The International Science Council (ISC) is seeking applications from outstanding early- to mid-career researchers to serve as a Civic Science Fellow with a focus on science communication. Hosted virtually by the ISC, the 18-month Fellowship provides an opportunity to explore how multilateral organizations can communicate evidence more effectively in international policy processes and strengthen the role of science in multilateral decision-making.

person holding a pen and a piece of paper

Working at the interface of science, policy and communication, the Fellow will work with the ISC Secretariat, its global membership and international partners to analyze current practices, develop practical guidance and test new approaches to communicating scientific evidence in complex policy environments.

Fellowship details

Duration: 18 months

Host organization: International Science Council

Location: Remote (with a possibility of regular visits to the ISC headquarters in Paris and UN locations)

Start date: September 2026

Funding: A monthly stipend of about USD 5,000. This Fellowship is fully funded through the Rita Allen Civic Science Fellows program.

Jump to the application form

Deadline for applications: 16 August 2026.

About the Fellowship

Scientific evidence plays an increasingly important role in addressing global challenges, yet it is often difficult to communicate effectively in multilateral settings, where political, institutional and cultural considerations shape how evidence is received, understood and used.

This Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to work in one of the world’s most globally representative science organizations and to contribute to applied research and stakeholder engagement at the science–policy interface. The Fellow will engage directly with scientists, communication professionals, policy practitioners and international organization staff to identify effective approaches for communicating scientific evidence for policy uptake and translate these into practical tools and guidance.

The Fellowship will be hosted virtually by the International Science Council, subject to an arrangement agreed with the ISC. Regular virtual collaboration with the ISC Secretariat, Members and partners will be expected. The Fellowship will also include international travel to meetings, workshops and events.

Responsibilities

The Fellow will contribute to a programme of work that includes:

Mapping existing science communication practices, channels and audiences across selected international partners.

Conducting research on the information ecosystem in which scientific evidence is communicated and the factors that influence how science is communicated, interpreted and used in international policy contexts.

Identifying barriers and enablers for the uptake of scientific evidence in decision-making processes.

Analysing how evolving digital information environments, including misinformation and disinformation, shape engagement with scientific evidence.

Drawing on communication, behavioural and social science to identify effective approaches for communicating evidence to diverse audiences.

Developing practical guidance and resources to improve communication across science–society interfaces for scientific and multilateral organizations.

Supporting the piloting and evaluation of communication approaches through selected ISC initiatives and partnerships.

Producing high-quality analytical reports and publications.

Supporting outreach and engagement of relevant academic and practitioner networks.

Candidate profile

We welcome applications from researchers who are passionate about understanding how people engage with scientific information, how they interpret it, and to what extent it informs their decision-making, behaviours and worldviews. Areas of interest include public engagement with science, trust in science, misinformation and disinformation, behavioural change with applications including but not limited to climate change, public health or biotechnology.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Hold a PhD (or expect to have completed one before the Fellowship start date) in a relevant discipline.

Be able to undertake the Fellowship on a full-time basis for its full 18-month duration from September 2026 with a letter of support expected from the organization where the Fellow may be currently employed. It will be the responsibility of the Fellow to ensure that she/he can commit for the full duration of the fellowship and to make the necessary arrangements with his/her employer as necessary.

Sign a tripartite collaboration agreement with the Rita Allen Foundation and the ISC. The ISC will also enter into a contractual arrangement directly with the Fellow and the stipend will normally be paid to the Fellow directly.

Hold a valid passport and be able to undertake international travel as required by the Fellowship.

Be eligible to obtain visas for international travel where necessary. The Fellowship will involve occasional travel to international meetings and events, including in countries such as the United States.

Be available weekly on Tuesdays for 18 months from noon to 2:00 pm ET to participate in Learning Labs with the other Civic Science Fellows of the cohort, convened by the Rita Allen Foundation.

Applicants should demonstrate:

A strong track record of high-quality research and publications relevant to the Fellowship.

Demonstrated expertise in science communication, particularly in relation to public policy, international governance or the science–policy interface.

Experience working with, or advising, governments, international organizations, scientific organizations or other policy actors

A proven ability to translate research into practical guidance, tools or recommendations for policy and practice.

Excellent written and spoken English, with excellent communication and facilitation skills.

The ability to work independently while engaging effectively with a wide range of international stakeholders.

Experience leading interdisciplinary or international research collaborations, designing capacity-building activities, or working in multilateral contexts would be highly desirable.

Relevant scientific fields include:

Behavioural science

Cognitive science

Psychology

Science communication

Political science

Public policy

Risk analysis and interpretation

Decision science

Intersections of individual and collective action

The selected Fellow should be available to commence the Fellowship in September 2026.

What the Fellow will gain

The Fellow will have the opportunity to:

• Conduct applied research with direct relevance to international science policy.

• Work with the ISC’s global network of scientific organizations and partners.

• Engage with leading experts in science communication, science advice and multilateral governance.

• Become part of a global network of science communicators, experts, journalists to foster learning and professional development opportunities.

• Build experience at the intersection of research, policy and practice.

• Contribute to guidance and resources that support scientific organizations worldwide.

CLICK TO APPLY

Contact us

Phone: +33 1 45 25 03 29

Fax: +33 1 42 88 94 31

Email: secretariat@council.science

Disclaimer: Bridge Builders Hub is not affiliated with and does not represent ISC (the organization behind this Civic Science Fellowship). We are simply sharing this opportunity to help young people access fellowships, jobs, and other opportunities. Please do not contact us for guidance, application support, or updates regarding this process — all inquiries should be directed to the organization directly.

We do not solicit or accept bribes, favors, or any form of corruption in connection with any opportunity we share. Our mission is to serve young people by widening their access to genuine opportunities, nothing more.

Subscribe

The Resilience Fellowship is back and this time, we’re recruiting fellows from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya!

The Resilience Fellowship is back for its 5th instalment – this time, recruiting fellows from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya! Designed by youth, for youth, we’re offering spots to 12 pairs of East African changemakers (ages 18–28) for a powerful 9-month journey of growth, healing, leadership and resilience.

About the Resilience Fellowship

We’re inviting you to apply for our human-centred Fellowship – a space to deepen your activism, connect with like-minded peers and co-lead real change in your community.

This is a high-commitment, 9-month fellowship designed for passionate, grounded changemakers ready to dedicate time and energy to personal growth, peer leadership and community resilience. We’re looking for individuals who are fully committed to the full arc of the programme, including in-person events, weekly facilitation, ongoing mentorship and deep community work.

If selected, you’ll get:

• 5 days of deep restoration in nature at our Resilience Residential (with great food, meaningful conversations, and personal healing!)

• Certification as a Mental Health First Aider.

• New skills in facilitation, leadership, project management, and community care.

• Reduced climate anxiety, improved emotional wellbeing, and strengthened community bonds.

• 8 months of expert intergenerational mentorship.

• Reduced climate anxiety, improved emotional wellbeing, and strengthened community bonds.

• Lifelong friendships and a powerful support network.

• A KES 40,000 stipend, plus covered travel.

Share

The commitment

You’ll need to commit to:

• Completing a 2-day Mental Health First Aid online training

• Attending our 5-day, in-person Resilience Residential in full (31 July – 4 August 2026)

• Co-leading in-person Resilience Circles with 16–20 young people in your community (5–6 hours per week to prepare and facilitate weekly sessions over 8 weeks)

• Weekly preparation and reporting – submitting feedback and data after each session and touching base with the TRP team for about 30 minutes each week

• Monthly check-ins – joining community calls to share updates, troubleshoot, and grow

• Monthly mentorship – meeting with your assigned mentor for one hour per month

Should I apply?

Are you:

• Aged 18–28?

• Based in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda or Tanzania?

• Available from July 2026 – March 2027 to commit time for training, facilitation, mentorship and reporting?

• Ready to apply with a partner? (You’ll both be trained up to run Resilience Circles together in your local community. Therefore we’re looking for applications from pre-formed pairs who already work well together.)

• Passionate about climate justice and building strong, emotionally resilient communities?

• A great listener, a compassionate leader-in-the-making, and excited to support others?

• Open to exploring climate anxiety, burnout, and emotional wellbeing?

• Proficient in English?

Inclusion matters: We believe climate justice is intersectional. That means we actively encourage applications from marginalized communities, including youth with lived experience of inequality related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic background and faith. We welcome and honour complexity here.

How do I apply?

Download our application booklet for detailed instructions on how to apply. You will be expected to prepare all your answers in advance before submitting them to our online form (linked on the final page of the booklet).

Applications close at 11:59pm EAT, Sunday 31st May 2026.

Download Application Booklet

Follow Us on WhatsApp

Deadline Apr 30 2026 11:59 PM (EDT)

Description

Refugees International is excited to announce a call for applications for the next cohort of its Fellowship Program, set to start in August 2026. This unique virtual fellowship focuses on enriching and supporting the existing advocacy efforts of forcibly displaced leaders around the world. Our program is tailored to maximize the growth of our fellows and the impact of their work. The year-long program will ensure that fellows receive support for the advocacy goals they are pursuing. Refugees International is committed to providing the necessary tools, resources, and access to amplify displaced people’s perspectives and drive change in the advocacy landscape.

Fellows will be formally affiliated with Refugees International. They will collaborate closely with Refugees International staff to support their advocacy work, through publications (internally and externally), direct advocacy with policy makers, participation in international donor and policy forums, and/or media interviews.

Throughout the fellowship, fellows will partner with Refugees International and benefit from peer-to-peer learning opportunities with other cohort members. Fellows will also receive comprehensive training on advocacy strategies, communication skills, fundraising, and public speaking from Refugees International staff members and external experts, in addition to opportunities for informal training.

Eligibility and Application:

The fellowship is open to applicants from all countries. However, priority will be given to individuals working in regions, countries, and on themes that align with Refugees International’s current advocacy priorities. These may include contexts where Refugees International is actively engaged or where there are critical gaps in refugee and displacement-related advocacy that the organization seeks to address.

Refugees International is an independent organization that does not receive funding from governments or United Nations agencies. As a result, applicants currently working for government institutions, United Nations agencies, and philanthropic foundations, are not eligible for the fellowship.

Priority countries:

Anticipated priority countries for Refugees International's advocacy during the fellowship period include the following hosting countries and countries of origin:

Afghanistan

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Burma/Myanmar

Colombia

Costa Rica

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Ethiopia

Iran

Kenya

Lebanon

Mauritania (Climate Displacement)

Mexico

Mozambique

Palestine (Gaza and West Bank)

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Syria

Uganda

Zambia

Other countries hosting Rohingya refugees

Priority themes:

Women and Girls

Labor Market Access, Economic Inclusion, and Development Finance

Resettlement and Complementary Pathways

Meaningful Refugee Participation (Power Shifting)

Climate Displacement and Adaptation

These countries and themes are not exhaustive; they reflect priority areas for the upcoming year and may evolve depending on the context.

Duration: Aug 1, 2026 to July 30, 2027.

Fellows will receive a $15,000 grant in four quarterly installments throughout the year, for working up to seven hours a week.

Key Components of the Fellowship:

Technical Training: Enhancing skills such as public speaking, advocacy planning, and fundraising, or other themes tailored to meet the needs of the fellows.

Professional Networking: supporting fellows to network with figures in the humanitarian field, fostering professional relationships and collaborative opportunities.

Collaborative Advocacy Events and Trips: Offering opportunities for partnership with Refugees International on key advocacy issues through collaborative events and research trips.

Refugees International acknowledges the complexities and challenges that may emerge for professionals working in humanitarian settings, particularly for those with lived experience. The fellowship offers optional access to customized mental health support services upon request.

With financial support from Refugees International, fellows will be expected to:

Time Commitment and Accountability: Fellows are expected to work up to seven trackable hours per week with the Refugees International team. They should ensure they have sufficient time to prioritize fellowship tasks and remain accountable for meeting deliverables and program objectives.

Participate in Regular Meetings: Attendance at regular meetings is a must for staying aligned with the program’s objectives and collaborative efforts.

Attend an In-Person Retreat: If feasible, fellows will participate in an in-person retreat, with details to be agreed on with the fellows.

Publish at Least One Publication: Each fellow is required to publish at least one piece of written work during their fellowship, which could include a statement, policy brief, op-ed, report, or similar publication.

Plan and Conduct a Field Research Trip: If feasible, fellows should organize a field research trip in collaboration with Refugees International aimed at supporting mutual advocacy efforts.

Participate in Regional or/and Global Refugee-Related Events: If feasible, fellows will take part in one or more regional or/and global events addressing refugee issues.

Fellowship Accountability:

Refugees International will conduct mid-year performance reviews with all fellows. If fellows are found not to be meeting the fellowship objectives and deliverables, Refugees International reserves the right to suspend the fellowship.

Language Proficiencies:

English proficiency is preferred to ensure fellows can fully engage with Refugees International’s work and collaborate effectively with staff. Competency in other key advocacy and local languages is also valued. Applicants with limited English proficiency will still be considered.

Digital Access:

This is a remote program, so candidates must have their own computer and internet access to participate.

Eligibility for Grant:

Fellows must have a bank account to which the grant can be transferred in adherence with U.S. law.

How to Apply:

To apply, applicants must complete an application form and submit the following:

Answers to two short-essay questions (400 words each)

A CV/Resume

Three professional references

A brief work plan for the fellowship year

Candidates will be invited to panel interviews between late May and early July.

To apply:

For first-time applicants:

Click the "Apply" button, then select "Register" at the top right corner of your screen to create an account. Once your account is set up, you can begin your application.

If you’ve applied before:

Just click "Log In" at the top right corner to access your account.

Important Note:

Applications created using AI tools (including AI-generated personal statements, essays, or work plans) will be denied. Refugees International values authenticity and is committed to selecting fellows based on their genuine voice, experiences, and perspectives.

