Vision Grants - Spencer Foundation
Forecasted
Vision Grants from the Spencer Foundation support scholars and collaborators in planning large-scale education research to transform educational systems toward greater equity.
Funder: Spencer Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (Intent to Apply) | February 2027 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: $75,000 total for 12–18 months; no indirect costs
Summary: Supports collaborative planning for large-scale education research that transforms educational systems toward greater equity.
Key Information: The PI must have an eligible administering organization; grants are not awarded directly to individuals.
Description
The Spencer Foundation’s Vision Grants give scholars and collaborators time, resources, and support to plan ambitious, large-scale studies or programs of research focused on transforming educational systems toward greater equity. Teams draw on multiple disciplines and methods and collaborate meaningfully with practitioners, policymakers, communities, and other partners. This is a research planning program, not funding to carry out an already fully developed study.
Planning may explore new policies, pedagogical approaches, practices, or interventions; co-design approaches with communities and education partners; or prepare to study successful approaches across different settings. Proposals should identify the systems targeted for transformation and the levers needed to advance change, while considering prior research and its limitations. The emphasis is on the promise of the research to be developed and its potential for real-world impact.
