Character Virtue Development
Supports global research and programs advancing the scientific understanding and cultivation of character virtues, with emphasis on youth, intelligence, free societies, and formative experiences.
Funder: John Templeton Foundation
Due Dates: July 15, 2026: Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) submission deadline (11:59 PM EDT) | December 4, 2026: Full Proposal (FP) submission deadline for most proposals in the 2026 cycle
Funding Amounts: Most awards range from $200,000 to $3 million over 1–3 years; larger or smaller projects considered.
Summary: Supports global research and programs advancing understanding and development of character virtues, with emphasis on youth, intelligence, free societies, and formative experiences.
Description
This funding opportunity supports research and applied programs focused on the cultivation and understanding of character virtues such as humility, gratitude, curiosity, diligence, and honesty. The initiative funds not-for-profit organizations worldwide to develop, implement, or evaluate character development initiatives, particularly those engaging youth in supportive communities and diverse contexts (e.g., schools, sports, faith organizations). The program also encourages interdisciplinary research into the nature and development of virtues, aiming to catalyze scientific discoveries that inform future programmatic work.
For the 2026 funding cycle, priority will be given to projects aligned with one of three focus areas:
- Intelligence: Including collective intelligence and the future of intelligence (e.g., how virtues interact with artificial or collective intelligence).
- Character and Free Societies: Exploring agency-based character development and the role of institutions and incentives in shaping virtue.
- Formative Experiences: Studying character development in youth through structured experiences such as sports or intentionally designed growth programs.
Projects outside these themes will not be considered for funding in this cycle.