Apply

Copyright © BridgeBuildersHub | 2026 | bridgebuildershub@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

The International Centre for Peace, Human Rights and Development Africa (IPHRD-Africa), in collaboration with the Clingendael Academy invites young enthusiastic peacebuilders from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia who are passionate about youth inclusivity in conflict mediation initiatives within their countries to register their interest for this training program.

The Youth and Young Women Leaders Mediation and Regional Advocacy Initiatives project seeks to build and enhance the mediation capacities of young men and women who are in leadership position in Horn of Africa to prepare them to effectively engage in mediation efforts in their communities, at track 1, 2, and 3 levels of mediation. The project will work with youth and especially young women between the ages of 18-30 years. The Mediation and Negotiation Skills for Youth and Intercultural Communication is part of this project with this year’s focus on Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia.

NOTE :

A maximum of 1 representative per organization/network will be able to participate.

IPHRD-Africa value and welcomes your authenticity in the application process, Please do not submit AI generated responses.

By joining this Training on Mediation and Negotiation, selected youth will:

Enhance their negotiation and mediation skills, making them more effective peacebuilders.

Applications

The call for applications for the Training on Mediation and Negotiation is for young men and women from selected countries who are implementing peace initiatives at local, national and regional level. The training will be a combination of expert presentations, case studies and interactive simulations to improve Participant’s skills, coupled with sharing experiences and good practices sessions.

Career coaching session

Objective

To strengthen the capacities of youth to contribute to Conflict prevention, Mitigation and resolution of conflicts in their communities hence contributing to Sustainable Peace and Development.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this training program, applicants must:

• Be nationals of Kenya , Ethiopia, South Sudan ,Sudan and Somalia.

• Applicants should be fluent in spoken and written English

• Applicants should commit and be able to actively participate in all the activities of the project. Besides the training, other aspects of the project include participating in learning and exposure events on mediation and related fields

• Applicants must have a demonstrable plan on how to utilize the skills, knowledge gained from the project and mobilize youth voices, and youth issues for Advocacy and Policy engagements.

• Applicants should demonstrate ability to work in multicultural groups, and be respectful of Diversity.

• Must be working with a peacebuilding organization and leading a peace project in their context.

• Must be familiar with peace and conflict context in the area they are working in.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit the following documents in order to be considered for this program:

1. An updated CV/Resume (No more than 3 pages)

2. A motivation statement clearly outlining educational background, past experiences, ability and how you plan to mobilize youth voices and youth issues in your country and why you believe you should be selected for this program

3. Two recommendation letters from people who can speak on your experience, achievements and work ethic.( One from employer and the other from someone who could speak about your work).

4. Essay 1 on Mediation Maximum of 1000 words

5. Essay 2 on Youth Leadership , a maximum of 1000 words

6. Brief Bio about yourself and your most recent photo

Criteria for Selection

A selection committee at IPHRD-Africa will be formed to review the submissions received applications on the following criterion:

1. Ability to clearly demonstrate track record of engagement in interventions contributing to peace building. (10 marks)

2. Ability to mobilize the youth and local community in relation to peace processes. (20 marks)

3. Understanding of the peace processes happening in your country or region.(30Marks)

4. Ability to engage with policy makers at the National Level and regional level(10 marks)

5. Platforms/ structures to engage young people beyond IPHRD-Africa support( 30 marks)

Africa’s future depends on bold ideas, strong research, and young leaders willing to confront the climate crisis. Across the continent, communities are already facing the impacts of climate change—from food insecurity and extreme weather to rising urban pressures. Yet within these challenges lies an opportunity for a new generation of African scholars and innovators to lead the way.

If you are passionate about climate action, sustainability, and research that can shape Africa’s future, this opportunity may be for you.

Applications are now open for the Africa Climate Collaborative Fellowship, a fully funded postgraduate program hosted by the Africa Climate Collaborative at the University of Ghana, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

This fellowship is designed to empower emerging African climate scientists, researchers, and policy leaders who are committed to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the continent.

Subscribe now

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is open to African youth aged 18–35 who are pursuing:

• Master’s degrees

• PhD programs

• Postdoctoral research

Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing climate challenges and advancing sustainability across Africa.

Key Research Areas

Applicants working in climate-related fields are encouraged to apply, particularly those focusing on:

• Renewable energy

• Sustainable agriculture

• Urban sustainability

• Climate policy and governance

• Climate and health

• Indigenous knowledge systems

• Social vulnerability and climate resilience

These research areas aim to address some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges facing African communities today.

What the Fellowship Offers

The fellowship provides comprehensive support so scholars can fully focus on their research and leadership development. Benefits include:

• Full tuition coverage

• Research funding and academic mentorship

• Accommodation

• Monthly stipend

• Access to a collaborative academic network

Scholars will also engage with a broader research community that includes leading institutions such as the University of Cape Town, Makerere University, and the University of Cambridge.

Inclusion and Equity

The program strongly encourages applications from:

• Women

• Persons with disabilities

• Individuals from displaced or refugee backgrounds

By prioritizing inclusion, the fellowship seeks to ensure that diverse voices and lived experiences shape Africa’s climate solutions.

Follow Us on WhatsApp

Application Deadline

31 May 2026

Why This Matters

Africa needs researchers, innovators, and leaders who are ready to rethink how we respond to climate change. Opportunities like this fellowship not only support academic growth but also strengthen the continent’s capacity to develop sustainable solutions driven by Africans themselves.

If you are committed to climate resilience, research, and leadership, consider applying.

Please share this opportunity widely so more young African changemakers can access it.
Apply if you qualify—and encourage others to apply.

#ClimateAction #Scholarships #AfricaClimateCollaborative #ClimateLeadership #AfricanYouth #ResearchOpportunities #BridgeBuildersHub

Apply here

The scholarship combines financial support with a leadership programme that will challenge you, grow you, and connect you to young African changemakers - just like you.

See if you qualify

The leadership development programme

Our programme is built on our founding principles of reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and a belief that leadership begins with inner transformation. We aim to keep Nelson Mandela’s legacy alive by equipping young African leaders with the competence and courage to transform the continent into a place where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. Our programme is delivered primarily through a series of week-long residential workshops which you will attend during your time in residence.

Financial support

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship offers comprehensive funding for the core costs associated with your studies. It covers tuition for a one-year Honours degree or a two-year Masters degree in any field at a recognised South African institution of higher education. This includes tuition and registration fees, allowances for study materials, research, and medical aid, accommodation and meals, personal allowance and economy class travel to and from your home country to your South African university at the beginning and end of your degree.

See how to apply

Take the test

How are Mandela Rhodes Scholars selected?

We look for young leaders who aspire to the principles below and who have demonstrated the potential to live them out.

Leadership

Do you aspire to be a visionary leader who has moral authority? Do you see leadership as more than just personal ambition - as a way to pursue the advancement of equality and freedom, human rights and human dignity? And do you want to guide and inspire others to reach their full potential?

Reconciliation

Do you believe that reconciliation - combined with reparation - is the key to harnessing an imperfect past to develop a more just world? And are you prepared to start the process by looking at your own internal landscape?

Education

Do you have excellent academic results but believe that your education should not only benefit you but make a difference for others? And do you agree that intellectual excellence must be accompanied by character and a rounded personality?

Entrepreneurship

Do you want to see Africa take its rightful place as an equal and competitive presence in the global world? Have you demonstrated individual effort, innovation and creativity to this end?

Read the Characteristics sought in a Mandela Rhodes Scholar.

Are you ready to grow?

To benefit from our programme you must be curious about doing the personal, internal work of leadership. This means a commitment to developing self-awareness by engaging with difficult parts of yourself, an openness to learning from the diversity and differences in your cohort, and a willingness to explore and embrace complexity within yourself, others, and the systems around you.

For scholars from outside South Africa...

Important: Applicants from outside South Africa may need to complete SAQA verification to start their studies at a South African university. Please see the relevant FAQs and the information under “Step 3: Get your documents ready” below.

FAQs

Funding and finances

What costs are covered?

What costs are not covered?

How do the finances work?

Passports and visas

Does the MRF provide support and assistance with my visa process?

Your application form states that I have to submit a copy of my passport. I do not have the means to acquire a passport, can you assist me?

The application process

How do I apply?

What is the application deadline?

Do I apply for SAQA verification now?

Studies and university acceptance

Do I have to study in English?

Where can I study?

Do I have to apply to a university before completing the application form?

Does the MRF apply to the university for me?

How do I know if I meet the entry requirements for the course I want to complete in South Africa?

Eligibility questions

Do I need straight As?

Is there an age limit?

I am a citizen of an African country outside of South Africa. Am I eligible?

What courses of study do you support?

Do you fund undergraduate study?

Can I apply if I am only completing my undergraduate degree this year?

Questions about the programme

How long is the tenure of the Scholarship?

Is it mandatory to participate in the leadership development workshops?

How to apply

Our applications timeline runs from March to November of each year, for the following year’s intake. You will apply online, and access our application platform through our website. Subscribe to tips and alerts

Applications for 2027 will close
14 April 2026

Join Us on WhatsApp

Step 1: Check the timeline

Step 2: Check programme requirements

Step 3: Get your documents ready

Ready? Let’s go!

See if you qualify

Apply now →

Arcus’ two grantmaking strategies prioritize 12 focus countries for LGBTQ social justice, and landscapes spanning 20 focus countries for ape conservation and well-being.

Our Grantmaking

We are dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. We work toward that vision through our LGBTQ Social Justice and Great Apes & Gibbons programs, which have distributed more than 2,000 grants to more than 500 organizations in more than 50 countries.

Grant amounts range from small, one-time contributions to larger, multi-year investments, with the majority falling between $100,000 and $150,000 per year. All grants are awarded to initiatives or organizations that are clearly aligned with our program strategies and goals. The grantmaking process typically takes between two and six months from application to decision.

To be considered, an applicant must be registered as an organizational entity with legal standing. We do not make grants to individuals, or for lobbying purposes, election campaigns, or medical research.

To see whether your project or organization aligns with our program goals and strategies click below:

Great Apes & Gibbons Grantmaking

How To Apply – Great Apes & Gibbons Grants

The foundation’s grantmaking is managed through Fluxx, a secure, user-friendly, cloud-based system. If your organization is eligible for an Arcus grant, the next step is to start your application. The steps below describe the grantmaking process and estimated timeframes associated with each stage.

1. Submit an Initial Funding Concept (IFC) – The first step in submitting an initial request for funding or a concept is to use our online system. Clicking on the link at the bottom of this page will bring you to a short form within our grantmaking portal. Once received, your request will be directed to the appropriate program staff for review and you can expect to hear from us within three to four weeks.

2. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and Full Proposal – If your organization’s work aligns with our values, strategic priorities and Equal Employment Opportunity requirements, your organization may be invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry, and a subsequent Full Proposal, which includes the submission of additional organizational and project-specific documentation.

3. Proposal review and funding determination – The LOI and Proposal review may include program officers, directors, vice presidents, the executive director and the board of trustees. Arcus program and grants management staff will be in contact with you during this process and will notify you of the final decision.

Apply Here

Social Justice Grantmaking

Arcus approaches its social justice grantmaking in a manner that respects the wisdom, power, and self-determination of LGBTQ communities.

We distribute grants that build the long-term resilience of our partners so that they remain resolute in advancing justice, often in the face of ongoing violence, inequity, and exclusion.

Currently, Arcus’ Social Justice Program primarily makes grants through an invitation-only application process. Unsolicited requests for funding will not be considered at this time.

Organizations that are invited to apply for funding are done so based on their exceptional alignment with our goals and geographic priorities, and to address strategic opportunities. When applications have strong alignment with our strategy, we prioritize long-term grants in the form of general operating support over short-term, project-specific support.

Occasionally, and on an as-needed basis, Arcus’ Social Justice Program will issue public calls for applications (Requests for Concepts or RFC) through our website, social media, and email distribution lists. Any qualified organization may respond to an open call, including current and former Arcus grantees and organizations with whom we have not previously worked.

The most recent general Social Justice RFC was closed in 2019. An open call to organizations based in 11 countries across East and Southern Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean closed November 15, 2022. To be notified of any future open calls and to receive periodic Arcus Foundation updates, please sign up below.

Application Criteria

An organization may submit only one application in response to any open call or invitation, either on its own or in collaboration with other groups. The scope of work may be local, national, regional, or international. To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Geographic Focus
All applicants must be able to show the impact of intended work on one or more of Arcus’ 12 priority countries within focus areas of Africa and the Americas.

2. Legal Standing
United States-based applicants must have a non-profit, tax-exempt status recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Alternatively, organizations may apply through a fiscal sponsor with such a status. Applicants outside the United States must be able to receive international funds through a registered entity in their home country.

3. Organizational Experience
Applicants must be able to demonstrate a minimum level and number of years of organizational operations.

Application Process

The foundation’s grantmaking is managed through Fluxx, a secure, user-friendly, cloud-based system. The application process takes approximately two to six months and has three stages:

STAGE 1 – Application
Whether in response to a public call for concepts or an invitation to apply, all applications begin with applicants answering a set of questions.

STAGE 2 – Request for Proposals
Applicants considered most highly aligned with the guidelines and priorities of the program are asked to submit a proposal. Stage 2 involves an internal assessment and, when needed, dialogue with the applicant, taking into consideration a range of factors (see below).

STAGE 3 – Decision
Applicants are notified directly about the outcome of their proposal. Awards are shared publicly four times per year. We look for:

• Self-determination, demonstrated by initiatives led from within the society or community an applicant seeks to influence, devised in open consultation with, and with accountability to, local LGBTQ communities;

• Concepts related to one or more of the priority geographic focus areas;

• Cross-sector or cross-movement alliances working toward one or more of Arcus’ goals

Follow US on WhatsApp

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the adidas Foundation, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) invite organizations from Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala to apply for participation in the Sport and Safer Communities Initiative. This Initiative supports organizations in Latin America that seek to strengthen social cohesion, prevent violence and foster peacebuilding by integrating Sport for Development (S4D) approaches.

