Anticipated deadlines for the next cycle are now available, with preproposals projected for October 2026 and invited full proposals for January 2027. When forming your team, keep in mind the clarified eligibility rule requiring a researcher PI to partner with a practitioner or policymaker Co-PI, and vice versa. You will also need to include a draft budget, theory of change, and acknowledgment of the foundation's AI use policy during the preproposal stage.
Funder: Spencer Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026: Preproposal submission deadline (projected) | January 2027: Full proposal submission deadline (by invitation) (projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $400,000 total for up to 3 years; includes up to 15% indirect costs.
Summary: Supports collaborative education research partnerships to generate knowledge and drive equitable educational change.
Key Information: Application is a two-stage process: preproposal required, full proposal by invitation only.