Samuel B. Hanser Visionary Grant
Funds innovative research into how contemplative practices like meditation and mindfulness affect the body, mind, and spirit, encouraging interdisciplinary and first-person approaches.
Funder: Mind and Life Institute
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $25,000 per award; project period up to 2 years.
Summary: Supports innovative research on the effects and mechanisms of contemplative practices on body, mind, and spirit.
Key Information: Applicants must have attended the Mind & Life Summer Research Institute within the last 5 years.
Description
The Samuel B. Hanser Visionary Grant, administered by the Mind and Life Institute, funds innovative research projects that advance our understanding of how contemplative practices—such as meditation, mindfulness, compassion, and related disciplines—impact the body, mind, and spirit. The program honors the legacy of Samuel B. Hanser by supporting research that contributes to a more peaceful world. Projects may address a wide range of topics, including gratitude interventions, compassion training for youth, and strategies to reduce compassion fatigue among mental health professionals. The grant encourages rigorous, interdisciplinary approaches and values projects that integrate first-person contemplative methods with cognitive, behavioral, physiological, or socio-cultural research.