Subscribe now

Summary of the initiative

The project enables organizations active in peacebuilding, violence prevention and community development to adopt and apply sport-based methodologies within their existing work.

A core element of the Initiative is a structured peer-learning approach that connects organizations with established S4D expertise with organizations seeking to integrate S4D as a new or complementary instrument. Through participation in a Community of Learning, selected organizations benefit from mutual learning, capacity strengthening, technical support, knowledge exchange and catalytic grant funding to pilot, adapt and embed S4D approaches within their programs and organizational structures. The Initiative particularly encourages applications that focus on children and young people in contexts affected by violence, exclusion and social fragmentation.

We encourage organizations with strong local presence and commitment to inclusive, conflict-sensitive approaches to apply.

The Sport and Safer Communities Initiative aligns with the adidas Foundation’s Moving for Change programme, with the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, and GIZ’s project “Sport for Development”, uniting their efforts to leverage sport for sustainable development.

How to apply

Before considering application, we ask all candidates to please carefully read the Terms of Reference.

Please note: The official Terms of Reference are only available in Spanish

• Direct your applications to: dpd@giz.de

• Use the subject line: Deporte para la paz

• Submit a document of maximum two pages indicating interest in participating in the Learning

• Community, motivation to implement a Sport for Peacebuilding project, motivation to acquire knowledge and/or strengthen expertise in Sport for Development and/or peacebuilding, and a brief organizational profile highlighting relevant project management experience.

• All legal and administrative supporting documents listed in the annex (according to country of application), which will serve as input for evaluation.

• Applicant organizations are requested to name all application documents uniformly, using the following mandatory format: CoL_S4D_[OrganizationName][DocumentType][Country]_2026.pdf

• All documents must be submitted in PDF format.

• No file may exceed 10 MB.

• Documents with names that do not follow the required format will not be accepted.

• All documentation must be submitted in Spanish.

Applications for the CoL must be submitted exclusively by email to dpd@giz.de. Expressions of interest received after the specified deadline will not be considered (final deadline: 16 March 2026 at 11:59 pm Colombia Time.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact dpd@giz.de. Email subject line: Deporte para la paz.

Follow Us on WhatsApp

ASICS Foundation has announced a grants program and is receiving applications until April 30th, 2026.

ASICS Foundation recognizes the limited access to safe, inclusive, and sustainable physical activity and sports, especially for people facing economic and social difficulties. Considering the unique issues and circumstances in the regions below, we will provide up to 5 million yen annually for a maximum of three years to Non-profit organizations that promote sports activities aimed at addressing the challenges faced by economically and socially disadvantaged youth, individuals with disabilities, and women.

Currently, we are focusing our grant programs in countries and regions where ASICS operates or has production bases, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Cambodia, and Japan.

· Youth: India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia

· Individuals with Disabilities: Japan

· Women: India

Examples:

1. Activities aiming to build peaceful local communities by helping children achieve physical and mental well-being through exercise and sports, while acquiring essential life skills.

2. Activities promoting inclusive coexistence in communities by creating accessible environments for individuals with disabilities to enjoy exercise and sports, including instructor training and ongoing support.

3. Activities implementing gender-inclusive sports programs in regions with gender disparities, ensuring participants experience safe and psychologically comfortable sports environments, and aiming to correct gender inequality.

Application

Apply Here

Application Period： March 1 - April 30, 2026, 23:59 (JST)

Application Procedure:

• Download the application form from the  ASICS Foundation’s official website. 

• Organizations planning activities outside of Japan should select and apply for Course A. 

• Complete the application form with all required information and attach the necessary documents to submit your application.  

• Submit all documents in PDF format. 

• The application can be submitted in Japanese or English

Dateline: 30 Apr 2026

2027 Grant Application Call

Contact Email: ahq-foundation@asics.com

Follow us on WhatsApp

Develop practical, digital training for farmers, processors, and start-ups.

STREAMING invites organizations from Africa and Europe to apply for the Open Call for Knowledge Transfer, offering €25,000 per grant to fund in total 11 digital training projects that strengthen sustainable food trade systems.

We seek research institutions, universities, NGOs, industry partners, vocational institutions, and innovation hubs to design interactive, practice-oriented courses connecting researchers with farmers, producers, start-ups, and public health actors.

A key priority of this call is women’s empowerment. Courses should adequately target women farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, and/or innovators.

Topics of the Call

The call focuses on training for innovations in:

Traceability in the food supply chain

Life cycle assessment

Nutritional requirements

Reducing micronutrient deficiencies

Food waste reduction

Sustainable farming systems

Food safety

Scaling innovations in food supply chains

Who can Apply

Eligible Third Parties include:

Research institutions & universities

NGOs & industry partners

Innovation hubs, business schools, vocational colleges

Consortia across Africa and Europe

At least 60% of the funding will support African Third Parties, with special encouragement for women-led organizations and female innovators.

Applicants may come from any country, not only STREAMING partner nations.

The Open Call Kit provides all essential information and documentation required to prepare and submit a proposal under this call. It is intended to guide applicants through the entire application process – from understanding the call objectives to fulfilling formal submission requirements. The necessary documents for the submission of a proposal are displayed down below.

Open Call for Proposals, e. the official publication notice.

Knowledge Transfer Call text, this document.

Proposal template, word document to be submitted as a PDF in the application phase.

Declaration of Honour (DoH), a mandatory statement confirming the applicant’s eligibility and compliance with the call’s rules.

Consortium Agreement, document mandatory for applying consortia.

Declaration on double funding for recipients, to be signed at proposal submission as well at the end of the project.

Applicants are strongly advised to read all documents carefully before submitting their proposal.

Follow us on WhatsApp for more opportunities

If you have any administrative questions about the application process, please contact us at the following email address: STREAMING@bayfor.org

Click here to APPLY

Copyright© BBH2025

EPIC-Africa has officially launched the African CSO Awards 2026, a continent-wide initiative designed to recognize civil society organizations (CSOs) and individual leaders advancing community-led development (CLD) across Africa.

The awards aim to shift philanthropic attention from traditional measures of organizational visibility or size toward the impact and ingenuity of grassroots actors shaping African communities.

Under the theme “Celebrating Community-Led Development,” the 2026 edition challenges conventional definitions of excellence, emphasizing local ownership, measurable impact, and sustainable solutions.

Organizers say the awards offer philanthropic actors a unique lens to identify high-impact initiatives and to channel resources where they can create the most meaningful change.

“For too long, recognition has been reserved for those with the most visibility or resources,” said Rose Maruru, Co-Founder & CEO of EPIC-Africa.

“With this launch, we are honoring the extraordinary ingenuity of African CSOs and reaffirming that the future of African development lies in the hands of African communities.”

Reclaiming the Narrative: Local Action at the Core

Across Africa, civic space is under pressure and international aid is increasingly unpredictable.

Despite these challenges, local organizations are demonstrating resilience and creativity, delivering solutions that respond directly to the needs of their communities.

The African CSO Awards 2026 explicitly celebrate CLD, a model that channels decision-making, influence, and resources directly to those closest to the challenges they face.

Drawing on African traditions such as Ubuntu and Harambee, CLD emphasizes collaboration, collective responsibility, and solutions grounded in local realities.

For the philanthropic community, this approach highlights a key insight: locally driven initiatives are often the most sustainable and impactful, especially when supported by funding, visibility, and capacity-building opportunities.

The awards position donors, foundations, and impact investors to identify high-potential CSOs that can maximize community-level outcomes.

Five Categories Highlighting Ecosystem-Wide Change

The 2026 awards recognize the diversity of African civil society through five categories:

Doers: Frontline CSOs co-creating and delivering solutions grounded in local realities.

Supporters: Organizations strengthening the capacity and resilience of grassroots actors.

Enablers: Institutions shaping policy, research, and enabling environments for local action.

Emerging Leaders: Individuals under 35 leading innovative initiatives.

Lifetime Achievers: Visionaries whose long-term commitment has strengthened civil society.

By acknowledging both organizational and individual contributions, EPIC-Africa provides philanthropic partners with insight into actors who might otherwise be under the radar.

This ensures that funding and support can reach innovators capable of generating meaningful, scalable change.

Inclusive Process and Long-Term Philanthropic Value

Entries are open to all African-rooted CSOs, regardless of size or sector, with submissions accepted in English and French.

The selection process includes three stages: an open call, an evidence-building phase where shortlisted entrants document impact through case studies and testimonials, and evaluation by an independent jury of African experts.

All participants gain automatic access to the African CSO Platform, a digital hub connecting CSOs with peers, funders, policymakers, and collaborators.

Organizers stress that this provides immediate philanthropic value, creating opportunities for networking, partnerships, and visibility, even for those who do not win.

Applications opened on January 19, 2026, and will close on February 28, 2026.

Winners will receive recognition, capacity-building support, and opportunities to connect with donors, foundations, and policymakers, amplifying the reach and sustainability of community-led initiatives.

The awards aim to redefine how philanthropy recognizes excellence, demonstrating that transformative change comes from local leadership and grassroots innovation, not just from the most visible or well-resourced organizations.

For more information or to submit an entry, visit: https://apo-opa.co/4jK9f4Q.

About EPIC-Africa

EPIC-Africa is a Senegal-based organization dedicated to enhancing philanthropic impact by addressing critical data and capacity gaps.

The organization supports a vibrant, influential, and sustainable African civil society, positioning local actors at the center of Africa’s development.

More information: https://EPIC-Africa.org

Follow Us for more Opportunities:

📲LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-builders-hub/

📲Substack: https://substack.com/@bridgebuildershub

📲Telegram: https://t.me/BridgeBuildersHub

📱Instagram: https://instagram.com/bridgebuildershub

The Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC 2026), led by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group Campus, is now accepting applications from impact-driven social entrepreneurs in East Africa. This hybrid acceleration programme supports founders whose ventures address energy transition challenges through social or environmental impact solutions.

Apply here: https://afd.wiin.io/en/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica

WHY JOIN THE SOCIAL & INCLUSIVE BUSINESS CAMP (SIBC) EAST AFRICA 2026 TOWARD ENERGY TRANSITION ?

As countries in East Africa pursue clean energy access, energy efficiency, and sustainable systems, impact entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in accelerating locally rooted solutions. SIBC provides a structured platform where founders can strengthen business models, prepare for scaling, and connect with networks and potential funders — all while advancing meaningful solutions in energy transition.

Since its launch in 2017, SIBC has supported nearly 350 entrepreneurs across Africa, helping them scale up operations, improve social performance, and prepare for investment.

Who Should Apply (Eligibility)

Applicants should be social and/or environmental impact entrepreneurs based in one of these East African countries:

• Kenya

• Uganda

• Rwanda

• Ethiopia

• Tanzania

To qualify, organisations typically need to demonstrate:
Legal registration in the eligible country
At least three years of active operations with a scalable project focused on energy access, clean cooking, renewable energy, energy efficiency, or related sub-sectors
A proven impact mission and ambitions to grow beyond current reach

SIBC prioritises ventures that are ready to expand, measure impact, and strengthen pathways to sustainable scale.

Application Details

Apply here: https://afd.wiin.io/en/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica
Deadline (extended): 26 January 2026

Follow Us on WhatsApp

Eligibility criteria: Who can apply?

✊Commited and available impact entrepreneurs :

• Applicants have high responsibility positions within their structure (strategic and operational decision-making power).

• Participants are available for regular pedagogical and networking activities during e-learning and in-person events in their country and for the Bootcamp in Nairobi, Kenya.

📑 A clear legal framework and formal structure:

• A private legal entity: companies, associations, entrepreneurship support organizations, and cooperatives.

• Legally registered with the competent national authorities.

📌 Strong territorial anchoring in East Africa:

• Established and active in at least one of the following 5 countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, or Ethiopia.

• Demonstrates at least 3 years of activity or continuous legal existence in its country.

🌍Potential for sustainability and scaling-up:

• Operates a significant commercial activity (sale of goods or services), even if complemented by grants.

• Shows scaling-up potential: has considered or already started expanding into new territories to amplify impact.

🙌 A mission with a strong impact on the energy transition and shared values:

• The organization should also be contributing to the energy transition in at least one of the following five key themes: access to energy (on grid/off-grid), clean cooking solutions, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy sufficiency.

• Have a strong social and environmental mission (demonstrated in the majority of activities and/or registered in the statutes).

• Led by governance and/or a team reflecting principles of inclusion, particularly through the presence of women or underrepresented profiles in leadership positions and/or within the organization, and/or clear policies and practices promoting diversity and equal opportunities.

⛔ Will not be eligible:

• Individual applications (without legally registered structure)

• Structures under 3 years old

• Structures not contributing to the Energy Transition

• Structures with NO business model, NO income generation, or only dependent to grant

• Public and semi-public institutions

• Structures at the project stage (without first income, prototype or proof of concept)

Application process:

The application must be completed on this platform and consists of:

• An application form to complete (questions about the project leader, the company, its structure, its impact and its scaling strategy)

• Proof of the legal registration of the company (registration document, statutes, etc.)

• Financial statements of the last 3 years (or if younger company, since its creation)

• Detailed CV of the project leader

• If desired, a pitch-deck or video-pitch

• Any other relevant supporting documents.

Requirements to join the program:

• The applicant must be the founder, co-founder, executive director, or at least in a position to make strategic decisions for the organization.

• Participants should ensure reliable internet access to follow the training under good conditions.

• Participants must commit to dedicating sufficient time to the program between January 2026 – June 2026 (indicative), with an average of ~2 hours per week.

• Awardees are expected to remain actively engaged within the SIBC community and to support future cohorts (e.g., mentorship).

📅 Tentative timeline:

• October 17th – November 30th: Application period.

