The Spencer Foundation
The Spencer Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established by Lyle M. Spencer in 1962, it supports high-quality, innovative research on education, broadly conceived, through research grants, fellowships, and field-building initiatives.
The Spencer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Spencer Foundation gave $24.3M across 214 grants in 2025 (avg $114K), top state District of Columbia. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $24,318,536
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 214
- -15.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $113,638
- +44.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $74,960
- Total assets
- $664,818,562
- -0.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (55 of 152, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Spencer Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications and materials requirements are posted on the foundation’s website. Proposals must be submitted by an administering organization with an IRS nonprofit determination; the foundation does not award grants directly to individuals. In most programs, principal investigators and co-principal investigators must have an earned doctorate, with stated exceptions for Research-Practice Partnerships and Vision Grants. Graduate students may participate on research teams but may not be named as PI or co-PI. PIs and co-PIs generally may not hold more than one active Spencer research grant at a time, subject to the stated exception for substantially different projects.
- Review Cycle
- The Research-Practice Partnerships full proposal deadline is October 28, 2026, at noon Central time, for invited applicants only. Its May 12, 2026 pre-proposal deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The Research-Practice Partnerships full proposal deadline is October 28, 2026, at noon Central time, for invited…
- Contact
Application contact: Dr Na'Llah Suad Nasir
Mailing address: 625 Michigan Ave Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 337-7000
Website: https://spencer.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The Spencer Foundation
Racial Equity Research Grants
The Spencer Foundation
Amount
Up to US $75,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program Grant
The Spencer Foundation
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Research Grants on Education: Large
The Spencer Foundation
Amount
US $125,000 - US $500,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Spencer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Academy of Education ($4.3M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($32,118), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,197 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 538 grants of 1,197 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to organizations in Washington, DC (21%), New York (13%), California (10%), Illinois (5%), and Michigan (5%). Its 2025 grants also included an award to FLACSO Argentina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 214 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Spencer Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 55 of 152 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $82K; repeat grants $204K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $108K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20.0M (2024) to $24.9M (2023). In 2025 it made 214 grants totaling $24.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Academy of Education Washington, DC | National academy of education/spencer postdoctoral fellowship programs (cohorts 24-25, 25-26, 26-27) | $2,532,835 |
| National Academy of Education Washington, DC | National academy of education/spencer dissertation fellowship programs (cohorts 24-25, 25-26, 26-27) | $1,753,042 |
| William T Grant Foundation New York, NY | Support for the 2024 institutional challenge grant program at the william t. Grant foundation | $650,000 |
| William T Grant Foundation New York, NY | Support for the 2025 institutional challenge grant program at the william t. Grant foundation | $650,000 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship Program, 2024 - 2028 | $593,600 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Creating Transformative Possibility in Schools and Communities | $483,044 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Linguistic variation and disciplinary action on african American children in schools | $392,629 |
| University of Kansas Center for Research Inc Lawrence, KS | The Tribal Education Department Capacity Building Project | $382,906 |
| Flacso Argentina | History Teaching Through Dialogical Controversies | $274,540 |
| Boston University Boston, MA | Re-Imagining Alternative Education | $250,850 |
Ready to take the next step with The Spencer Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $664,818,562 | $235,611,615 | $36,116,759 | $24,318,536 | 214 | $36,692,079 | $234,766,758 | $30,144,182 |
| 2024 | $667,415,167 | $81,530,805 | $44,974,960 | $20,033,782 | 254 | $29,266,596 | $78,046,466 | $29,270,557 |
| 2023 | $597,526,115 | $41,967,343 | $28,314,372 | $24,908,730 | 284 | $34,422,776 | $40,600,161 | $28,875,527 |
| 2022 | $670,624,797 | $32,472,140 | $27,699,039 | $24,680,629 | 291 | $32,636,589 | $31,530,735 | $34,163,455 |
| 2021 | $672,664,488 | $44,697,561 | $42,598,062 | $20,963,346 | 154 | — | $43,889,302 | $29,490,244 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Spencer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $30.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support high-quality, innovative research on education. Its research grants are intended to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, technically sound scholarship relevant to important questions and opportunities in education. The foundation says its programs are not designed around a specific request for proposals; instead, it invites scholars to identify what the field needs to know more about.
