Institutional Impact Grants

The Institutional Impact Grants by Wake Forest University aim to support U.S. colleges and universities in fostering moral, civic, and intellectual character among their community members. In 2026, these grants will empower institutions committed to character development for faculty, staff, and students, promoting a holistic educational environment. This initiative underscores the importance of character in education, aligning with the university's mission to cultivate ethical leaders.

Since our launch, we have welcomed over 1,600 faculty, staff, and administrators from more than 600 institutions and organizations to join a community with a common purpose: educating character and building communities of character in higher education and beyond. Over two previous grant cycles, ECI has awarded $35 million dollars in grants to 146 institutions engaged in efforts to strengthen the understanding, integration, and education of character at U.S. colleges and universities.
In 2026, the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) will award grants to U.S. colleges and universities that are committed to developing the moral, civic, and intellectual character of their faculty, staff, and students.