• January 26th 2026 (11:59 PM EAT): Application deadline (extended).

• January 25th – January 30th: Selection process.

• February 2nd: Announcement of selected participants.

• February: Program kick-off.

• Mid-may 2026: Bootcamp in Nairobi, Kenya, with participation to the Africa-France Summit.

🙋 Information session

One online information sessions will be held in October in English.

👉 Stay tuned on our social media for the official dates and participation details!

✨ Don’t miss the opportunity to ask your questions and learn more about the SIBC 2026 East Africa Energy Transition.

• CONTACTS

• Q&A

• 📋 RULES & REGULATIONS

Rules and regulations - Call for applications

Social & Inclusive Business Camp - East Africa Energy Transition

Article 1 – Presentation of the programme

Created in 2017 by the Agence Française de Développement, AFD, the Social & Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) brings together and supports entrepreneurs with a positive impact in Africa (social, environmental, inclusion...) to prepare for their scale-up phase. More than just a training course, the SIBC brings together an active and dynamic community of entrepreneurs who are agents of change, and thus promotes networking, collective intelligence and peer-to-peer sharing.

All information about the Social & Inclusive Business Camp is available on the website www.socialbusinesscamp.fr

Article 2 – Purpose of the Call for Applications

The purpose of the call for applications is to select the entrepreneurs who will form the cohort participating in the SIBC East Africa Energy Transition program.

The selection of candidates will be carried out by the French Development Agency (AFD) :

Agence Française de Développement, RCS PARIS B 775 665 599. Adress : 5 rue Roland Barthes, 75598 Paris Cedex 12, represented by Campus Groupe AFD.

Eligibility requirements for applicants:
Applicants must:

• Hold a high-responsibility position within the organization with which they are applying;

• Belong to an organization legally registered in one of the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda;

• Belong to an organization that has been active for at least 3 years;

• Demonstrate a balanced business model or a medium-term profitability objective;

• Demonstrate proven social and environmental impact in the field of Energy Transition in East Africa;

• Present a clear willingness to scale (nationally and/or internationally), with a strategy to maximize positive impacts;

• Belong to an organization that promotes inclusive governance, emphasizing diversity and the representation of women or other underrepresented profiles.

The following are not eligible for the program:

• Individual applications (without a legally registered organization);

• Structures less than 3 years old;

• Structures that do NOT have a clearly demonstrated social and environmental mission in the field of energy transition;

• Structures that do NOT present an economic model or income generation, or that rely solely on grants;

• Public and semi-public bodies.

• Structures at the project stage (without first revenues, prototype or proof of concept)

Participation in the call for applications is free of charge.

To submit their application, candidates must complete and validate, by November 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm (CET – France time), the online application form available on the Wiin platform for the SIBC: https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc-energytransition-eastafrica.

Deadline has been extended to January 26th 2026.

AFD reserves the right to close the call for applications before the set deadline once at least 150 eligible applications have been received.

For further information, a FAQ is available to address the main questions, and applicants can also contact the program by email at sibc.programme@gmail.com.

Article 3 – Calendar

• October 17th – January 11th : Application period

• January 26th 2026 (11:59 pm UTC+2 = EAT): Application deadline (extended)

• January 25th – January 30th : Application review and selection

• February 2nd : Announcement of selected participants

• February : Program kick-off

• Mid- May 2026: Bootcamp in Nairobi, Kenya

We recommend that applicants ensure they can be available in the first second quarter of 2026 for the bootcamp in Nairobi.

In any case, the schedule is subject to change by the program organisers in case of major events or events beyond the control of the organisers. In this case, these changes will be made known to the public and to the applicants on the call for applications platform, or to the selected participants if the event occurs after the closure of the call for applications.

Article 4 - Terms of participation

Only natural persons can participate in the Social & Inclusive Business Camp.

Applicants, also referred to as “project leaders” or “applicants”, represent their structure and must be founders, co-founders, managers or at least in a position to take strategic and operational decisions for the structure.

Applicants for the call for applications must meet the eligibility criteria and obligations set out in the present rules and regulations.

Article 5 – Description of the selection process

To participate in the program, the applicant must:

· Complete the application form with questions about the project leader, the structure, the project, its impact and its scaling strategy.

· Tick the box relating to his or her commitment to actively participate in the entire programme.

· Provide evidence of legal registration of the structure.

· Provide the structure’s financial statements for the last three years.

· Provide the detailed CV of the project leader.

Applications completed by applicants to the programme as well as the deliberations of the juries are confidential. Persons having to know the contents of the applications are bound by the strictest professional secrecy.

The organisers have the right to refuse incomplete applications.

The organisers and juries associated with the programme cannot be held legally responsible for the protection of ideas, patents, files, models or trademarks invented by the candidates.

Application review process:

1. A first review by the organizers to identify eligible applications and reject non-compliant ones;

2. A second review and scoring of eligible applications by jury members, based on pre-established evaluation criteria;

3. Eligible and scored applications are presented to a selection committee that validates the final cohort. The selection committee is led by the Agence Française de Développement, which chooses its members from among the programme’s partners.

Organizers reserve the right to contact applicants whose submissions lack clarity, in order to request additional information.

Indicative evaluation criteria include (non-exhaustive list):

• Innovative nature of the proposed solution;

• Business model potential and scaling strategy;

• Social and environmental impact and contribution to the Energy Transition.

Article 6 - Applications

The application form is available on https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica from October 17th to November 30rd, 2025. The Campus Group AFD reserves the right to close the call for applications before the official deadline, depending on the number of applications received. The call for applications will close upon receiving 150 eligible applications or by November 30th, 2025, at the latest.

Application forms must be completed online starting October 17 at 12:00 pm (GMT+2). The application deadline might be extended in case of insufficient number of applications.

Deadline has been extended to January 26th 2026.

Applications are only accepted in English.

Once a candidate account is created, applicants may log back into their application at any time until final submission. Only complete applications will be considered.

Application files must be fully completed and include all required documents (proof of legal registration, financial statements, detailed CV of the project leader). Any incomplete application will be rejected and therefore not validated. Applications will be transmitted to jury members.

If you choose to fill out the form manually, you must ensure that all responses are clear and legible.

Eligible applications will be compiled into a dossier and presented to the selection committee, which will choose the final cohort. To ensure maximum objectivity, applications will be evaluated twice before final scores are consolidated.

Article 7 - Verification of Application Eligibility

The eligibility of applications is validated by the program organisers based on the information submitted through the online form and the supporting documents.

Article 8 - Evaluation of Applications

The quality of each application is evaluated by panels of examiners invited by AFD, who will have access to the content of the online forms but not the supporting documents. Each application will be reviewed by several examiners who will each assign a score, based on three evaluation criteria: Innovation, Impact, and Development Potential. The examiners will likely be a mix of AFD Group staff, experts, actors from entrepreneurial ecosystems in Africa, and program alumni.

Article 9 – Selection Committee

The committee will be chaired by AFD and will be composed of a representative of the AFD Campus, the SIBC programme coordinator and possible representatives of institutions invited by AFD.

Eligible applications are sent to the members of the selection committee at least one week before the committee meeting. Each jury member reviews the applications and the pre-established grades prior to the meeting.

The committee is a time for discussion and deliberation around the applications in order to agree on a cohort of 50 participants. This final selection takes into account the overall balance of the cohort: grades, genders, nationalities, etc.

Jury members are sovereign in their decisions and are not obliged to give reasons for their decisions, which are without appeal.

Article 10 – Announcement of winners

Selected entrepreneurs are notified by e-mail and/or telephone between early January and mid-January.

Eligible candidates but not selected into the program are also notified by e-mail.

The cohort will be officially announced on the SIBC website and social networks after confirmation of availability to participate.

Article 11 – Commitment of applicants

By submitting an application, each participant agrees to:

• Read and fully accept these regulations, without reservation.

• Provide only accurate and verifiable information in their application file. Any false, misleading, or unverifiable information may lead to immediate disqualification, cancellation of selection if already confirmed, and, where applicable, a demand for reimbursement of any funds received.

• Refrain from reproducing or using the brand name, company name, logo, or any distinctive sign belonging to a third party without prior authorization, and from infringing on privacy rights, image rights, or intellectual property rights (copyrights, patents, trademarks, etc.). Each applicant expressly guarantees the organizers against any claims from third parties related to non-compliance with these rules.

• Commit to fully participating in all components of the program: e-learning modules, mentorship, Bootcamp (in Nairobi, Kenya).

• If selected, expressly authorize the organizers to use and disseminate their name, surname, image, city, and country, as well as information about their project and activities, on all media (print, digital, internet). Applicants also accept that photographs and videos may be taken during the program and distributed freely, without compensation, exclusively for program-related communication purposes.

• If selected, participate in communication and press activities related to the program and respond to journalist requests arranged by the organizers.

• For a period of one year after the end of the program, keep the organizers informed of their organization’s progress and major achievements to contribute to the SIBC’s impact monitoring.

A contract of agreement will be submitted to the selected candidates in order to agree on the terms and conditions of participation in the bootcamp, including the minimum threshold for participation in the programme.

Article 12 – Responsibility

The organisers cannot be held responsible for any telecommunication problem, connection difficulties, etc.

Participation in the programme implies knowledge and acceptance of the characteristics and limitations of the Internet.

Consequently, the organisers cannot be held responsible under any circumstances, without this list being exhaustive:

· for the transmission and/or reception of any data and/or information on the Internet;

· for any malfunction of the Internet network preventing the proper conduct/operation of the call for applications;

· for the loss of any data;

· for the consequences of any virus, computer bug, anomaly, technical failure;

· for any damage caused to a candidate’s computer;

· for any technical, hardware and software failure of any kind that prevented or limited the possibility of participating in the programme or damaged a candidate’s system.

It is specified that the organisers cannot be held responsible for any direct or indirect damage resulting from any interruption or malfunction for any reason whatsoever, or for any direct or indirect damage that would result, in any way whatsoever, from a connection to the platform https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc-energytransition-eastafrica

It is the responsibility of each applicant to take all appropriate measures to protect his or her own data and/or software stored on his or her computer equipment against any attack. The connection of any person to the platform https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica as well as their participation is done under their full responsibility.

Article 13 – Bootcamp Provisions

• Coverage of Participation Costs

Participation in the program is not fully covered; a contribution from participants is required.

The following costs are covered by the organizers:

Accommodation for the full duration of the Bootcamp;

Some of the meals;

A participation to travel espenses up to EUR 500 might be granted as scolarship.

The following costs are not covered:

Per diem or daily allowances (no per diem will be provided);

All personal expenses and extras (local transportation outside planned activities, meals taken outside Bootcamp hours, additional hotel charges, etc.).

• Each participant is responsible for the validity of their passport and visa procedures, if required. The organizers will provide administrative support (invitation letters, certificates, etc.) but cannot be held responsible for visa refusals.

• Participants are expected to respect session schedules and punctuality. A respectful and professional attitude is required toward other participants, trainers, speakers, and the organizing team. Any inappropriate behavior, including harassment (moral, sexual, or discriminatory), may lead to sanctions, including immediate exclusion from the Bootcamp.

• Attendance at all scheduled sessions is mandatory. Participants are expected to actively contribute to collaborative activities, workshops, and co-development sessions. Any absence must be reported and justified in advance.

• Participants must comply with safety instructions given by the organizers and/or local authorities. Each participant remains responsible for their personal belongings and valuables.

• By participating in the Bootcamp, entrepreneurs accept that photos, videos, and testimonials may be collected and used for program communication and promotion.

Article 14 – Disqualification

The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any candidate whose actions or words in the context of this programme are indicative of inappropriate behaviour towards other candidates, organisers, or partners including bad faith, lack of fairness, etc.

Article 15 – Consultation of the rules and regulations

The present rules are available on request to the organiser by e-mail at sibc.programme@gmail.com and can be consulted on the platform https://afd.wiin.io/fr/applications/sibc2026-energyeastafrica, under the heading “Rules and regulations”

Article 16 – Personal information and right of access

In accordance with the provisions of Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to computers, files and freedoms, participants have the right to access and rectify the information provided by contacting:

Agence Française de Développement

5 rue Roland Barthes, 75598 Paris Cedex 12

Article 17 – Personal data

The personal data concerning candidates collected in the context of the call for applications are compulsory and necessary for the processing of their application and the management of the operation.

The processing of these personal data is justified by the legal basis of carrying out pre-contractual formalities, which are measures prior to the signature of a contract and which facilitate the conclusion of a contract.

The personal data are intended solely for the use of the programme organisers, the associated consortium members, the Agence Française de Développement and the members of the selection committee.

Sensitive information about the applicants’ structures will be disclosed to the evaluation juryies’ examiners. However, the examiners will not have access to the personal information of the project owner.

Persons with access to the files are bound by professional secrecy with regard to this data. However, the organisers shall be authorised by the participant to communicate data concerning him/her to subcontractors and/or service providers for management purposes relating to the programme. The information communicated in the context of the programme shall be used solely for the purposes of the programme.

No other use of personal data will be made. No profiling will be carried out and, more generally, no automated decisions will be taken on the basis of the data collected.

Furthermore, no commercial use will be made of these data.

The storage period of personal data will be limited to the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which they were collected, namely the selection of candidates to participate in the SIBC programme. These data will not be retained after the programme has ended.

The organisers undertake, with regard to the persons concerned, to take all useful precautions to preserve the security of the information and in particular to prevent it from being communicated to unauthorised third parties.

The personal data may give rise to the exercise of the right of access, rectification, opposition under the conditions provided for by Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to computers, files and freedoms by writing to: Agence Française de Développement, 5 rue Roland Barthes, 75598 Paris Cedex 12.

Participants may also exercise their rights to the removal, limitation of processing, portability of their data and define guidelines applicable after death, by writing to the address indicated above. Any participant also has the right to file a complaint with the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL).

