The Conference Grant Program provides support to scholars to organize small research conferences, focused symposia, or other forms of convenings around important issues in education research. This program is intended to bring together researchers, community members, practitioners, policymakers, and other important collaborators whose expertise, substantive knowledge and practice, theoretical insight, or methodological expertise can be engaged in ways that help to build upon and advance education research.

The Funding Agency encourages applicants to think creatively about how convenings can expand our understanding of research methods and how new innovative research methods can impact educational research that is grounded in advancing racial equity. This grant program supports proposals with budgets of $50,000 or less. 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 the topic of critical and innovative methodological needs and advancements in the service of education research that advances racial equity.

Eligibility
Proposals to the Conference Grant program must be for small research conferences, focused symposia, or convenings that will explore understanding of research methods and how new innovative research methods can impact educational research that is grounded in advancing racial equity as 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 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 nonprofit status if the organization is outside of the United States).

Restrictions
Proposals to support annual ongoing conferences or meetings are not eligible for this program. Relatedly, requests to fund travel to existing annual conferences or meetings are also not eligible. Proposed budgets for this program are limited to $50,000 total and may not include indirect cost charges per Spencer’s policy. PIs and/or Co-PIs may not submit more than one application for a given deadline in this program.

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