College of Education

Foundation Research Funders - List for the College of Education

This page is under regular curation. BER last update: April 25, 2025

Page Sections:

A. Introduction

B. Foundations with a Public-Facing Grantmaking Apparatus

C. Foundations where Navigational Help is Important

A. INTRODUCTION

Use this list for leads and ideas about foundation funders that work in education and education-adjacent areas.

1. Brief descriptions, drawn from the funder’s website. Please explore further. 
2. Links to:
   • Funder’s website.
   • GrantForward search database (as available). Organization listings point to specific funding programs. All university faculty, staff and students are eligible for free GrantForward accounts, which use UIUC Single Sign-on Login. (SSL).
3. Funding amounts, VERY approximative (based on a foundation’s recent awards or posted guidance), to convey likely fundable project size and scale. Interested researchers should investigate further. Each foundation sets own policies for payment of facilities & administrative costs (F&A, also known as indirect costs or ICR). Some pay no F&A, while others pay limited F&A (e.g., 10 - 20%).

Recommended Resources: 

• COE Grants Academy: Navigating Private Sponsors, workshop recorded 2/7/2025.
• Campus Office of Principal Gifts, University Initiatives, and Campaign Strategy for assistance to  relationships and approaches, especially for foundations that require special handling. Initiate new requests by sending a request to foundationrelations@illinois.edu. Elizabeth Birlet is Senior Director of Foundation Relations (e-birle@illinois.edu). Barlow Levold, Director of Foundation Relations (jbl@illinois.edu), works most frequently with COE Faculty.

American Association of University Women Education Foundation

• AAUW advocates for women and girls, leading the fight for fair pay and economic opportunity for women.
• Approx. Funding Range: Research Publication Grants: $8,000

American Educational Research Association (The)

• The AERA Grants Program, with funds from NSF, seeks proposals for Research Grants. from faculty, postdocs, and other doctoral­-level scholars. The aim is to advance fundamental knowledge of relevance to STEM education policy, foster significant science using education data, promote equity in STEM, and build research capacity in education and learning. The program supports highly competitive studies using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data.

• Approx. Funding Limit: $35,000

• Click for AERA GrantForward Information 

ASH Foundation (American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation) (The)

• ASH Foundation supports innovators and sparks innovation in the field of communication sciences and disorders. It provides resources for passionate and promising investigators exploring forward-thinking solutions and conducting groundbreaking research.
• Approx. Funding Limit: For new investigators, $10,000
• Click for ASH GrantForward Information 

Brady Educational Foundation

• Brady Educational Foundation seeks to improve educational outcomes for children, including those living in low-income communities. The Foundation pursues its mission by promoting collaboration among researchers, educators, and other stakeholders via the funding of Research Projects and Program Evaluations.
• Approx. Funding Range: $50,000 or less; $50,000 or more
• Click for Brady GrantForward Information 

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

• The Caplan Foundation is an incubator of promising research and development projects that appear likely to improve the welfare of young children, from infancy through 7 years, in the United States.
• Approx. Funding Range: $40,000 - $75,000
• Click for Caplan GrantForward Information

Cisco Global Impact Cash Grant Program

• Cisco Global Impact identifies, incubates, and develops innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. Looking for programs that fit within their investment areas, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.
• Approx. Funding Limit: For first-time projects, $75,000
• Click for Cisco GrantForward Information

Gates Foundation (Bill and Melinda)

• Gates funds research through a variety of means. Gates focus areas are broad, and shift over time. Recent Gates Grand Challenges comprise a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems at large scale. Gates also underwrites initiatives with calls for proposals managed by various partner organizations

• Approx. Funding Range: For Digital Promise Program, $10,000 – $250,000

• Click for Gates GrantForward Information

Gerber Foundation

• The Gerber Foundation’s mission focuses on infants and young children. Accordingly, priority is given to projects that improve the nutrition, care and development of infants and young children from the first year before birth to three years of age.
• Approx. Funding Limit: $350,000
• Click for Gerber GrantForward Information

NewSchools Venture Fund

• The NewSchools Venture Fund supports ventures engaged in development of instructional interfaces.

