Research Grants on Education: Large

Eligibility

Eligibility

Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs applying for a Large Research Grant on Education must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or professional field. While graduate students may be part of the research team, they may not be named the PI or Co-PI on the proposal.

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 non-profit status if the organization is outside of the United States).

Proposals to the Large Research Grants on Education program must be for academic research projects that aim to study education. Proposals for activities other than research that do not contain a significant research component are not eligible (e.g., program evaluations, professional development, curriculum development, scholarships, capital projects, tech platform development, AI tool development). Additionally, proposals for research studies focused on areas other than education are not eligible.

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.

Summary

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 up through $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications once a year.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a lasting impact on educational discourse.

We recognize that learning occurs across the life course as well as across settings— from the classroom to the workplace, to family and community contexts and even onto the playing field—any of which may, in the right circumstance, provide the basis for rewarding study that makes significant contributions to the field. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, from scholars at various stages in their career. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines that innovatively investigate questions central to education, including for example education, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, economics, history, or neuroscience, amongst others.

Overhead

Large Research Grant budget totals are inclusive of 15% indirect cost charges. 

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

👉 Full Instructions for submission can be found at this LINK.

Preproposal Overview

Applicants must submit a single PDF via SmartSimple containing the following:

• Project Personnel: PI (auto-assigned) and any Co-PIs with names and organizations.
• Preproposal Narrative (max 1250 words, double-spaced, 12-pt font):
  • Problem/issue & significance (250 words)
  • Research question(s) (100 words)
  • Theoretical/conceptual framing (400 words)
  • Research design (400 words)
  • Scholarly contribution (100 words)
  • Include word count at end.
• References: Up to 2 pages (not counted toward word limit).
• Team Description: 1 page.
• Timeline: 1 page (project duration up to 5 years).
• Budget: Up to 2 pages with justifications; no institutional sign-off required.
• File Naming: PI last name + Request ID (prefix “Resubmission” if applicable).

Additional online form elements:

• Project Summary: Title, duration, budget tier, research question(s), 200-word summary.
• Project Data: Disciplinary perspective, methods, topics, scope, contexts, participants.
• Resubmission Indicator: If applicable.
• AI Agreement: Acknowledge compliance with Spencer Foundation AI policy.

Submission: Upload PDF and complete all prompts before clicking Submit. All preproposals receive light feedback; selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Overview (by invitation only)

Invited applicants will complete the full proposal in SmartSimple. Key components include:

• Project Personnel: Connect Co-PIs by linking their profiles.
• Proposal Summary: Title, start/end dates, research question(s), and a 200-word summary.
• Budget & Justification: Complete budget form with categories:
  • Salaries, Benefits, Collaborators, Travel, Equipment/Software, Project Expenses, Other, Subcontracts.
  • Include narrative for each expense.
  • IDC allowed up to 15% (main budget excludes subcontract IDC).
  • Subcontract budgets require separate forms.
  • Tip: Choose a funding tier that fits your design—lower tiers often have better odds.
• Proposal Narrative (max 5000 words, double-spaced, 12-pt font, APA preferred):
  • Project description, research questions, significance.
  • Rationale: literature review, contribution, conceptual/theoretical framework.
  • Methods: participants, instruments, analysis, design details.
  • Dissemination plans (academic + broader impact).
  • Include word count; references follow narrative (not counted).
  • Tables/figures allowed but must be explained in text.
• Project Timeline: 1 page, key milestones, up to 5 years.
• Project Team: Roles, responsibilities, collaboration approach (max 800 words).
• Resubmission: Indicate and upload 1-page revision summary.
• Optional Appendices & FAQs: See full RFP for details.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application