spencer Foundation or if they have another Spencer grant proposal in review.
Proposals are accepted from the U.S. and internationally. All proposals must be submitted in English and budgets must be proposed in U.S. Dollars.
Method of Application
Visit The Official Website to Apply
Application Deadline: August 14, 2024.
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