• Approx. Funding Range: $300,000

• Click for NewSchools GrantForward Information

• The Organization for Autism Research strives to use science to address the social, educational, and treatment concerns of autistic people, parents, autism professionals, and caregivers. The mission of “applying” research to answer questions of daily concern to autistic people and those around them defines goals and program objectives and shapes their budget.

• Approx. Funding Limit: $50,000

• Click for Autism GrantForward Information

• The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) funds research and initiatives focused on achieving health equity to transform health in our lifetime.

• Approx. Funding Limit: $200,000
  

• Click for Robert Wood Johnson GrantForward Information

• Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) funds social science research that extends the methods, data, and theories of the social sciences as a means of better documenting and understanding the nation’s most pressing social, political, and economic problems.

• Approx. Funding Limit: For Trustee Grants, $200,000

• Click for Sage GrantForward Information

• The Sloan Foundation funds research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and economics

• Approx. Funding Range: Small Grants: $250,000; Major Grants: $250,000 +

• Click for Sloan GrantForward Information

• Spencer Foundation Vision Grants are designed for teams to plan multi-method and/or interdisciplinary, collaborative studies that address a clear opportunity or challenge whose solution could transform educational systems toward equity. Spencer Foundation Transformative Research Grants.

•  Approx. Funding Limits: Small Grants: $50,000; Large Grants: $125,000 - $500,000; Research Practice Partnerships: $400,000; Racial Equity Grants: $75,000; Vision Grants: $75,000; Transformative Research Grants: Up to $3,500,000

• Click for Spencer GrantForward Information

• The Stavros Niachros Foundation (SNF) supports research globally in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF is currently engaged in a long-term landmark effort to improve access to quality health care in many countries.

• Approx. Funding Range: Not stated. "Foundation budget is $1 billion per year."

• Click for Stavros Niachros GrantForward Information

• The Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. Funding areas define philanthropic priorities and advance aspiration to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love. Welcome grant applications to support field-leading research and high impact public engagement programs in these areas.

• Approx. Funding Range: 2024 Character Virtue Development grants to universities: $200,000 - $2,000,000; Public Engagement grants to universities: $2,500,000

• Click for Templeton GrantForward Information

• The Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. Funding areas define philanthropic priorities and advance aspiration to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love. Welcome grant applications to support field-leading research and high impact public engagement programs in these areas.

• Approx. Funding Limit: $500,000

• Click for Wallace GrantForward Information

C. Foundations where Navigational Help is Important

Annie E. Casey Foundation

• The Annie E. Casey Foundation is committed to building a brighter future for children who face signifi­cant obstacles on the road to adulthood. To help kids, invest in the parents who raise them and the neighborhoods where they live. They invest in innovative ideas, practices and policies that have the potential to help millions thrive.

• Average Award Size: $76,000

• Click for Annie E Casey GrantForward Information

Arnold Ventures (Laura and John Arnold Foundation)

• Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. AV funds Randomized Controlled Trials across the spectrum of social policy (Criminal Justice, Health Care, Infrastructure, Public Finance, Higher Education, Journalism, Affordable Housing, Climate and Energy, Democracy).
• Approx. Award Limit: $250,000; Range: $20,000 - $2,250,000
• Click for Arnold Ventures GrantForward Information

Chicago Community Trust

• As the Midwest’s regional community foundation, the Chicago Community Trust (CCT) is a platform for change that connects philanthropy to impact. CCT brings together generous donors, committed organizations, and caring residents to effect lasting change that moves our entire region forward.
• Approx. Award Limit: For Expired RFP, Fund Together Workforce, $200,000
• Click for Chicago Community Trust GrantForward Information

