Open
Source verified August 10, 2026
Racial Equity Research Grants
Education research for racial equity
Latest source updateLast Update: August 10, 2026Latest change: The grant page now shows Applications Open as Now closed, and the Intent to Apply is now required and limited to 200 words.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 10, 2026
Latest change: The grant page now shows Applications Open as Now closed, and the Intent to Apply is now required and limited to 200 words.
Racial Equity Research Grants now closed
The Racial Equity Research Grants page now shows Applications Open as Now closed. The previously listed deadline details for March 16, 2026 and July 1, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America) are no longer shown. The application instructions also now state that the Intent to Apply is required to submit a proposal and must be no more than 200 words. The page still directs applicants to the online portal and program contact information, but the main intake timing and process wording have changed.
Funding available
$ 75,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Administering organizations with a non-profit determination from the IRS, such as universities, colleges, research organizations, school districts, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
See full eligibility
Overview
Racial Equity Research Grants support education research projects submitted by administering organizations, with budgets up to $75,000. The program funds work that contributes to understanding and disrupting racial inequality in education and advancing educational equity, with projects ranging from one to five years.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Conduct research and development activities
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Education research projects focused on understanding and disrupting racial inequality in education
- Research that reimagines generative possibilities to advance educational equity
- Proposals at all levels and in all settings of learning, including early childhood, higher education, schools, families, and communities
- Qualitative methods, mixed-methods, and quantitative methods
Documents Needed
- Intent to Apply form
- Proposal narrative PDF
- Project timeline PDF
- Project team PDF
- 1-page explanation of how the proposal was revised, if this is a resubmission
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Administering organizations with a non-profit determination from the IRS, such as universities, colleges, research organizations, school districts, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
Who is not eligible
- Individuals applying in their own name
- Graduate students as PI or Co-PI
- PIs and Co-PIs may not submit more than one application, including preproposals, to the Spencer Foundation at a time
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and benefits
- Other collaborator costs
- Travel
- Equipment and software
- Project expenses, other costs, and subcontracts
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Indirect costs on grants of $75,000 or less
- Institutional infrastructure costs such as office rent and administrative overhead
- Government-approved overhead rates
Eligible geographic areas
- Outside of the United States
Selection criteria
- Rigor and technical soundness of the research
- Intellectual ambition and originality of the proposal
- Relevance to pressing questions in racial equity in education
- Clear significance and expected contribution to educational equity
- Fit with the program’s priority areas and broad methodological openness
How to apply
- The application process begins with an Intent to Apply form.
- Once submitted, you will automatically have access to the Full Proposal application in our online portal.
- To review these resources and to apply, please visit https://spencer.smartsimple.us/.
Processing and Agreement
- Once submitted, you will automatically have access to the Full Proposal application in our online portal.
- While submitting your Racial Equity proposal to the Spencer Foundation online portal, you will be asked to acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to comply with these guidelines.
- Submitted proposals must be reviewed and signed by an authorized representative of the administering organization, accepting full responsibility for expenditure of the funds should the grant be awarded.
Additional information
- Applications are accepted once a year.
- An Intent to Apply form is required before a full proposal can be submitted for certain programs.
- If an organization is not in Spencer’s database, a request to add it must be received at least 3 business days before a deadline.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Racial Equity Research Grants Program
What is the Racial Equity Research Grants?
Racial Equity Research Grants support education research projects submitted by administering organizations, with budgets up to $75,000. The program funds work that contributes to understanding and disrupting racial inequality in education and advancing educational equity, with projects ranging from one to five years.
How much funding can be received?
Racial Equity Research Grants Funds up to $75,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Racial Equity Research Grants program?
To be eligible for the Racial Equity Research Grants program, you must:
PIs and Co-PIs must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or professional field.
Graduate students may be part of the research team, but may not be named PI or Co-PI.
Proposal submissions are not required to focus on a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method.
What expenses are eligible under Racial Equity Research Grants?
Education research projects focused on understanding and disrupting racial inequality in education
Research that reimagines generative possibilities to advance educational equity
Proposals at all levels and in all settings of learning, including early childhood, higher education, schools, families, and communities
Qualitative methods, mixed-methods, and quantitative methods
Who can I contact for more information about the Racial Equity Research Grants?
You can contact The Spencer Foundation by email at racial-equity@spencer.org.
Where is the Racial Equity Research Grants available?
The Racial Equity Research Grants program is available across Canada.
Is the Racial Equity Research Grants a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Racial Equity Research Grants is a Grant and Funding