Article 18 – Miscellaneous provisions

In the event of circumstances beyond their control, the organisers of the Social & Inclusive Business Camp reserve the right to postpone, shorten, extend or cancel this programme without being held liable for this. For the purposes of these rules, the Covid-19 pandemic and the governmental measures that relate to it and/or are the consequence of it constitute circumstances beyond their control.

Similarly, the organisers of the Social & Inclusive Business Camp cannot be held responsible for any changes affecting the terms and conditions of the program.

Any modification of the present rules will come into force from the moment they are put online and any candidate will be deemed to have accepted them by the simple fact of participating in the programme, from the date on which the modification comes into force.

Any violation of these rules will result in the cancellation of participation in the programme and the reimbursement of any sums paid, without any possible claim by the candidate.

In the event of a dispute relating to the provisions of the present rules or the application of the latter, the difficulty raised will be settled by the Agence Française de Développement, the programme’s sponsor.

Failing this, only the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris will be competent to hear and rule on this difficulty.

This is a hybrid support program, which includes:

✅ 6 months of online coaching on a dedicated platform, combining interactive virtual classes with international experts and self-paced learning resources.

✅ 1-week intensive bootcamp held in Nairobi (Kenya) — a unique immersion designed to deliver a transformational experience and multiply your impact, with a participation to the Africa-France Summit.

✅ Mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur, former participant to the SIBC program, with additional support from experts within your ecosystem or AFD Group.

✅ Networking opportunities, with integration into an active international community of nearly 350 impact-driven entrepreneurs, as well as direct connections with investors and financial partners during the Bootcamps.

Subscribe now

The program is structured around 5 key themes:

🧐 DIAGNOSE | Entrepreneurs will question and challenge their social and/or environmental mission, clarify their vision and purpose, and use diagnostic tools (such as the Business Model Canvas, Scale Me Up…) along with personalized coaching.

🌟 INSPIRE | This module encourages entrepreneurs to draw inspiration from nature and the principles of life (respecting environmental limits, fostering inclusivity, adopting collective approaches). It also focuses on building leadership and entrepreneurial posture, with special attention to women entrepreneurs.

🌱 SCALE | Preparing for growth is a crucial step to ensure the sustainability of a project. This may involve geographic expansion, increasing social and/or environmental impact, or developing new partnerships. Entrepreneurs will access tools to measure/evaluate their impact and strategies to communicate effectively about their project.

💸 FINANCE | Which funding for which needs? How to hybridize your business model? What are investors and donors looking for? These are some of the key questions explored in the “Finance” module.

🤝 COOPERATE | This block will help entrepreneurs develop their projects by harnessing the power of the collective. It will enable them to identify the right partners in a complex ecosystem, leverage collective intelligence to generate innovative ideas, and pitch their impact-driven projects effectively to investors and funders.

What’s new for this edition:

✨ A mixed cohort of 50 project leaders - 10 from each of the 5 countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia)

✨The first edition focused on ENERGY TRANSITION, with 5 eligible sub-sectors : access to energy (on-grid/off-grid), clean cooking, renewable energy, energy sufficiency, and energy efficiency.

✨ A strong emphasis on maximizing the social and environmental impact of projects.

✨ A reinforced presence in all five program countries, with local partners actively supporting entrepreneurs alongside online training.

✨ An in-person Bootcamp in Nairobi (Kenya) to meet peers from the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, experts, investors, and scale up action capacity.

APPLY HERE

Call for Proposals

28th Call for Proposals

Thriving Farmers, Resilient Ecosystems, Empowered Communities

At the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), we invest in transformative, high-impact projects that empower smallholders and strengthen the communities they sustain. Our goal is to align commercial success with environmental regeneration and social inclusion — enabling farmers to access high-value markets, adopt climate-smart practices, add value locally, and protect biodiversity.

We envision value chains where technology empowers people, SMEs thrive, and the prosperity they create flows equitably to smallholders, workers, and their communities. When local enterprises grow, so too should the income, dignity, and resilience of those who cultivate the land and nurture our shared ecosystems.

OUR MISSION

To contribute to poverty alleviation by strengthening the income-generating capacity of commodity producers and mitigating vulnerability to their economic well being.

OUR VISION

To strengthen and diversify the commodity sector in developing countries and transform it to be a major contributor to poverty alleviation and sustained economic growth and development.

The Common Fund for Commodities welcomes funding applications from all of its 101 member countries. You can find the list of CFC member countries in the link here.

Who should apply?

The CFC welcomes applications from SMEs, cooperatives, social enterprises, NGOs, and public or private sector entities that are based or have active operations in one of the 101 CFC member countries, with projects that enhance smallholder livelihoods and drive inclusive local development. Projects should be financially viable, and applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of operational history demonstrating relevant experience and capacity.

Subscribe now

General Priority Areas:

• Trade Finance for Companies - Connecting Smallholder Farmers with Global Markets.

• Regenerative Agriculture & Biodiversity Protection.

• Local Value Addition with Low Environmental Impact.

• Agtech and Digital Tools for Inclusive, Sustainable and Transparent Value Chains.

• Improving Financial Access for Smallholder Farmers.

• Women Entrepreneurship and Business Solutions with a Gender Lens

The CFC particularly encourages applications for:

• Projects focused on the sustainable use and conservation of forest resources in the Congo Basin region (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo).

• Funding proposals from or focused on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing Countries (SIDCs) are treated with priority.

For any query, please write to opencall@common-fund.org

Deadline: 1 April 2026.

Let’s build value chains that respect and support smallholders, increase local incomes, restore the land, strengthen communities, and make biodiversity a source of shared value.

Please note that Application form and Balance Sheet/Income Statement may be submitted in ENGLISH ONLY.

For full details, please download the call for proposals application form and the Balance Sheet/Income statement:

• Application form (PDF and Word)

• General: Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Excel)

• Financial Institutions only: Balance Sheet and Income Statement (Excel)

OPENCALL WEBINAR SCHEDULE 2026

28th Call for Proposals

Tuesday, 13 January 2026, 15:00 - 16:00 CET

Register here

Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 10:00 - 11:00 CET

29th Call for Proposals

Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 10:00 - 11:00 CET

Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 15:00 - 16:00 CET

Join Us on WhatsApp

This guide explains eligibility, funding scope, what projects are supported, what is excluded, how to apply, and includes a clear FAQ section.

About the Grant

The programme is managed by Jana Robeyst Trust Fund. It focuses on providing small but practical funding to support ongoing projects or pilot studies that deliver direct conservation impact and applied research value.

The emphasis is on field-based work that contributes to the protection of endangered mammal species across Africa.

Who Can Apply (Eligibility)

You may apply if you meet the conditions below.

• You are an early-career biologist or conservationist

• Your project focuses on endangered mammals

• The work is based in Sub-Saharan Africa

• You may be based anywhere in the world

• The project has clear conservation and research value

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants may re-apply 12 months after submission.

Share Bridge Builders Hub

Grant Amount

• Maximum funding: €1,500 per project

• Grants are intended to complement existing funding or support pilot phases

• Funding is released directly to the applicant’s bank account if awarded

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round, but decisions are made in three annual rounds:

• 30 April

• 31 August

• 31 December

Results are announced within six weeks after each deadline. Funds are usually transferred within four weeks of acceptance.

What Projects Are Eligible for Funding

Projects must demonstrate direct conservation benefit and be field-based in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Eligible costs include:

• Field research on endangered mammals

• Applied conservation studies addressing identified threats

• Travel costs to present project results at conferences

• Participation in relevant workshops or training programmes

• Purchase of essential field equipment needed to carry out the research

Research proposals must show how findings will support conservation action, not just academic output.

What Is Not Eligible for Funding

The Trust does not fund the following:

• Living costs or salaries

• Thesis writing or production costs

• Retrospective expenses

• Fundraising activities

• Debt repayment

• Office equipment

• Internships or volunteer programmes (unless essential to fieldwork)

• Education projects or community workshops

Projects that are purely educational, without a direct conservation research focus, are not supported.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted in English or French using the official grant form.

Your application must include:

• Fully completed grant application form

• CV with contact details of two professional referees

• One reference letter may be included (optional)

• Application sent from a professional email address

If a professional email is not available, you must provide proof of affiliation with:

• A university

• A research institution

• A registered non-profit organisation

Applications must be sent in Word or PDF format.

Submission Details

Email your application to:

info@janatrustfund.org

Use the subject line format:

Grant Application – [Chosen Deadline] – [Your Name]

Only applications using the official form from the Trust’s website are considered.

Contact Information

Jana Robeyst Trust Fund
Waterhoenlaan 63
9032 Wondelgem
Belgium

Website: janatrustfund.org
Email: info@janatrustfund.org

Subscribe now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Jana Robeyst Trust Fund Small Conservation Grant?
It is a small grant designed to support early-career conservationists working on endangered mammal research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Who can apply for this grant?
Early-career biologists or conservationists worldwide, as long as the project is based in Sub-Saharan Africa.

How much funding can I receive?
Up to €1,500 per project.

How often are grants awarded?
Three times per year, following the April, August, and December deadlines.

Can I apply if I was unsuccessful before?
Yes. You may re-apply 12 months after your previous submission.

Are salaries or living costs covered?
No. The grant does not cover salaries or personal living expenses.

Can I use the grant to buy field equipment?
Yes, if the equipment is essential for completing the fieldwork.

Are conference travel costs allowed?
Yes, if the travel is for presenting project results or attending relevant training.

How will I receive the funds if selected?
Funds are transferred directly to the applicant’s bank account.

When will I receive a decision?
Within six weeks after the application deadline.

Final Notes for Applicants

This is a highly competitive conservation grant with a strong focus on practical field impact. Applications that clearly link research outcomes to conservation action stand the best chance of success.

Applicants are encouraged to submit clear, focused proposals with realistic budgets and measurable conservation value.

Source: Official grant website

Grant Application Document

Join Us on WhatsApp

Apply Here

Scholarships Terms and Conditions

E-JUST offers “E-JUST TICAD8 African Scholarships for STI” – i.e. TICAD8 Scholarships to develop high quality human resources in the field of STI (Science, Technology and Innovation) toward future African STI network and beyond. These scholarships are provided under the cooperation of the Egyptian government and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

TICAD8 Scholarships are available for applicants who wish to pursue their M.Sc. degree for Fall 2026 semester in the fields of Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology, Basic and Applied Sciences, International Business and Humanities and Heritage Science Programs.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants shall be researchers or instructors (or potentially expected to become those) who needs to obtain their M.Sc. degree in the fields of Science or Engineering or other specialization.

• Applicant must be a holder of nationality of a country in Africa except for Egypt.

• Applicant must have a current home address in an African country.

• Applicant must not be serving in the military.

• Applicants should fulfill all the admission requirements and pass the academic interview and oral examination.

• Applicants who shall continue their jobs in their home universities or institutions after completion of their postgraduate program at E-JUST are preferable. In this case, Endorsement of the application forms by their home institution is required to assure that they would return to home institutions in the future.

Subscribe now

Scholarship Coverage:

E-JUST TICAD8 scholarship is a fully funded scholarship that covers:

• Tuition fees

• Accommodation

• Monthly stipend

• Medical care

• International Flight Fare (Round Tickets; from and to the applicant’s home country)

How to apply?

Please click on “Apply now” available through international admission tab at E-JUST website and fill in the online application and attach all of the required documents.

Scholarship Term:

• The scholarship’s term is the period necessary to complete the degree requirements in E-JUST, which should be two years for the M.Sc. degree in addition to six months of preparatory courses (if necessary).

• The scholarship’s support is dependent upon the student good standing with E-JUST graduate program in which he/she is registered. An evaluation progress report will be sent semi-annually to the sponsor reporting about the student’s study level, including the student’s transcript, academic advisor report, and the updated student research situation.

Scholarships are full-time scholarships; this means that E-JUST students are fully devoting themselves to their study and research in E-JUST and are not allowed to work elsewhere during their scholarships’ period.

Follow Us on WhatsApp

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has issued a call for nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment. The deadline for submitting nominations for this third edition of the Prize is 27 March 2026.

Launched in 2023 and named after Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a Head of State, this annual Prize consists of a sum of 60,000 euros and a trophy. It rewards outstanding individuals, organisations or initiatives that have demonstrated significant commitment to empowering women and girls in all their diversity.

Leave a comment

At a time when women’s rights and gender equality face increasing challenges across Europe and beyond, the Prize recognises achievements in advancing gender equality, promoting equal participation in decision-making, and fostering inclusive policies and practices that contribute to women’s full and equal participation in political, social, and economic life.

Individuals, civil society groups, associations or private companies may be nominated for the Prize. Nominations should be submitted in English or French, using the form available on the Prize web page, and must be supported by the signatures of at least five sponsors.

The 2026 Vigdís Prize will be awarded at an official ceremony in Strasbourg on 22 June 2026, during the Summer part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly.

The first edition of the Vigdís Prize was awarded in 2024 to the Irida Women’s Center (Greece), a grassroots NGO supporting women experiencing poverty, social exclusion and gender-based violence. In 2025, the Prize was awarded to Women of the Sun (Palestine), in recognition of their work for women’s rights and peacebuilding.

How to apply?

Please read the full regulations carefully before submitting a nomination. Complete the 2026 nomination form, providing details about the nominee and their actions to promote women’s empowerment. The nomination form is available here.

You should also include the signatures of at least five sponsors using the sponsors’ signatures form. The document is available here.

To complete your application, please upload all supporting documents and the 5 sponsors’ signatures in one PDF file, named as follows: for a legal entity: NAME - Country / for an individual: FAMILY NAME - First name – Country. Upload your file here.

All nominations must be submitted by 27 March 2026.

CALENDaR FOR 2026

• 21 November 2025: Call for candidates

• 27 March 2026: Deadline for reception of candidatures

• May 2026: First meeting of the Selection Panel in Reykjavik

• 21 May 2026: Meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly which will take note of the three shortlisted candidates

• 21 June 2026: Second meeting of the Selection Panel in Strasbourg which will select the Prize-winner

• 22 June 2026: Award Ceremony during the third-part session of PACE

Who can be nominated?

