Call for Grant Applications –
Small Research Grants on Education Program
About Organisation
The Spencer Foundation has been a prominent supporter of education research since 1971. It is the only national foundation exclusively dedicated to funding education research. The foundation’s primary goal is to invest in research that enhances learning and brings transformative changes to education.
By supporting rigorous and innovative studies, the Spencer Foundation contributes to a deeper understanding of educational challenges and opportunities. The foundation values diverse methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches, recognizing that learning occurs across multiple settings, from classrooms to workplaces, communities, and informal environments.
Through its grant programs, the foundation aims to foster intellectual curiosity, critical inquiry, and evidence-based solutions that influence education policy and practice. Spencer encourages research across disciplines such as education, sociology, psychology, law, economics, history, anthropology, and neuroscience.
By funding studies that offer fresh perspectives and meaningful contributions, the Spencer Foundation plays a crucial role in shaping the future of education worldwide.
About the Grant
The Small Research Grants on Education Program provides funding of up to $50,000 for education research projects lasting from one to five years. This program is field-initiated, meaning researchers have the freedom to propose studies based on their own ideas and methodologies, rather than responding to a specific research request.
The goal of the program is to support intellectually ambitious, technically sound, and impactful research addressing key educational issues. The foundation welcomes diverse methodological approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, ethnographic, historical research, and computational modeling.
The program encourages research that spans various disciplines and settings, including schools, universities, workplaces, families, and community contexts. Proposals that engage with practitioners, policymakers, or communities over time are highly valued.
Applications are accepted three times a year, and eligible investigators may also request additional supplemental funds for a course release. The program seeks projects that contribute to foundational knowledge and have a lasting impact on educational discourse.
Who can Apply?
To be eligible, proposals must focus on education research. Projects involving program evaluations, professional development, curriculum creation, scholarships, capital projects, or software development are not eligible.
Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs must hold a doctorate in an academic or professional field. Graduate students may participate in research teams but cannot be listed as PI or Co-PI.
The applying organization must be a non-profit or public institution capable of administering the grant if awarded. Eligible institutions include non-profit and public universities, school districts, research facilities, and other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in the U.S. or equivalent institutions internationally.
Applications are open to researchers from the U.S. and abroad, but all proposals must be submitted in English, with budgets calculated in U.S. dollars. The foundation does not provide grants directly to individuals.
How to Apply?
Interested applicants must submit a full research proposal before the deadline. Proposals should align with the foundation’s focus on education research and meet all eligibility requirements. Applications are reviewed three times a year.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting full proposals is April 16, 2025, at 12:00 noon Central Time.
Last Date to Apply
Applications must be submitted no later than April 16, 2025, as per the Spencer Foundation’s guidelines.
Grant Amount
Successful applicants will receive funding of up to $50,000 for education research projects lasting between one to five years.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
