Spencer Foundation Vision Grants Program

The Spencer Foundation Vision Grants represent a unique and powerful opportunity for scholars to dream big about the future of education. This program is specifically designed to fund the collaborative planning of ambitious, large-scale research projects that aim to fundamentally transform educational systems toward greater equity. Rather than just funding a study, these grants provide the necessary resources—up to $75,000—for teams to gather, brainstorm, and build the infrastructure for research that could eventually receive millions in funding. Imagine having the space and support to bring together diverse voices, from grassroots organizers to academic experts, to tackle the most persistent injustices in our learning institutions.

This initiative is part of a larger strategy to catalyze "transformative research" that moves beyond incremental change. Whether you are focused on reimagining early childhood care, restructuring higher education access, or developing radical new pedagogies for marginalized communities, the Vision Grants program provides the seed money to turn your high-stakes ideas into grounded, actionable research plans. It is more than a fiscal award; it is a call to action for visionaries who believe that education can and must be the primary driver of equity in our global society.