Vision Grants
Spencer Foundation Vision Grants fund interdisciplinary teams to collaboratively plan innovative, equity-focused research projects aimed at transforming educational systems.
Funder: Spencer Foundation
Due Dates: August 12, 2026: Intent to Apply form deadline | September 16, 2026: Full Proposal deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $75,000 total for 12–18 months; no indirect costs permitted.
Summary: Supports teams in planning ambitious, equity-focused research to transform educational systems through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
Key Information: Intent to Apply form is required and must be submitted by the deadline to access the full proposal.
Description
The Spencer Foundation’s Vision Grants provide research planning support for teams aiming to develop large-scale, transformative studies focused on advancing equity within educational systems. These grants offer 12 to 18 months of funding to enable collaborative idea generation, critical review of existing research, and the design of new approaches to address systemic inequities in education. Emphasizing interdisciplinary research and meaningful partnerships with practitioners, policymakers, and communities, Vision Grants are designed to foster innovative thinking and the incubation of projects that can lead to transformative change. Grantees participate in a cohort-based learning series to support project development and collaborative planning. Notably, receiving a Vision Grant is a prerequisite for applying to the larger Transformative Research Grant program.