Individuals or civil society groups, including national or international non-governmental organisations, associations and private companies may be nominated for the Prize.

The Selection Panel

The Selection Panel, chaired by the President of the Assembly or a designated representative, is composed of six independent members recognised for their expertise in women’s empowerment. Three members are nominated by the Bureau of the Assembly based on a proposal made by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, and three are nominated by the Government of Iceland.

Panel members serve a two-year term, renewable twice. Current Assembly members are not eligible to serve on the panel.

Members for the period of October 2025 – October 2027 include:

Nominated by the Bureau of the Assembly:

Robert Biedroń (Poland), former President of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, member of the European Parliament, for a second mandate, Sandra Konstatzky (Austria), Head of the Austrian Ombud for Equal Treatment, for a second mandate, Petra Stienen (Netherlands),former senator and diplomat, former Chairperson of the Dutch delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, advisor on women’s empowerment and inclusive leadership.

Nominated by the Government of Iceland:

Ms Kristín A Árnadóttir, former Icelandic Ambassador with a distinguished career in international relations, governance and public service, Dr María Rún Bjarnadóttir, Academic at the Reykjavík University Faculty of Law, member of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), Mr Vilhjálmur Hilmarsson, Economist at Viska Union, specialist in labour market, equality policy and social welfare.

Join Us on WhatsApp

The Award Ceremony

The Prize is awarded at a ceremony which takes place in Strasbourg on the Monday of the Summer Session of the Parliamentary Assembly, usually in late June.

The name of the prize-winner is announced by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly.

more information

Regulations

Brochure

vigdis.prize@coe.int

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

Charity No 1139668

The Diamond Education Grant was set up as a charity by SIGBI in 1972. It contributes to the public benefit through its activity of making grants to women who are in need of financial assistance for educational purposes. The grants enable the women to enter or return to employment, or move to a growing industry, by acquiring new skills. The educational grants contribute to raising the standard of education among women, who may not otherwise be able to improve their circumstances, those of their family, or the community in which they live.

The benefits of educating women and girls, in time, have become recognised as the most effective way of raising nations out of poverty, and reducing international conflicts. Remember the often quoted, African proverb? ‘If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family (nation)’. The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative states that, ‘When girls get the education they need, there is a ripple effect that benefits everyone.’

The Diamond Education Board allocate grants to women who reside in the countries of the Federation. During the year to 31 March 2024, we made grants totalling £38,642 to 37 women. The average grant for the year was £1,044. We aimed to find the right women; those that faced the greatest barriers or to whom the grant would have the biggest impact.

Awards are made to help towards the cost of course fees or books/equipment, not for living or travel expenses.

How to apply

Applications for grants towards courses in the academic year September 2026 to July 2027 are now open. Short courses are considered as long as they fall within these dates. Please complete the application form , but do read the notes below first to check if you are eligible.

• Diamond Education Grant Application Form 2026

To be eligible for a grant you do not have to be a Soroptimist (most of our applicants are not) but you must be female and permanently resident within one of the countries of our Federation. Eligible countries are listed below.

The closing date for applications is 15 April 2026, and all applicants will be notified via email at end of June 2026 whether or not they have received a grant. Successful applicants will be asked to provide some further proof of enrolment and two references before their grant is issued.

Follow us on WhatsApp

Our timescales are as follows:

• End November: Online application form available for grants towards courses in the following academic year, September to July. Short courses are considered but must start within the academic year –i.e. must not start in the preceding August or earlier). Note that if your application does not meet our criteria, listed below, it will be rejected and you will be emailed to explain why.

• 15 April: Closing date for applications and online form removed from website

• June: Applicants whose applications were accepted, are notified of the Trustees’ decision, whether or not they have received a grant.

• July-October: successful applicants need to return references and proof of enrolment in order to receive the grant. Grants are made on receipt of these documents.

• Following June: Successful applicants are asked to return a report on how the grant has benefitted them and receipts if equipment has been purchased with grant funding.

Course must not start before the September in the year of the closing date (i.e. only first year of a multiple-year course will be funded, and short courses must start within the academic year.)

Course must not be a 2nd degree, Masters, PHD or Postgraduate qualification (i.e., a course that requires a degree to have been achieved in order to undertake it).

Must be willing to submit a progress report and receipts at the end of the academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

EssentialWe favour women who are…Must be female.30 or over within the relevant academic year (no upper age limit)Must be resident within the SIGBI territory (see list of countries below)Updating or acquiring skills after a career/ learning break to improve employment opportunities.Course must not start before the September in the year of the closing date (ie only first year of a multiple-year course will be funded, and short courses must fall wholly within the academic year.)Taking a vocational course/training, or wishing to progress in a STEM career or male orientated field.Must not previously have received a Diamond Education Grant.Have no financial support from their immediate familiesCourse must not be a 2nd degree, Masters, PHD or Postgraduate qualification (ie a course that requires a degree to have been achieved in order to undertake it).Disadvantaged in some way e.g. physical / medical needs, Special Educational Needs, Disability, Trauma, Financial challengesMust only be applying for a grant towards course fees or equipment, not living, travel or childcare expenses.Must be willing to submit a progress report at the end of the academic year.

Eligible Countries:

To be eligible you must be permanently resident in one of the countries of our Federation, which are:

Asia

Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Europe

Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos

Donations and Legacies

Nearly forty awards were given out last year. With increased funding, many more women could be helped to make that vital career step up, or back into the workplace.

The Diamond Education Grant is always pleased to receive donations from Clubs and individual members. Donations from individuals can be gift-aided, so please complete the relevant form below and return it to joanne@sigbi.org. The forms allow donations to be made to any of the four SIGBI Charities.

• Individual Donation and Gift Aid Form

• Club Donation Form

If you are interested in leaving a legacy to the Diamond Education Grant, then some advice on leaving a legacy is available here.

Recycling in aid of the Diamond Education Grant

Many clubs have successfully used the jewellery recycling service to fund raise for past SIGBI projects and their own projects, and we now ask you to consider continuing this great method of raising funds in aid of the Diamond Education Grant. SI Milford Haven is currently doing this in conjunction with “Recycling for Good Causes”.

Please encourage your members to support this project so that we can continue to transform the lives of women and meet our goal to educate, empower and enable. Clubs can raise funds by simply collecting recyclable items such as jewellery (made of any material), watches, rings, old bank notes and coins or gadgets such as Sat Navs, Games Consoles and Games, Tablets, Video Cameras, Mobile Phones, iPods and Laptops of any age.

The smaller items can be posted in a padded envelope to FREEPOST Licence RSXA-GJBY-ARRZ, Soroptimist International DEG, Unit 14 Amber Business Village, Tamworth, B77 4RP. For gadgets please request a sack by contacting Erene Grieve via hq@sigbi.org or 0161 480 7686 (option 2), fill it and then request collection from customerservices@recyclingforgoodcauses.org.

Don’t Delay Start Recycling Today

We are proud to say that when a women, who has received a grant, succeeds in her career path it is down to the collaborative efforts of all SIGBI members!

Come to our Diamond Education Facebook page to hear about some of our success stories. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555480438447

Key info

💰 Scholarship amount: $5,000

⏰ Application deadline: August 28, 2026

✔️ Who it’s for: Female international students going into their undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate studies

This women’s scholarship for international students will be awarded for female students beginning their undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate studies in the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semester and is worth up to $5,000.

It’s open to women international students from any country who will be studying an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degree abroad at a college or university. The awards can be used to help cover your tuition fees and get you one step closer to your next great adventure.

The application period for this opportunity ends on 28 August 2026 at 12:00 CEST.

Eligibility

To apply for our scholarship:

• You must be a woman.

• You must have a plan to enroll in any undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate (doctoral-level) degree program at a college, university, or institute of higher education.

• You must meet the entry requirements for the university or college of your choice.

• Hold valid credentials required for enrollment.

• Meet language requirements for the program.

• You must hold or be eligible to apply for a relevant study visa.

• You must not be a citizen or permanent resident of the country to which you are applying.

Apply Here

Our ideal candidate

Are you the next globally-minded adventurer?

If you’re a woman planning on studying abroad as an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate student, scholarships are only one part of your journey. We already know you have a courageous and adventurous spirit because of your decision to study abroad, but what else are we looking for in a candidate?

You are:

• A globally-minded woman and interested in other cultures.

• Planning to enroll or enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate program.

• A high academic achiever with consistently outstanding grades and achievements in your proposed field of study.

• Involved in extracurricular groups and activities.

• Excited to begin your adventure and share your unique story as a woman with the world!

👉Wondering why you should study abroad? Find out why in our article.

Key dates for the Women’s Scholarship for International Students 2026

• Applications open: 28 August 2025

• Applications close: 28 August 2026, 12:00 CEST

• Finalists notified: 15-30 September 2026

• Winner announced: 13-17 October 2026

• Scholarship paid out: Fall 2026 / Spring 2027

Subscribe now

Application requirements

To be considered for this scholarship, you’ll need to submit your completed application by 28 August 2026 at 12:00 CEST.

The application consists of:

• Filling out a short form

• Answer questions listed in the form, and tell us about your inspiration, aspirations as a woman, and your decision-making process

Please note: Applications need to be submitted in English. Applications in other languages won’t be considered.

If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll be asked to provide:

• Proof of acceptance into a university in the form of a copy of your acceptance letter

• Proof that you’ve completed the relevant qualifications for your selected program in the form of a copy of your transcripts or other applicable documents

• A copy of your passport to prove your identity

It is very important that all copies of documents are color scans. Please have these documents on hand should you be selected as a finalist. You will have 7 days from the time we tell you that you’re a finalist to send us this documentation.

All finalists who are not chosen as the winner will still receive a USD 150 flight voucher. Therefore, you’ll also need to:

• Tell us that you want to accept our gift within 3 days of being told that you unfortunately have not won our scholarship - but are still listed as one of our finalists.

• Make a post and tag us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and/or Facebook to tell others about yourself as the finalist.

If selected as our winner, you’ll need to:

• Tell us that you want to accept our scholarship within 3 days of being told that you have won.

• Make a post and tag us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and/or Facebook to tell others about yourself as the winner!

👉 Read the full Terms & Conditions here.

👉 Have a question about our scholarships? See the scholarship FAQ.

Follow Us on WhatsApp

The IMF Grant Review Committee supports charitable organizations in the Washington DC metropolitan area through partnerships and annual monetary grants, which focus primarily on fostering economic independence through education and economic development.

Follow Us on WhatsApp

Deadline

The Fiscal Year 2026 grant cycle will open for applications on December 4, 2025, and close on January 31, 2026. Please ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for the IMF’s grant program prior to submitting an application.

Grant Decisions

The Grant Review Committee meets during February-March and final decisions are communicated to applicants in April. The average grant is US $15,000.

Grant requests of up to $25,000 will be considered; The average grant amount is $15,000.

Eligibility

To become eligible for the IMF’s grant program, applicant organizations must establish a profile in the Benevity causes portal. To register, please click here.

On a local and regional basis, we only fund non-profit organizations registered under section 501(c)3 of the United States Internal Revenue Code that serve the people and communities in the Greater Washington Region, which includes: (i) the District of Columbia; (ii) Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in the State of Maryland; and (iii) the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church; and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

All applications will be fully vetted by the grant review committee. Applicants must have established records of effective performance and sound financial management (as reflected, for example, in recent audited financial statements).

Applicants must also agree to report to the IMF on their use of grants received from the IMF.

Restrictions

Multiyear commitments cannot be made but organizations may reapply annually for grants. However, charities who received grants for three consecutive years will not be able to apply for the next two consecutive years.

Grants will NOT be given to:

• Veterans’ associations, fraternities, sororities, and social clubs.

• Political, lobbying, or labor organizations.

• Private individuals or Individual petitions for scholarships, travel, or studies.

• Capital/infrastructure projects

• Fundraising events/galas.

Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for grants provided that the requested funding is restricted to a secular project that provides needed social services to the community at large on a non-discriminatory basis without any religious teaching, directive, or requirements to receive services. These programs should be independently run, have a formal mission and a separate program budget.

How To Apply

All requests can be submitted electronically using this Form.

Questions

If you have questions,please send them by e-mail to the IMF Giving Together Program at givingtogether@imf.org.

Subscribe now

Research Grants on Education: Large

Application Deadlines:

Applications Open
December 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Deadline
February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline
June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Program contact:
Maricelle Garcia
largegrants@spencer.org

Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. Within each of our funding tiers, we evaluate projects within tier and strongly encourage applicants to submit for funding that best fits their project rather than applying for the highest amount of funding. We accept preproposals once a year.

This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

Research Grants on Education: Large

Application Deadlines:

Applications Open
December 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Deadline
February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline
June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Program contact:
Maricelle Garcia
largegrants@spencer.org

Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. Within each of our funding tiers, we evaluate projects within tier and strongly encourage applicants to submit for funding that best fits their project rather than applying for the highest amount of funding. We accept preproposals once a year.

This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

Program Statement

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 up through $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications once a year.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a lasting impact on educational discourse.

We recognize that learning occurs across the life course as well as across settings— from the classroom to the workplace, to family and community contexts and even onto the playing field—any of which may, in the right circumstance, provide the basis for rewarding study that makes significant contributions to the field. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, from scholars at various stages in their career. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines that innovatively investigate questions central to education, including for example education, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, economics, history, or neuroscience, amongst others.

Moreover, we expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including the diverse range of quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources, span a sufficient length of time as to achieve a depth of understanding, or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. In addition, we welcome proposals submitted by multidisciplinary and multigenerational teams who are positioned to both contribute to the project as well as contribute to the teaching and learning of fellow team members.

