About Organisation
The Spencer Foundation is a distinguished national organization dedicated to investing in education research that cultivates learning and transforms lives. Since its establishment in 1971, the Foundation has maintained its position as a leading funder of education research, holding the unique distinction of being the only national foundation in the United States focused exclusively on supporting research in the field of education.
For over five decades, the Spencer Foundation has demonstrated unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge and understanding of educational processes, outcomes, and systems through rigorous research initiatives. The organization recognizes that high-quality education research is fundamental to improving educational practices, policies, and outcomes for learners across diverse contexts and settings.
The Foundation’s mission centers on supporting intellectually ambitious, methodologically sound research that addresses critical questions and opportunities in education. By providing financial support to researchers across various disciplines and methodologies, the Spencer Foundation enables investigations into pressing educational challenges and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. The organization accepts proposals from both domestic and international researchers, reflecting its commitment to advancing global understanding of education. Through its strategic grantmaking, the Spencer Foundation continues to shape the landscape of education research, supporting projects that have the potential to generate meaningful insights and contribute to the transformation of educational experiences and outcomes.
About the Grant
The Small Research Grants on Education Program provides financial support for education research projects with budgets up to fifty thousand US dollars for initiatives ranging from one to five years in duration. This field-initiated program accepts applications twice annually and does not restrict submissions to specific research topics, disciplines, designs, methods, or geographic locations, allowing researchers considerable flexibility in proposing innovative investigations.
The program’s primary objective is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that addresses the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. Projects must focus specifically on studying education and contributing to its improvement in the broadest sense. The Foundation seeks proposals that demonstrate methodological rigor, theoretical sophistication, and relevance to critical educational issues.
This funding opportunity is designed to support research activities exclusively, meaning proposals for program evaluations without significant research components, creation of professional development programs, curricula development, assessment tool creation, scholarships, capital projects, or software development are not eligible for consideration. The program emphasizes original research contributions that can advance understanding of educational phenomena, processes, and outcomes. Selected projects should have clear potential to generate new knowledge, inform educational practice and policy, and contribute meaningfully to the broader education research community’s understanding of teaching, learning, and educational systems.
Who can Apply?
Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators must hold an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or professional field to be eligible for this grant program. While graduate students may participate as research team members, they cannot serve as Principal Investigators or Co-Principal Investigators on proposals. This requirement ensures that research projects are led by individuals with advanced research training and expertise.
The Principal Investigator must be affiliated with a non-profit organization or public governmental institution willing to serve as the administering organization if the grant is awarded. Eligible administering organizations include non-profit or public colleges and universities, school districts, research facilities, and other non-profit organizations holding 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. For organizations located outside the United States, equivalent non-profit status is required. The Spencer Foundation does not provide grants directly to individuals.
Proposals must focus specifically on education research projects that aim to study education and contribute to its improvement. Activities without significant research components are not eligible, including standalone program evaluations, professional development program creation, curriculum development, assessment tool creation, scholarships, capital projects, and software development. Both domestic and international proposals are accepted, though all submissions must be prepared in English and budgets must be presented in United States dollars regardless of the applicant’s location.
How to Apply?
Applicants must submit complete proposals through the Spencer Foundation’s online application portal. The portal contains the full Request for Proposal document, optional appendices, information about the review process, frequently asked questions, and writing guides. All application materials and resources are accessible at the foundation’s online system. For questions, contact the program team at smallgrants@spencer.org.
Application Deadline
The full proposal deadline is December 15, 2025, at 12:00 pm (noon) Central Time. Submissions must be completed through the online application portal by this specified date and time.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