Comcast Corporation - Comcast Innovation Fund

• The Comcast Innovation Fund was created to support technology and public policy research that contributes to the betterment of the Internet, and the continued evolution of connectivity products and services. The fund provides grants to technologists, researchers, and academics to support Internet- and connectivity-focused projects within the fund's areas of interest, which are updated annually. General Research Grants provide unrestricted award of funds to support researchers, usually at colleges and universities. These grants are focused on supporting excellent technical research in a wide variety of fields that are relevant to the evolution of the Internet.
• Approx. Award Range: $3,000 - $150,000
• Click for Comcast GrantForward Information

Field Foundation of Illinois (The)

• The Field Foundation of Illinois invests in Chicago-based nonprofits serving Field’s geographic priority areas
• Approx. Award Range: $15,000 to $50,000; For A Road Together Program: $10,00 - $100,000

• Click for Field GrantForward Information

Ford Foundation

• For the Ford Foundation, advancing justice starts with supporting the individuals and institutions working tirelessly to address the underlying drivers of inequality. We fund a range of organizations around the world that align with our programs.
• Approx. Award Range: For Ford's currently open call ("JustFilms"), $25,00 - $100,000
• Click for Ford GrantForward Information

Google Foundation

• Google Foundation offers Google Academic Research Awards (GARA), aimed to fund and/or actively collaborate with researchers, fostering an ecosystem that generates impactful research with real-world applications. In each funding cycle, the GARA program will publish a series of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) focused on a diverse range of research areas within technology and computing. These RFPs will outline specific research challenges and opportunities that Google seeks to address through funding to and/or collaborations with academic institutions and researchers.
• Approx. Award Range: For  Making education equitable, accessible and effective using AI: $100,000
• Click for Google GrantForward Information

Huo Family Foundation

• The mission of the Huo Family Foundation, based in London, is to support education, communities and the pursuit of knowledge. Current focus is in three main areas: education; the arts; and science. Huo offers some Open Call Special Project - but submissions sare limited by institution: Effects of the Usage of Digital Technology on Brain Development, Social Behaviors and Mental Health in Children and Young People.
• Approx. Funding Limit: Early-Career Fellowships: $169,000; Junior Faculty Research Grants: $260,000; Special Projects: $390,000
• Visit Campus Limited Submission Opportunities for internal submission requirements and dates, when active.
• Click for Huo GrantForward Information

Joyce Foundation

• The Joyce Foundation is a private, nonpartisan philanthropy that invests in evidence-informed public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation. It supports policy research, development, and advocacy in six program areas: Culture, Democracy, Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform, and Journalism. It focuses grantmaking primarily in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, while also exploring promising, evidence-informed policy solutions nationally and at the federal level. Joyce focuses on applied public policy research. The research must be geared towards informing how districts, post-secondary institutions, or state/federal policymakers might approach a significant problem.

• Approx. Award Range: Past grants, including those made to universities: Up to $1,000,000
• Click for Joyce GrantForward Information

Kellogg Foundation (WK)

• W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s goal is lasting, transformational change for children. As a grantmaker, it recognizes that children live in families and families live in communities. That’s why Kellogg’s three areas of focused work – thriving children, working families and equitable communities – are dynamic and always interconnected.
• Approx. Award Range: Grant made to universities, 2017-Present: $39, 000 - $1,191,000
• Click for Kellogg GrantForward Information

Lumina Foundation for Education

• Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. It envisions higher learning that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s talent needs through a broad range of credentials. It works toward a system that prepares people for informed citizenship and success in a global economy. Lumina Foundation works in partnership with education and business leaders, civil rights organizations, policymakers, and individuals who want to reimagine how and where learning occurs.

• Approx. Award Range: $5,000 - $2,000,000
• Click for Lumina GrantForward Information

Mellon Foundation (The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)

• Mellon Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and believea that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through it’s grants, Mellon seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.

• Approx. Award Range: For Research Evidence Major Research Grants: $100,000 - $300,000; For Reducing Inequality Major Research Grants: $100,000 - $600,000; For Officers' Research Grants: $25,000 - $50,000; Institutional Challenge Grant: $650,000
• Visit Campus Limited Submission Opportunities for internal submission requirements and dates, when active.

• Click for WT Grant GrantForward Information

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