Finally, we encourage teams to thoughtfully consider and describe plans regarding the trajectories of their project’s findings, implications, and potential effects, especially how the knowledge may be shared and utilized across the field in practice, policy making, or with broader publics.

Research Grants on Education: Large

Research Grants on Education: Large

Application Deadlines:

Applications Open
December 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Deadline
February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline
June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Program contact:
Maricelle Garcia
largegrants@spencer.org

Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. Within each of our funding tiers, we evaluate projects within tier and strongly encourage applicants to submit for funding that best fits their project rather than applying for the highest amount of funding. We accept preproposals once a year.

This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

Program Statement

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 up through $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications once a year.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a lasting impact on educational discourse.

We recognize that learning occurs across the life course as well as across settings— from the classroom to the workplace, to family and community contexts and even onto the playing field—any of which may, in the right circumstance, provide the basis for rewarding study that makes significant contributions to the field. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, from scholars at various stages in their career. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines that innovatively investigate questions central to education, including for example education, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, economics, history, or neuroscience, amongst others.

Moreover, we expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including the diverse range of quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources, span a sufficient length of time as to achieve a depth of understanding, or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. In addition, we welcome proposals submitted by multidisciplinary and multigenerational teams who are positioned to both contribute to the project as well as contribute to the teaching and learning of fellow team members.

Finally, we encourage teams to thoughtfully consider and describe plans regarding the trajectories of their project’s findings, implications, and potential effects, especially how the knowledge may be shared and utilized across the field in practice, policy making, or with broader publics.

Eligibility

Large Research Grant budget totals should be between $125,000 and $500,000, including up to 15% indirect cost charges. We anticipate funding proposals in the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. We will distribute our grant awards across these three tiers. We strongly encourage applicants to carefully consider this when constructing their project budgets and not only reach for the highest budget category.

Proposals to the Large Research Grants on Education program must be for academic research projects that aim to study education. Proposals for activities other than research that do not contain a significant research component are not eligible (e.g., program evaluations, professional development, curriculum development, scholarships, capital projects, tech platform development, AI tool development). Additionally, proposals for research studies focused on areas other than education are not eligible.

Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Large Research Grant on Education must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or 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 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).

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

Restrictions

Projects proposed may not be longer than 5 years in duration.

PIs and Co-PIs may only hold one active research grant from the Spencer Foundation at one time. PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a new grant while they have an active grant at the Spencer Foundation if the active grant will end before the anticipated start date of the new project. Note that this restriction does not apply to the administering organization; organizations may submit as many proposals as they like as long as they are for different projects and have different research teams.

PIs and Co-PIs may not submit more than one research proposal or preproposal to the Spencer Foundation at a time. This restriction applies to the Small Grants Program, Large Grants Program, Racial Equity Research Grants Program, and Research-Practice Partnership Program. If the PI or any of the Co-PIs currently have a research preproposal or proposal under consideration in any of these programs, they are required to wait until a final decision has been made before they can submit a new preproposal or proposal. Note that an exception to both of these restrictions is the Spencer Vision Grants program. 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 or preproposal in review. However, the projects proposed in a Vision Grant proposal and in another Spencer grant program proposal or preproposal must be distinct.

Research Grants on Education: Large

Research Grants on Education: Large

Application Deadlines:

Applications Open
December 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Deadline
February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline
June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Program contact:
Maricelle Garcia
largegrants@spencer.org

Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. Within each of our funding tiers, we evaluate projects within tier and strongly encourage applicants to submit for funding that best fits their project rather than applying for the highest amount of funding. We accept preproposals once a year.

This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

Program Statement

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 up through $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications once a year.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a lasting impact on educational discourse.

We recognize that learning occurs across the life course as well as across settings— from the classroom to the workplace, to family and community contexts and even onto the playing field—any of which may, in the right circumstance, provide the basis for rewarding study that makes significant contributions to the field. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, from scholars at various stages in their career. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines that innovatively investigate questions central to education, including for example education, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, economics, history, or neuroscience, amongst others.

Moreover, we expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including the diverse range of quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources, span a sufficient length of time as to achieve a depth of understanding, or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. In addition, we welcome proposals submitted by multidisciplinary and multigenerational teams who are positioned to both contribute to the project as well as contribute to the teaching and learning of fellow team members.

Finally, we encourage teams to thoughtfully consider and describe plans regarding the trajectories of their project’s findings, implications, and potential effects, especially how the knowledge may be shared and utilized across the field in practice, policy making, or with broader publics.

Eligibility

Large Research Grant budget totals should be between $125,000 and $500,000, including up to 15% indirect cost charges. We anticipate funding proposals in the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. We will distribute our grant awards across these three tiers. We strongly encourage applicants to carefully consider this when constructing their project budgets and not only reach for the highest budget category.

Proposals to the Large Research Grants on Education program must be for academic research projects that aim to study education. Proposals for activities other than research that do not contain a significant research component are not eligible (e.g., program evaluations, professional development, curriculum development, scholarships, capital projects, tech platform development, AI tool development). Additionally, proposals for research studies focused on areas other than education are not eligible.

Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Large Research Grant on Education must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or 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 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).

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

Restrictions

Projects proposed may not be longer than 5 years in duration.

PIs and Co-PIs may only hold one active research grant from the Spencer Foundation at one time. PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a new grant while they have an active grant at the Spencer Foundation if the active grant will end before the anticipated start date of the new project. Note that this restriction does not apply to the administering organization; organizations may submit as many proposals as they like as long as they are for different projects and have different research teams.

PIs and Co-PIs may not submit more than one research proposal or preproposal to the Spencer Foundation at a time. This restriction applies to the Small Grants Program, Large Grants Program, Racial Equity Research Grants Program, and Research-Practice Partnership Program. If the PI or any of the Co-PIs currently have a research preproposal or proposal under consideration in any of these programs, they are required to wait until a final decision has been made before they can submit a new preproposal or proposal. Note that an exception to both of these restrictions is the Spencer Vision Grants program. 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 or preproposal in review. However, the projects proposed in a Vision Grant proposal and in another Spencer grant program proposal or preproposal must be distinct.

How to Apply

The application process begins with a preproposal. This will be reviewed to determine if the PI will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. Preproposals are due by 12:00pm Central Time Chicago/North America on the deadline date.

Preproposal Guidelines

The preproposal must be submitted through an online application form following the guidelines below.

Step 1 – Registration

Note: This application is configured for the Principal Investigator (PI) on the project to register and submit the form. If someone other than the PI will be completing the online application (e.g., an administrative assistant), the PI should register and then provide their username and password to the person assisting them with the application.

If you (the PI) have never accessed the Spencer Foundation online portal, you must register and create a profile by going to

https://spencer.smartsimple.us

and clicking the “Register Here” button.

Follow the guidelines on the registration page to create your profile.

If you already have an account, log on to update your profile.

Step 2 - My Profile

After logging in, follow the directions to complete the information requested on the My Profile page and upload your current CV (10-page limit). The My Profile page is your online account with the Spencer Foundation whether you are applying for a grant, reviewing a proposal, or submitting a grantee report.

Step 3 – Preproposal

To create the preproposal, go to your Workbench and click the Apply button for the Large Research Grants on Education, and then follow the instructions.

Your draft form can be saved so that you may return to work on it at a later time if necessary and if before the submission deadline. Your draft form will be available on your Draft Proposals list on your Workbench.

Preproposal Elements

Within the online form, there are detailed guidelines for each section. Below is an overview of the preproposal application elements you will be expected to complete.

Project Personnel – As the person creating the draft application, you will automatically be assigned to the preproposal as the Principal Investigator. If there are Co-PIs on the preproposal, you are asked to provide their names and organizations in this section.

Preproposal PDF – The preproposal components should all be contained in one single PDF. Text should be double-spaced and no smaller than 12-point font.

• Preproposal narrative: We are asking you to address the following elements in no more than 1250 words. Recommended word counts for each section are below:

  • Project Title, PI Last Name, Request ID Number (text will not count towards your word count)

  • A description of the problem or issue and its significance [250 words]

  • Your research question(s) [100 words if needed]

  • How you plan to situate the research theoretically and/or conceptually, and within existing scholarship [400 words]

  • A summary description of your proposed research design (sampling, recruitment, data collection methods, data analysis) [400 words]

  • Respond to the following question: How will the field be different as a result of this research? In other words, what do you see as the scholarly contribution of this work? [100 words]

  • At the end of the preproposal narrative, please provide a word count in parentheses.

• References: You may also submit up to two pages of references that will not count toward your preproposal narrative word count. We also highly recommend using citations throughout your preproposal narrative.

• Team Description: You may submit a one-page team description that will not count toward your preproposal narrative word count.

• Timeline: You may submit a one-page draft timeline that indicates the proposed start and end dates of the project as well as key project events and milestones. The proposed project duration can be up to 5 years.

• Budget: A draft budget of up to two pages that includes budget justifications (chart or table format preferred) and a grant total. Allowable expenses: Salaries, Benefits, Other Collaborator, Travel, Equipment and Software, Project Expenses, Other, Subcontracts. Please note that The Spencer Foundation does not require an official university sign-off for your budget at the pre-proposal stage.

Please create one PDF file with all of these components, ensuring that you include the PI’s last name and the project title at the top of the first page. File Naming: Please name the file with the PI’s last name and the request ID number, and upload it to SmartSimple. NOTE: if this is a resubmission, prefix the file name with “Resubmission,” the PI’s last name, and request ID number. The Spencer Foundation does not require a signatory to sign the preproposal.

AI Agreement and Disclosure - The Spencer Foundation has developed a policy outlining the responsible and ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across the Foundation’s operations, programs, and activities.

We have developed the policy guidelines to appropriately balance the potential benefits of artificial intelligence with the potential risks. While submitting your application to the Large Grants program in SmartSimple, you will be asked to acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with these guidelines.

Project Summary – Information about the project is requested, such as a project title, estimated duration, estimated budget tier, the central research question(s), and a 200-word project summary.

Resubmission – If this is a resubmission of a proposal previously submitted to the Spencer Foundation, you are asked to indicate this within the application.

Project Data – Within the online application, we ask you to choose the appropriate options with regard to your research project in the following categories: disciplinary perspective, methodologies, topics, geographical scope, contexts, and participants. This information is helpful in determining the appropriate reviewers for your eventual full proposal and for internal evaluations of our grant programs.

Once you have uploaded your PDF file and responded to all required prompts that are part of the application, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

Reminder: The preproposal will be reviewed and everyone who submits will receive light feedback. We will notify you if you are invited to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Guidelines (by invitation only)

If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you will have access to the full proposal application on your Workbench. Within the online application, there are detailed guidelines for each section. Below is an overview of the elements you’ll be expected to complete.

Project Personnel – If your project will have Co-PIs, it is necessary for you to connect their profiles to the full proposal. Instruct your Co-PIs to create an account and update their profile following Steps 1 and 2 above. Once they have done so, follow the guidelines in this section for connecting them to the proposal.

Proposal Summary – Information about the project is requested, such as the project title, start and end dates, the central research question(s), and a 200-word project summary.

Budget and Budget Justification: The budget form is divided into the following categories, and each category has a pulldown menu of the line-item choices listed in parentheses below:

Salaries (PI, Co-PI, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Graduate Student,

Researcher, Undergraduate Researcher, Other Research Staff, Other Staff)

Benefits (PI Benefits, Co-PI Benefits, Researcher Benefits, Other Staff Benefits, Tuition/Fees)

Other Collaborator (Independent Consultant, Advisor)

Travel (Project Travel, Conference or Dissemination Travel)

Equipment and Software (Equipment, Software)

Project Expenses (Supplies, Participant Stipends/Costs, Communication, Transcription)

Other (This should only be used for expenses not covered in the choices above)

Subcontracts (Information is pulled from the subcontract budget forms – see below)

Each expense for your project should be added, and the budget narrative field should be completed, providing a description of that specific expense.

Detailed guidelines are available within the application form.

Subcontracts: If your project will have subcontracts, a separate subcontract budget form will need to be completed for each. The subcontract form has the same categories and line item choices listed above.

Indirect Cost Charges (IDC): Budgets in this program may include 15 percent IDC (aka overhead). Subcontract budgets may also include the 15 percent IDC but should not be included in the main budget total when calculating the overall IDC for the project.

Another Note on Funding Tiers: We recognize that applicants are often encouraged to apply to the highest tiers and amounts of funding. However, in the case of Spencer’s large grant program, we prefer that budgets are well-suited to the project design. In previous cycles, tier one has been the most competitive group of submissions, and proposals submitted to lower tiers have had better odds of being funded. We encourage researchers to consider what level of funding makes the most sense for their project and design.

Proposal Narrative - You are expected to upload a proposal narrative pdf that includes the following:

• A description of the project, the central research question(s), and the project’s significance.

• A rationale for the project. This includes (a) summary of the relevant literature, the relationship of the proposed research to that literature, and the new knowledge or contribution to the improvement of education expected to result from the proposed research; and (b) a summary of the conceptual framework or theory guiding the project and how the project utilizes or builds on this framework of theory.

• A description of the proposed research methods, description of participants, data collection instruments, and modes of analysis the project will employ. If applicable to the proposed methods, please include (a) information about the proposed sample/case definition and selection procedures; (b) research design, including when appropriate a description of the context of the study; (c) description of key constructs, measures and data sources; (d) procedures for data collection; and (e) procedures for data analysis.

• A short description of plans for dissemination of the research findings. While this may include traditional submissions to academic conferences and publications, we also encourage other forms of dissemination that aim to impact policy, practice, or public discourse. We expect scholars to follow the highest ethical and professional standards of their fields. Please consult our statement of ethics and professional expectations.

This narrative may not exceed 5000 words and at the conclusion should include the word count in parentheses. Your reference list should follow your narrative in the same pdf file and will not count toward the 5000-word limit. The text should be double–spaced and in a 12–point font. APA style is preferred. The document should include page numbers.