Programs include research grants, research-training fellowships, and field-building initiatives. Listed research grant programs include Racial Equity Research Grants, Large and Small Research Grants on Education, Research-Practice Partnerships, and Vision Grants. The website also describes fellowships for scholars and journalists.
The foundation’s 2025 grants show support for universities and research organizations, as well as organizations with other missions. For example, the University of Kansas Center for Research describes itself as a nonprofit that administers sponsored research and training for the university. The American Indian College Fund says it invests in Native students and tribal college education, while the Philadelphia Student Union describes its mission as building a more just and inclusive community through programs that bridge racial and economic barriers. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 214 grants totaling $24,318,536. Grants ranged from $4,500 to $2,532,835, with a median of $74,960.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $2,532,835 to the National Academy of Education for postdoctoral fellowship programs and $1,753,042 to the National Academy of Education for dissertation fellowship programs. Other notable awards included $650,000 each to the William T. Grant Foundation for its 2024 and 2025 Institutional Challenge Grant programs, and $593,600 to Columbia University for the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship Program, 2024–2028.
The Vision Grant program is described as supporting collaborative planning for interdisciplinary research projects. Its stated award is $75,000 for a 6-to-12-month period. The foundation’s website lists the current cycle for several research programs as closed. For Research-Practice Partnerships, the pre-proposal deadline of May 12, 2026 has passed; the full proposal deadline is October 28, 2026, at noon Central time, by invitation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dr. Na'ilah Suad Nasir as president; Elizabeth Carrick as vice president, administration and chief of staff; Andreason Brown as chief financial officer and treasurer; and Doris Fischer as communications manager and board secretary. Directors listed were Prudence Carter, Carl Cohn (outgoing FY25), Nonie Lesaux, Jane Patterson, Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, and Mike Williams.
The Spencer Foundation is led by Na'ilah Suad Nasir, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 13 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Na'ilah Suad Nasir
President
President & Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$639K (2021) → $725K (2025)
Carl Cohn
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Cecilia Rios-Aguilar
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Eduardo Padron
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$8K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Mike Williams
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Rob Reich
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Jane Patterson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$10K (2022) → $10K (2025)
Kirabo Jackson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$5K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Nonie Lesaux
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$3K (2022) → $10K (2025)
Prudence Carter
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$3K (2024) → $10K (2025)
Tyrone Howard
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$8K (2025)
Andreason Brown
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
CFO & Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$273K (2021) → $327K (2025)
Elizabeth Carrick
Vice President, Administrator & Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff & Vice President of Administrator → Vice President, Administrator & Chief of Staff, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$295K (2021) → $353K (2025)
Doris Fischer
Communications Manager & Board Secretary
Board Secretary & Rec Manager → Communications Manager & Board Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$120K (2023) → $120K (2025)
Former officers (7)
- Former: Judy Klippenstein (2021–2023) — Board Secretary & Rec Manager
- Former: Pamela Grossman (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Erick Odmark (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Vander Ploeg (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Richard Murnane (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Cybele C Raver (2021) — Director
- Former: Stephen W Raudenbush (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $725K, to Dr Na'ilah Suad Nasir (President). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Spencer Foundation
How much does The Spencer Foundation give each year?
The Spencer Foundation gave $24.3M across 214 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20.0M across 254 grants.
What is The Spencer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Spencer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $74,960, and its average grant was $113,638, across 214 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Spencer Foundation that year got $82K on average.
Where does The Spencer Foundation give grants?
The Spencer Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (13%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (17 grants), Washington, DC (15 grants), Chicago, IL (11 grants) and East Lansing, MI (6 grants).
Does The Spencer Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 0% of The Spencer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 214) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Spencer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Spencer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Academy of Education ($4,285,877 across 2 grants), William T Grant Foundation ($1,300,000 across 2 grants) and Michigan State University ($815,191 across 6 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($32,118), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Spencer Foundation?
The Spencer Foundation reported $664.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $36.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Spencer Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support high-quality, innovative research on education. Its research grants are intended to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, technically sound scholarship relevant to important questions and opportunities in education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Spencer Foundation?
Applications and materials requirements are posted on the foundation’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Spencer Foundation's EIN?
The Spencer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6078558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Spencer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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