[William T. Grant Foundation](https://wtgrantfoundation.org)

February 2027 (Full application deadline, projected)

$60,000 for doctoral students or $110,000 for postdoctoral fellows (2 years, includes up to 7.5% indirect costs); approx. 6 awards/year

Supports mentoring relationships and career development for junior researchers of color, while strengthening mentors’ skills and fostering diversity and inclusion in academic research.

--- ## Description This program supports mentoring relationships between established researchers (William T. Grant Scholars or major research grantees) and junior researchers of color—specifically Black or African American, Indigenous, Latinx, and/or Asian or Pacific Islander American doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows. The initiative aims to advance the professional growth and network-building of junior researchers and to enhance mentors’ skills in fostering equity, inclusion, and effective mentorship, especially across racial and cultural differences. The grant provides financial support, training, consultation, and access to a community of practice. Activities are designed to help mentees develop research skills, publication records, and professional networks, while mentors reflect on and improve their mentoring practices. --- ## Due Dates - February 2027 (anticipated full application deadline) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - $60,000 for mentoring a doctoral student (2-year grant, includes up to 7.5% indirect costs) - $110,000 for mentoring a postdoctoral fellow (2-year grant, includes up to 7.5% indirect costs) - Approximately 6 awards are made annually. - Funds may support the junior researcher’s stipend, tuition, conference travel, writing support, research training, and limited mentor expenses (excluding mentor salary). --- ## Eligibility - Mentor must be a William T. Grant Scholar or principal investigator of a major research grant from the Foundation with an active grant at the time of application. - The underlying research grant must not end or enter a no-cost extension in the same year as the application, nor be in a no-cost extension phase when the mentoring award begins. - Junior researchers must be full-time doctoral students (at least in their second year at the start of the award) or postdoctoral fellows who identify as Asian or Pacific Islander American, Black or African American, Indigenous, and/or Latinx. - Both mentor and mentee must be at the same institution (exceptions considered with strong justification). - Each Scholar/principal investigator may receive the award only once per grant. - Annual reporting for the primary grant must be up to date. --- ## Application Process - Applications are by invitation only. - Required application materials include: - Nominating letter from the mentor - Mentor’s statement (using Foundation template) - Abridged CV of the mentor - Junior researcher's statement (using Foundation template) - Junior researcher’s CV and a research-oriented writing sample - Professional development and research plan (joint, max 6 pages) - Budget and budget justification (using Foundation forms) - Letter of support from the mentor’s department chair - Applications must address both the mentee’s and mentor’s learning goals, planned activities, research agenda, and strategies for addressing challenges faced by researchers of color. - Submission instructions and templates are available on the [program page](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/funding/mentoring-grants#applicant-resources). --- ## Additional Information - The Foundation covers travel to required annual mentoring meetings (do not include in budget). - Separate confidential interim and final reports are required from both mentor and mentee. - Review criteria emphasize the quality of the mentoring relationship, the developmental potential for both parties, the alignment with Foundation focus areas (reducing inequality or improving the use of research evidence), and the feasibility and impact of the proposed plan. - See the [2025 Application Guidelines PDF](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-26-Mentoring-grants-application-guide.pdf) for detailed instructions. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Guidelines](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/funding/mentoring-grants) - [2025-26 Application Guidelines (PDF)](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-26-Mentoring-grants-application-guide.pdf) - [Mentor’s Statement Template](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mentors-Statement.2021-1.docx) - [Junior Researcher Statement Template](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Junior-researcher-statement-template-1.docx) - [Professional Development & Research Plan Template](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Professional-Development-and-research-plan.2026.docx) - [Budget and Budget Justification Form](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Budget-Guidelines-and-Justification-Form-Mar-2017-1.docx) - [Awarded Mentoring Grants](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/the-library/?_sft_format=grants&_sft_program=mentoring-grant) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Email | info@wtgrantfdn.org | | Phone | +1 212-752-0071 | | Address | 60 East 42nd Street, 43rd Floor, New York, NY 10165, USA | | Contact Page | [Contact Form](https://wtgrantfoundation.org/contact) |

Mentoring Grants

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