Note: Tables and other figures can be included in the text of your proposal, where appropriate, provided they are used sparingly. The text contained in any tables and figures will not count towards the word limit. However, it is important that you describe or explain any tables or figures in the narrative portion of your proposal, which will contribute to your word count. Do not assume that tables and other figures are self-explanatory.

Project Timeline - A project timeline should be uploaded in pdf format and should indicate the proposed start and end dates of the project as well as key project events and milestones. The major activities listed in the project timeline should be reflected in the proposal narrative. The project timeline may not exceed 1 page, and the text should be in a 12-point font. The proposed project duration can be up to 5 years.

Project Team – A document describing the project team should be uploaded in pdf format and should identify the roles, responsibility, and knowledge base of the PI, Co-PI(s), and any supporting researcher(s). Additionally, it should articulate how the team will work together to complete the research project, highlighting what each team member will contribute to the project. Further, a short description of the relationship between the project team and the research site may be included, if appropriate. When applicable, please discuss the learning opportunities team members may experience through their participation in this project. This document should not exceed 800 words and should be double–spaced in 12-point font.

Resubmission – If this is a resubmission of a proposal previously submitted to the Spencer Foundation, you are asked to indicate this within the application and upload a 1-page explanation of how the proposal was revised.

For information on optional appendices, our review process, frequently asked questions, and other important information, please see the full Request for Proposals in our online portal: https://spencer.smartsimple.us/.

Research Grants on Education: Large

Research Grants on Education: Large

Application Deadlines:

Applications Open
December 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Deadline
February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline
June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Program contact:
Maricelle Garcia
largegrants@spencer.org

Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. Within each of our funding tiers, we evaluate projects within tier and strongly encourage applicants to submit for funding that best fits their project rather than applying for the highest amount of funding. We accept preproposals once a year.

This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or location. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.

Program Statement

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 up through $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications once a year.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a lasting impact on educational discourse.

We recognize that learning occurs across the life course as well as across settings— from the classroom to the workplace, to family and community contexts and even onto the playing field—any of which may, in the right circumstance, provide the basis for rewarding study that makes significant contributions to the field. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, from scholars at various stages in their career. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines that innovatively investigate questions central to education, including for example education, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, economics, history, or neuroscience, amongst others.

Moreover, we expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including the diverse range of quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources, span a sufficient length of time as to achieve a depth of understanding, or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. In addition, we welcome proposals submitted by multidisciplinary and multigenerational teams who are positioned to both contribute to the project as well as contribute to the teaching and learning of fellow team members.

Finally, we encourage teams to thoughtfully consider and describe plans regarding the trajectories of their project’s findings, implications, and potential effects, especially how the knowledge may be shared and utilized across the field in practice, policy making, or with broader publics.

Eligibility

Large Research Grant budget totals should be between $125,000 and $500,000, including up to 15% indirect cost charges. We anticipate funding proposals in the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. We will distribute our grant awards across these three tiers. We strongly encourage applicants to carefully consider this when constructing their project budgets and not only reach for the highest budget category.

Proposals to the Large Research Grants on Education program must be for academic research projects that aim to study education. Proposals for activities other than research that do not contain a significant research component are not eligible (e.g., program evaluations, professional development, curriculum development, scholarships, capital projects, tech platform development, AI tool development). Additionally, proposals for research studies focused on areas other than education are not eligible.

Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Large Research Grant on Education must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or 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 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).

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

Restrictions

Projects proposed may not be longer than 5 years in duration.

PIs and Co-PIs may only hold one active research grant from the Spencer Foundation at one time. PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a new grant while they have an active grant at the Spencer Foundation if the active grant will end before the anticipated start date of the new project. Note that this restriction does not apply to the administering organization; organizations may submit as many proposals as they like as long as they are for different projects and have different research teams.

PIs and Co-PIs may not submit more than one research proposal or preproposal to the Spencer Foundation at a time. This restriction applies to the Small Grants Program, Large Grants Program, Racial Equity Research Grants Program, and Research-Practice Partnership Program. If the PI or any of the Co-PIs currently have a research preproposal or proposal under consideration in any of these programs, they are required to wait until a final decision has been made before they can submit a new preproposal or proposal. Note that an exception to both of these restrictions is the Spencer Vision Grants program. 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 or preproposal in review. However, the projects proposed in a Vision Grant proposal and in another Spencer grant program proposal or preproposal must be distinct.

How to Apply

The application process begins with a preproposal. This will be reviewed to determine if the PI will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. Preproposals are due by 12:00pm Central Time Chicago/North America on the deadline date.

Preproposal Guidelines

The preproposal must be submitted through an online application form following the guidelines below.

Step 1 – Registration

Note: This application is configured for the Principal Investigator (PI) on the project to register and submit the form. If someone other than the PI will be completing the online application (e.g., an administrative assistant), the PI should register and then provide their username and password to the person assisting them with the application.

If you (the PI) have never accessed the Spencer Foundation online portal, you must register and create a profile by going to

https://spencer.smartsimple.us

and clicking the “Register Here” button.

Follow the guidelines on the registration page to create your profile.

If you already have an account, log on to update your profile.

Step 2 - My Profile

After logging in, follow the directions to complete the information requested on the My Profile page and upload your current CV (10-page limit). The My Profile page is your online account with the Spencer Foundation whether you are applying for a grant, reviewing a proposal, or submitting a grantee report.

Step 3 – Preproposal

To create the preproposal, go to your Workbench and click the Apply button for the Large Research Grants on Education, and then follow the instructions.

Your draft form can be saved so that you may return to work on it at a later time if necessary and if before the submission deadline. Your draft form will be available on your Draft Proposals list on your Workbench.

Preproposal Elements

Within the online form, there are detailed guidelines for each section. Below is an overview of the preproposal application elements you will be expected to complete.

Project Personnel – As the person creating the draft application, you will automatically be assigned to the preproposal as the Principal Investigator. If there are Co-PIs on the preproposal, you are asked to provide their names and organizations in this section.

Preproposal PDF – The preproposal components should all be contained in one single PDF. Text should be double-spaced and no smaller than 12-point font.

• Preproposal narrative: We are asking you to address the following elements in no more than 1250 words. Recommended word counts for each section are below:

  • Project Title, PI Last Name, Request ID Number (text will not count towards your word count)

  • A description of the problem or issue and its significance [250 words]

  • Your research question(s) [100 words if needed]

  • How you plan to situate the research theoretically and/or conceptually, and within existing scholarship [400 words]

  • A summary description of your proposed research design (sampling, recruitment, data collection methods, data analysis) [400 words]

  • Respond to the following question: How will the field be different as a result of this research? In other words, what do you see as the scholarly contribution of this work? [100 words]

  • At the end of the preproposal narrative, please provide a word count in parentheses.

    Leave a comment

• References: You may also submit up to two pages of references that will not count toward your preproposal narrative word count. We also highly recommend using citations throughout your preproposal narrative.

• Team Description: You may submit a one-page team description that will not count toward your preproposal narrative word count.

• Timeline: You may submit a one-page draft timeline that indicates the proposed start and end dates of the project as well as key project events and milestones. The proposed project duration can be up to 5 years.

• Budget: A draft budget of up to two pages that includes budget justifications (chart or table format preferred) and a grant total. Allowable expenses: Salaries, Benefits, Other Collaborator, Travel, Equipment and Software, Project Expenses, Other, Subcontracts. Please note that The Spencer Foundation does not require an official university sign-off for your budget at the pre-proposal stage.

Please create one PDF file with all of these components, ensuring that you include the PI’s last name and the project title at the top of the first page. File Naming: Please name the file with the PI’s last name and the request ID number, and upload it to SmartSimple. NOTE: if this is a resubmission, prefix the file name with “Resubmission,” the PI’s last name, and request ID number. The Spencer Foundation does not require a signatory to sign the preproposal.

AI Agreement and Disclosure - The Spencer Foundation has developed a policy outlining the responsible and ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies across the Foundation’s operations, programs, and activities.

We have developed the policy guidelines to appropriately balance the potential benefits of artificial intelligence with the potential risks. While submitting your application to the Large Grants program in SmartSimple, you will be asked to acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with these guidelines.

Subscribe now

Project Summary – Information about the project is requested, such as a project title, estimated duration, estimated budget tier, the central research question(s), and a 200-word project summary.

Resubmission – If this is a resubmission of a proposal previously submitted to the Spencer Foundation, you are asked to indicate this within the application.

Project Data – Within the online application, we ask you to choose the appropriate options with regard to your research project in the following categories: disciplinary perspective, methodologies, topics, geographical scope, contexts, and participants. This information is helpful in determining the appropriate reviewers for your eventual full proposal and for internal evaluations of our grant programs.

Once you have uploaded your PDF file and responded to all required prompts that are part of the application, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

Reminder: The preproposal will be reviewed and everyone who submits will receive light feedback. We will notify you if you are invited to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Guidelines (by invitation only)

If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you will have access to the full proposal application on your Workbench. Within the online application, there are detailed guidelines for each section. Below is an overview of the elements you’ll be expected to complete.

Project Personnel – If your project will have Co-PIs, it is necessary for you to connect their profiles to the full proposal. Instruct your Co-PIs to create an account and update their profile following Steps 1 and 2 above. Once they have done so, follow the guidelines in this section for connecting them to the proposal.

Proposal Summary – Information about the project is requested, such as the project title, start and end dates, the central research question(s), and a 200-word project summary.

Budget and Budget Justification: The budget form is divided into the following categories, and each category has a pulldown menu of the line-item choices listed in parentheses below:

Salaries (PI, Co-PI, Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Graduate Student,

Researcher, Undergraduate Researcher, Other Research Staff, Other Staff)

Benefits (PI Benefits, Co-PI Benefits, Researcher Benefits, Other Staff Benefits, Tuition/Fees)

Other Collaborator (Independent Consultant, Advisor)

Travel (Project Travel, Conference or Dissemination Travel)

Equipment and Software (Equipment, Software)

Project Expenses (Supplies, Participant Stipends/Costs, Communication, Transcription)

Other (This should only be used for expenses not covered in the choices above)

Subcontracts (Information is pulled from the subcontract budget forms – see below)

Each expense for your project should be added, and the budget narrative field should be completed, providing a description of that specific expense.

Detailed guidelines are available within the application form.

Subcontracts: If your project will have subcontracts, a separate subcontract budget form will need to be completed for each. The subcontract form has the same categories and line item choices listed above.

Indirect Cost Charges (IDC): Budgets in this program may include 15 percent IDC (aka overhead). Subcontract budgets may also include the 15 percent IDC but should not be included in the main budget total when calculating the overall IDC for the project.

Another Note on Funding Tiers: We recognize that applicants are often encouraged to apply to the highest tiers and amounts of funding. However, in the case of Spencer’s large grant program, we prefer that budgets are well-suited to the project design. In previous cycles, tier one has been the most competitive group of submissions, and proposals submitted to lower tiers have had better odds of being funded. We encourage researchers to consider what level of funding makes the most sense for their project and design.

Proposal Narrative - You are expected to upload a proposal narrative pdf that includes the following:

• A description of the project, the central research question(s), and the project’s significance.

• A rationale for the project. This includes (a) summary of the relevant literature, the relationship of the proposed research to that literature, and the new knowledge or contribution to the improvement of education expected to result from the proposed research; and (b) a summary of the conceptual framework or theory guiding the project and how the project utilizes or builds on this framework of theory.

• A description of the proposed research methods, description of participants, data collection instruments, and modes of analysis the project will employ. If applicable to the proposed methods, please include (a) information about the proposed sample/case definition and selection procedures; (b) research design, including when appropriate a description of the context of the study; (c) description of key constructs, measures and data sources; (d) procedures for data collection; and (e) procedures for data analysis.

• A short description of plans for dissemination of the research findings. While this may include traditional submissions to academic conferences and publications, we also encourage other forms of dissemination that aim to impact policy, practice, or public discourse. We expect scholars to follow the highest ethical and professional standards of their fields. Please consult our statement of ethics and professional expectations.

This narrative may not exceed 5000 words and at the conclusion should include the word count in parentheses. Your reference list should follow your narrative in the same pdf file and will not count toward the 5000-word limit. The text should be double–spaced and in a 12–point font. APA style is preferred. The document should include page numbers.

Note: Tables and other figures can be included in the text of your proposal, where appropriate, provided they are used sparingly. The text contained in any tables and figures will not count towards the word limit. However, it is important that you describe or explain any tables or figures in the narrative portion of your proposal, which will contribute to your word count. Do not assume that tables and other figures are self-explanatory.

Project Timeline - A project timeline should be uploaded in pdf format and should indicate the proposed start and end dates of the project as well as key project events and milestones. The major activities listed in the project timeline should be reflected in the proposal narrative. The project timeline may not exceed 1 page, and the text should be in a 12-point font. The proposed project duration can be up to 5 years.

Project Team – A document describing the project team should be uploaded in pdf format and should identify the roles, responsibility, and knowledge base of the PI, Co-PI(s), and any supporting researcher(s). Additionally, it should articulate how the team will work together to complete the research project, highlighting what each team member will contribute to the project. Further, a short description of the relationship between the project team and the research site may be included, if appropriate. When applicable, please discuss the learning opportunities team members may experience through their participation in this project. This document should not exceed 800 words and should be double–spaced in 12-point font.

Resubmission – If this is a resubmission of a proposal previously submitted to the Spencer Foundation, you are asked to indicate this within the application and upload a 1-page explanation of how the proposal was revised.

For information on optional appendices, our review process, frequently asked questions, and other important information, please see the full Request for Proposals in our online portal: https://spencer.smartsimple.us/.

Applications Open
December 10, 2025

Pre-Proposal Deadline
February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Full Proposal (By Invitation) Deadline
June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Join Us on WhatsApp