About the Program
The Spencer Foundation, known for providing funding for educational research, is seeking projects that are concerned with the broadest definition of education (from preschool to higher education, from non-formal learning to workplace training). The most important feature of the program is that it is "field-initiated"; that is, the foundation does not impose a specific topic, and the researcher applies with their own original question.
This is Not an "Implementation" Grant, but a "Research" Fund The most critical point that institutions wishing to apply should pay attention to is this: This fund is not for projects such as renovating a school, providing scholarships, or directly organizing educational seminars. The fund finances "research" processes that measure the effectiveness of an educational method, reveal educational inequalities with data, or test new learning models using academic methods.
Who can apply?
- Academic Institutions: Universities and institutes.
- Civil Society Organizations: Associations and foundations that conduct research in the field of education, collect data, or wish to base their advocacy activities on scientific reports.
- Principal Investigator (PI) Requirement: There must be a researcher with academic qualifications (preferably a PhD) leading the project.
Grant amount and rules
- Budget: Maximum of USD 50,000 per project.
- Duration: Between 1 and 5 years.
- Indirect Costs (Overhead): For this program, the Spencer Foundation does not pay institutions for "indirect costs" (rent, electricity, general administration fees, etc.). The entire budget must be spent directly on research activities (researcher salary, fieldwork costs, software, data analysis, etc.).
Detailed information: Spencer Foundation Official Application Page