Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM - Henry Luce Foundation
Forecasted
Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM supports colleges and universities through aid for women students and professors, freeing campus funds to address barriers to women’s participation and leadership in STEM.
Funder: Henry Luce Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Initial applications) | September 2027 (Invited full proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to $750,000 over five years
Summary: Supports U.S. colleges and universities in removing structural and cultural barriers to women’s participation and leadership in STEM.
Key Information: Grant funds replace existing unrestricted institutional support for women’s salaries or financial aid, freeing institutional funds for campus change.
Description
The Henry Luce Foundation’s Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Program supports higher education institutions in addressing obstacles that prevent women from pursuing and thriving in STEM. Its goals include increasing women’s participation at every level of higher education, strengthening women’s leadership in the sciences, and creating more inclusive educational and work environments.
The program uses a funding-replacement model: CBL grants support existing women students and professors, while the unrestricted institutional funds released by that support finance strategies to improve the campus climate. Activities may include faculty and administrator training, institutional research, and course redesign. The 2026 competition focuses exclusively on barriers faced by women in Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics, with particular interest in community or public engagement, STEM leadership, and review of tenure practices.
