Spencer Foundation Conference Grant Program 2019/2020 for Scholars (up to $50,000)
Deadline: December 4, 2019
Applications for the Spencer Foundation Conference Grant Program 2019/2020 are now open. The Conference Grant program provides support to scholars in developing small research conferences and focused symposia to explore critical issues in education research with budgets up to $50,000.
They intend for applicants to bring together researchers, practitioners, and other important collaborators whose substantive knowledge, theoretical insight, and methodological expertise can be assembled in ways that build upon and advance education research. These convenings can serve as starting points for building new research agendas or as touchstones for research communities to connect and advance their shared scholarly interests about education research.
The Foundation rotates the area of focus for this program annually to generate fresh ideas and perspectives on pressing educational challenges. For this funding cycle Spencer will support conferences related to three topics that emerged from their year-long field engagement with the education research community.
Grant
- This grant program supports conference proposals with budgets of $50,000 or less.
Eligibility
- Proposals to the Conference Grant program must be for small research conferences and focused symposia that will build upon and advance best practices in education research in one of the areas of focus specified in the Program Statement.
- Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Conference grant must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or professional field, or appropriate experience in an education research-related profession. While graduate students may be part of the proposal, they may not be named the PI or Co-PI.
- The PI must be affiliated with a non-profit organization 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 colleges, universities, school districts, and research facilities, as well as other non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS.
- 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.
Selection Process
The Conference Grants Program in Education uses a peer review process for all eligible submissions. Each proposal will be reviewed by both external panel reviewers and internal staff. The review process for this program takes approximately 5 months from the deadline date.
The review panel for this program is made up of scholars in the field of education research with expertise across many disciplines and methodological areas. Panelist are asked to rate and comment on the following aspects of your proposal:
- Significance of the Conference: Reviewers will evaluate the importance and timeliness of the topic to the identified focus area and its alignment to the program statement.
- Adequacy of Conference Curriculum: Reviewers will comment on the overall adequacy of the conference curriculum.
- Background of the Conference Organizers and Participants: Reviewers will comment on how well the backgrounds of the conference organizers and potential participants are appropriate, comprehensive of the relevant areas in the field, and provide an overall goodness-of-fit fo the convening’s goals.
- Deliverables of the Proposed Convening: Reviewers will evaluate the appropriateness of the deliverables discussed in the proposal and their alignment to the conference goals.
- Budget and Timeline: Reviewers will evaluate the adequacy of the budget and timeline
Application