Educating Character Initiative 2027 Institutional Grants
Educating Character Initiative 2027 Institutional Grants support U.S. colleges and universities with projects that embed moral, civic, or intellectual character formation in undergraduate education.
Funder: Wake Forest University – The Program for Leadership and Character
Due Dates: November 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET (Impact LOI) | December 15, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET (Capacity-Building application) | March 15, 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET (Invited Impact proposal)
Funding Amounts: Institutional Impact: $100,000–$1,000,000 over three years | Capacity-Building: up to $50,000 for up to one year
Summary: Supports U.S. colleges and universities in integrating moral, civic, and/or intellectual character formation into undergraduate education.
Key Information: ECI does not approve generative or assistive AI use in composing grant proposals.
Description
The Educating Character Initiative (ECI), part of Wake Forest University’s Program for Leadership and Character, supports character-centered institutional and cultural transformation in U.S. higher education. Founded in 2023 with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., ECI funds approaches adapted to each institution’s history, mission, culture, and students rather than requiring a single character framework.
Institutional Impact Grants support substantial, sustained integration of character into undergraduate curricula and programming. Capacity-Building Grants support initial exploration, smaller pilots, and preparation for larger funding opportunities. Projects may include curricular or co-curricular programming, faculty and staff development, character-focused resources, and assessment. ECI prioritizes institutional support, mission alignment, meaningful integration, preparation for engagement beyond campus, and sharing practical resources with other institutions. Recipients also receive context-specific support from Wake Forest staff and consultants.
