CFR

The Spencer Foundation invests in research to improve education, broadly conceived. We have identified a critical need for innovative, methodologically and disciplinarily diverse, large-scale research projects to transform education systems for equity. Importantly, we believe that ambitious research must begin with the challenges, problems, and opportunities in education systems. To stimulate research that addresses this need, the Spencer Foundation seeks to provide scholars and collaborators with the time, space, resources, and support to plan a large-scale study or program of research: geared toward real-world impact on equity; drawing on research across disciplines and methods; reliant on meaningful and equitable collaboration with practitioners, policymakers, communities, and other partners; and focused on transforming educational systems.

The Vision Grants program funds the collaborative planning of innovative, methodologically diverse, interdisciplinary research on education that contributes to transforming education systems for equity. Vision Grants are research planning grants to bring together a team, for 6 to 12 months, to collaboratively develop ambitious, large-scale research projects focused on transforming educational systems toward greater equity. This program takes as core that visionary, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research projects require time, space, and thoughtfulness to incubate and plan. Vision Grants are $75,000 total and two cycles of this grant program will be held annually.

Different from many of Spencer’s other programs, the proposal does not yet need to be a fully fleshed out research plan. Instead, this is an invitation to think forward about what research we need to transform education systems toward equity and then to envision how that systems-change will happen, utilizing research evidence. Teams are encouraged to reflect on the people who need to be involved from the beginning of the research design process, and how evidence from the eventual research study/studies could be used to actually transform systems.

Vision Grant proposals should identify the system(s) targeted for transformation and the levers the team thinks need to be engaged in order to work toward systems transformation. Proposals should also explicitly identify a research topic and initial thoughts about scope of the study plan for impact, collaborative process, and a team that will lead to a fully fleshed out research plan by the end of the grant period.

PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a Vision Grant if they have another active research grant from the Spencer Foundation or if they have another Spencer grant proposal in review.

Proposals are accepted from the U.S. and internationally. All proposals must be submitted in English and budgets must be proposed in U.S. Dollars.

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The Brady Foundation is currently accepting Research Project (RP) proposals and Existing Program Evaluation (EPE) proposals that have the potential to provide data that will inform how to address disparities in educational opportunities associated with race, ethnicity, and family income. Proposed projects may span up to three years. The aims for these program are as follows:

Existing Program Evaluation (EPE proposals)
The primary aim must concern evaluating the effectiveness of programs designed to promote positive cognitive and/or achievement outcomes for children (birth through 18 years) with the goal of informing ways to close the educational opportunity gaps associated with race, ethnicity, and income.

The secondary aims may also focus on one or more of the following:
What works for whom, under what conditions: Investigate variations in program effects; that is, test for moderation effects that inform whether effects are stronger for certain groups and/or under certain conditions than other groups or conditions.
Reasons for effects: Investigate mechanisms through which effects occur; that is, test for mediation effects that inform why the program is effective.
Cost-benefit analyses: Compare the total costs of the program (start-up and ongoing operational costs) with its estimated monetary benefits to determine the net cost or benefit associated with the program.
Research Project (RP) proposals
The Primary and any secondary aims must concern obtaining information that will inform how to address disparities in educational opportunities associated with race, ethnicity, and/or family income.

Stage 1 applications are due to the foundation no later than August 1, 2024.

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American public education prepares all students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to be active participants in a robust democracy and to be successful in the global economy. Under this program, Carnegie has the following Focus Areas.

1. Leadership and Teaching to Advance Learning. Improving systems of preparing, recruiting, and developing teachers and education leaders to serve the needs of diverse learners;

2. New Designs to Advance Learning. Developing whole-school models that provide more effective learning environments for diverse learners;

3. Public Understanding. Supporting research on strategies that can drive parent and family engagement in education;

4. Pathways to Postsecondary Success. Improving alignment in student learning expectations between K-12 and postsecondary education; improving postsecondary education

5. Integration, Learning, and Innovation. Advancing integrated approaches across the Corporation’s portfolios and the field that enable greater collaboration, coherence, and dynamism;

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