[Wake Forest University - The Program for Leadership and Character](https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu)

March 2027 (Capacity-Building Grants)

Up to $50,000 per grant; project duration typically 1 year

Supports U.S. colleges and universities seeking to build or expand institutional capacity for character education initiatives.

--- ## Description Capacity-Building Grants, administered by the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., are designed to help accredited U.S. colleges and universities strengthen their ability to educate and embed character within their unique educational contexts. These grants are particularly suited for institutions that are new to character education, developing smaller-scale or pilot projects, or planning for future, larger funding opportunities. The program aims to provide resources, strategic support, and institutional encouragement to integrate character development into curricula and campus culture. Grantees benefit not only from financial support but also from access to Wake Forest staff, fellows, and consultants for context-specific guidance. --- ## Due Dates - March 2027 (anticipated application deadline for Capacity-Building Grants) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: Up to $50,000 per institution - Typical project duration: 1 year Funding is intended to support discrete projects, capacity-building activities, or planning for future larger-scale initiatives in character education. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be accredited U.S. two- or four-year colleges or universities. - Cross-institutional networks may apply, but funds must be managed by a single institution. - Project leaders must hold (or be contracted to) a long-term faculty or staff position at the applicant institution. - Institutions at the early stages of exploring character education, or planning smaller-scale or pilot projects, are especially encouraged to apply. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted via the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) Grant Portal. - Required materials typically include: - Project narrative outlining goals, activities, and alignment with institutional mission - Budget and justification - Letters of institutional support - CVs or bios for project leaders - Detailed instructions and the most current requirements will be available on the [Capacity-Building Grants program page](https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu/eci/grants/capacity-building-grants/) as the next cycle approaches. --- ## Additional Information - Priority is given to proposals demonstrating strong institutional support, alignment with mission and values, potential for broad and lasting impact, and willingness to share knowledge with the broader community. - Grant recipients may receive additional support from Wake Forest staff, fellows, and consultants. - Examples of current and past grantees are available on the program website to illustrate the range of eligible projects. --- ## External Links - [Capacity-Building Grants Program Page](https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu/eci/grants/capacity-building-grants/) - [Educating Character Initiative Grants Overview](https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu/eci/grants/) - [2026 Request for Proposals (PDF)](https://prod.wp.cdn.aws.wfu.edu/sites/340/2025/09/ECI-Invitation-to-Community-and-2026-RFP-1.pdf) - [Wake Forest University - The Program for Leadership and Character](https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [ECI@wfu.edu](mailto:ECI@wfu.edu) | | Program Information | [Contact Page](https://leadershipandcharacter.wfu.edu/contact) | ---

Capacity-Building Grants

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