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Funding Opportunities

William T. Grant Scholars

The William T. Grant Scholars Program supports promising early-career researchers from diverse disciplines, who have demonstrated success in conducting high-quality research and are seeking to further develop and broaden their expertise.

Candidates are nominated by a supporting institution and must submit five-year research plans that demonstrate creativity, intellectual rigor, and a commitment to continued professional development. Every year, four to six William T. Grant Scholars are selected and each receives $350,000 distributed over a five-year period.
Deadline
The 2012-13 Scholars Application Guide is now available. The deadline for applications for the 2012-2013 cycle is July 3, 2012. Awards will be announced in March 2013.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:
  • Be employed at a nonprofit institution, either in the United States or abroad. In most instances, these organizations will have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, set up to receive and process grant awards. However, in rare cases, colleges or universities (such as Arizona State University) will not have 501(c)(3) tax exemption. If your institution fits into this category, we can instead accept an IRS determination letter which states that it is classified as a school under sections 509a1 and 170b1Aii of the IRS Code;
  • Submit a project that is consistent with the Foundation's Current Research Interests;
  • Address issues that have compelling relevance for theory, and policies or practices, affecting the settings of youth ages 8 to 25 in the United States or a vulnerable subpopulation of those youth; and
  • Have received their terminal degree within seven years of submitting their application. In many scholarly disciplines this translates to a maximum of seven years following the award of the doctoral degree and includes time spent as a post-doctoral fellow. In medicine, the seven-year maximum is dated from the completion of the first residency. Please note, those applying in 2012 must have received their terminal degree in 2005 or later. The award may not be used as a post-doctoral fellowship.

Interested in Applying?

The Foundation uses an online application system for all our funding programs. Application instructions and required forms are available in the How to Apply section, which can be accessed by clicking below. Please note, all applicants should read the most recent William T. Grant Scholars Program Brochure before beginning any application. We recommend beginning your application 4 to 6 weeks before the deadline to give references and mentors adequate time.

2012-13 William T. Grant Scholars Program Application Guide

The current Scholars Program Application Guide contains a complete description of the Scholars program, eligibility guidelines, and application instructions.

FAQs, Recent Grantees, and Successful Proposals

When preparing your Scholars proposal, you may find it helpful to read our FAQs document, brief descriptions of recently funded projects, and several examples of successful proposals.
Scholars Mentoring Grants

Since 2005, the Foundation has offered supplemental awards to current William T. Grant Scholars to mentor junior researchers of color. These grants are open to current Scholars only.  The Funding Announcement for 2012 awards is now available. Applications are due on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
Selection Committee

Many applicants find it useful to familiarize themselves with the members of the William T. Grant Scholars Selection Committee.
Mentoring Resources

Pay It Forward: Guidance for Mentoring Junior Scholars is a comprehensive resource for mentors jointly developed by the Foundation and the Forum for Youth Investment. As a companion piece to Pay It Forward, the Foundation created Maximizing Mentoring: A Guide for Building Strong Relationships as a toolkit for both mentors and mentees.