The Spencer Foundation invests in research to improve education, broadly conceived. There is 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. Different from many of Spencer’s other programs, the proposal should not 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 specific levers the team thinks need to be engaged in order to work toward systems transformation.
Proposals should also explicitly identify:
1) a research topic and initial thoughts about scope and methodological approach of the study,
2) the plan for impact, identifying the levers for systems change that will likely be engaged
3) the collaboration process, and
4) a team that will lead to a fully fleshed out research plan by the end of the grant period.
While the Vision Grant program stands on its own to spark research ideas and collaborations, being awarded a Vision Grant is also a prerequisite for applying to our Transformative Research Grant program (TRG, $3.5 million), which is designed for large-scale research projects that transform education systems for equity.
Restrictions
PIs and Co-PIs may not be part of more than one Vision Grant proposal (funded and/or in review). Additionally, a PI or Co-PI cannot be part of a Transformative Research Grant and apply for another Vision Grant, even if the topic is distinct. *Please note that these restrictions mark a change in policy from the first few cycles of the Vision Grants program.
Proposed budgets for this program are limited to $75,000 total and may not include indirect cost charges per Spencer’s policy.
The Vision Grant may not be longer than 12 months in duration.
Both PIs and Co‑PIs must hold an earned doctorate (PhD or professional equivalent); graduate students are not permitted as Co‑PIs except in specific programs like Vision Grants .
Grants are awarded to projects that are intellectually ambitious, methodologically sound, and conceptually driven, addressing fundamental education questions with significant potential for systemic impact .
Proposals lacking a strong theoretical framework or poor research design are typically filtered out early in review .
Projects should address pressing educational issues and have the potential for lasting impact on policy, practice, or discourse .
For Racial Equity and Transformative grants, proposals must go beyond documentation to actively reshape educational systems, center equity, and include collaboration with practitioners or communities.
Especially for Vision Grants, successful applications feature cross-method, multi-disciplinary teams working with practitioners, policymakers, families, and communities This fosters equity-driven, systemic change.
Budgets up to $50K for Small Grants must focus on direct costs; indirect costs permitted only for larger grants (> $75 K) at a cap of 15%.
Applications require an administering organization (typically a non-profit or university) that can manage funds and abide by financial rules
Reviewers evaluate the feasibility of the design, adequacy of timeline, budget appropriateness, and the potential of the research team to complete the study .
Applications undergo internal screening by staff, with only the strongest moving to external peer review .
For programs like Racial Equity, detailed external reviews consider significance, theoretical grounding, methodology, and equity focus.
✅ Summary Table
Success Factor | What You Need to Demonstrate |
---|---|
Doctorate-holding PI/Co-PIs | Ensure team is at the right academic level |
Theoretical strength & design | Frame research within a clear conceptual framework |
Mission alignment & impact plan | Show how it advances education and equity |
Collaboration & interdisciplinarity | Engage diverse voices (practitioners, policymakers, communities) |
Realistic budget & administrative home | Use funds wisely, secure institutional sponsor |
Feasibility & timeline clarity | Show you can actually do what you propose |
Peer-review rigor | Prepare for early-stage filtering and detailed feedback |
Articulate the “why”: Emphasize the importance and innovation of your question in education.
Build conceptual theory: Ground your research in theory and articulate clear connections to design.
Design thoughtfully: Include methods, sampling, data plans—with feasibility and scope matching your budget.
Engage networks: For transformative grants, demonstrate active partnerships with educators, policymakers, and communities.
Budget meticulously: Respect cost rules—small grants exclude indirect costs.
Prepare for tough review: Expect early screening—draft crisply and address potential weaknesses in advance.
Proposals to the Vision Grant program must be for planning research projects that study education and/or learning, broadly conceived, though they will more than likely include scholars and partners in other sectors and fields. Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Vision Grant must have appropriate experience or an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or terminal degree in a professional field. While graduate students may be part of the research team, they may not be named the PI or Co-PI on the proposal.
The PI must be affiliated with a non-profit organization or public/governmental institution that is willing to serve as the administering organization if the grant is awarded. The Spencer Foundation does not award grants directly to individuals. Examples include non-profit private or public colleges, universities, school districts, and research facilities, as well as other non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS (or equivalent non-profit status if the organization is outside of the United States).
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. However, the projects proposed in a Vision Grant proposal and in another Spencer grant program proposal must be distinct. *Please note that this restriction marks a change in policy from the first four cycles of the Vision Grants program.
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.
Note: All awarded Vision Grantees will have the option to apply for a Transformative Research Grant, with awards to carry out the planned research projects (budgets up to $3.5M). In addition to considering the development of a proposal for the Transformative Research Grant program, Vision Grant Awardees are also eligible to submit a proposal to other Spencer Foundation grant programs.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Spencer Foundation
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 625 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60611 312-337-7000
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Aug 13, 2025
Sep 17, 2025
$75,000
Affiliation: Spencer Foundation
Address: 625 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60611 312-337-7000
Website URL: https://www.spencer.org/grant_types/vision-grants
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