John Templeton Foundation Grant Program

The John Templeton Foundation Grant Program aims to inspire awe and wonder through interdisciplinary research and public engagement. By funding bold ideas that challenge conventional thought, the foundation fosters curiosity and understanding. It supports various funding areas, including character virtue development, individual freedom, life sciences, and public engagement. The foundation seeks to create a world where individuals pursue meaningful lives, motivated by love and a desire for knowledge.

Inspiring Awe & Wonder
The mission of the John Templeton Foundation is to support interdisciplinary research and catalyze conversations that inspire awe and wonder.
Our Grants
The Foundation offers grants in support of research and public engagement in our major Funding Areas. And we fund innovative programs that engage the public with these ideas, in an effort to open minds, deepen understanding, and inspire curiosity.
Funding Areas
The John Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. Our funding areas define our philanthropic priorities and advance our aspiration to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love. We welcome grant applications to support field-leading research and high impact public engagement programs in these areas.
Character Virtue Development
The Character Virtue Development funding area supports research and catalyzes conversations that seek to advance the science and practice of character, with a focus on moral, performance, civic, and intellectual virtues such as humility, gratitude, curiosity, diligence, and honesty.
Individual Freedom & Free Markets
The Individual Freedom & Free Markets funding area supports education, research, and outreach projects to promote individual freedom, free markets, free competition, and entrepreneurship.
Life Sciences
The Life Sciences funding area supports projects that seek novel and fundamental insights into the meaning and significance of life processes, by which we can better understand humanity’s place within nature.
Mathematical & Physical Sciences
In our Mathematical and Physical Sciences funding area, we support research seeking to shed light on the fundamental concepts of physical reality.
Public Engagement
The Public Engagement funding area supports content projects that include video, audio, public events, and print media. In addition, we seek proposals that support the next generation of thought leaders, generate durable courses and programming at leading universities.
Religion, Science, & Society
The Religion, Science, & Society funding area will seek to advance our collective understanding of the ways in which religious and spiritual beliefs and practices affect human flourishing and to apply those insights to society in meaningful and practical ways.

Eligibility

Generally, we fund discrete projects. Our process and forms are not designed for other types of requests such as donations, operational support, or program support.
Anyone can request funding from the foundation.
Generally, we fund charitable entities that operate inside and outside of the United States.The Foundation has made grants to organizations from around the world.On rare occasions, we may fund individuals and for-profit companies doing charitable work that is consistent with our tax-exempt status.
The Foundation allows projects to include an overhead/indirect cost component that is no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total direct expenses.
Applicants may submit more than one funding inquiry to the Foundation.

Ineligibility

The Foundation typically does not provide challenge grants.
The Foundation generally does not fund buildings, renovations, or capital campaigns; direct-service programs; scholarships for college or graduate school; general operating support for organizations; or disaster relief.
The Foundation will not fund any project for more than five years.