The Spencer Foundation invests in educational research aimed at improving education with a broad focus on equity. It emphasizes innovative, interdisciplinary, and large-scale projects designed to transform educational systems toward greater equity.
The Small Research Grants Program emphasizes the advancement of education through supporting research projects with the potential to enhance educational methods, outcomes, or understanding. It not only accommodates a wide range of topics, designs, methods, and locations but also encourages proposals that are field-initiated and not confined to specific research queries. Financially, it backs projects with up to $50,000 over durations from one to five years. A unique aspect of this program is its openness to applications three times annually, promoting accessibility and flexibility for researchers. The overarching ambition is to uphold rigorous and technically sound research that directly addresses urgent questions and opportunities within the realm of education.