Blog
We recently analyzed the applications we received over the last two years for research grants on improving the use of research evidence. One of the top three reasons applications were not selected for funding was a focus on the use of data and not research evidence, as defined by the Foundation. We recognize that distinctions […]
In this webinar, deans from two current Institutional Challenge Grant teams join us to discuss the changes they intend for their respective schools, the concrete steps they are taking to encourage faculty to participate in engaged research, and the challenges they are navigating along the way.
With the increase in a variety of secondary data sources related to the use of research evidence and the growth of new methods and measures used in research on the use of research evidence, opportunities abound for those studying URE to advance the field. In response, for the August 2022 Officers’ research grants cycle, we […]
By R. Chris Sheldrick, Tom Mackie, Lauren Supplee, Gracelyn Cruden, Liz Farley-Ripple, Bill Firestone, Brittany Gay, Jonathan Purtle, Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom, on behalf of the William T. Grant Foundation Special Interest Group on the Quality of the Use of Research Evidence. For many years, the William T. Grant Foundation has funded research on ways to improve […]
It’s one thing to know how research is used in policy and practice—to understand the conditions that enable thoughtful deliberation and sense-making of the evidence and the infrastructure that supports those conditions. It’s another thing altogether to create those conditions and the supporting infrastructure so that research routinely serves the public interest. I recently took […]
The question of how to improve the use of research (URE) in policy and practice can be approached from diverse disciplinary and methodological angles. For many who study research use, attention to the challenge of URE grows naturally from an already established line of research. Other times, first-hand experience with the obstacles that prevent greater […]
President’s Comment: The Annual AERA Conference and the Future of Education Research
Like many, I am finally returning to live conferences after a hiatus of two years. Despite the still-ongoing pandemic, I am excited for the chance, with appropriate COVID protocols, to interact in person, to hear new ideas, and to share with others the latest aims and activities of the William T. Grant Foundation. The largest […]
The William T. Grant Foundation is pleased to announce the newest class of William T. Grant Scholars. Launched in 1982, the Scholars Program supports the professional development of promising researchers in the social, behavioral, and health sciences who have received their terminal degrees within the past seven years. To date, the program has sponsored more […]
If you are considering applying for a major grant or Officers’ research award in our reducing inequality focus area, we encourage you to closely evaluate whether your proposed study is a fit with our funding interests.
These grants leverage the power and networks of universities to reduce inequality in youth outcomes, a persisting challenge that has become even more severe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
True equity-oriented research must upend traditional power dynamics where university researchers are viewed as apex knowledge producers. Democratizing the knowledge production process to recognize the valued and essential contributions of both the researcher and community partners is essential for creating equitable research collaborations.
In this webinar, held on March 15, 2022, Program Officer Melissa Wooten and Senior Vice President Vivian Tseng provide an overview of eligibility details, required materials, and review criteria, as well as the background and broader goals of the William T. Grant Scholars program. Melissa and Vivian also take time to answer questions from attendees and share practical advice on how to prepare a competitive application.
The William T. Grant Foundation and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) have launched a collaborative partnership, “Increasing the Use, Usefulness and Impact of Research about Youth.” This collaboration aims to advance theory and build empirical knowledge on ways to improve the use of research evidence by policymakers, agency leaders, organizational managers, intermediaries, and other […]
The Foundation is pleased to welcome two new staff members to our team: Dwayne Linville, Director, Grantmaking Operations, and Melissa Wooten, Program Officer. Linville will lead the Grants Management Team. One of his primary responsibilities will be to ensure that the grants management system meets the needs of the Foundation’s applicants, grantees, and staff. He […]
We are very pleased to announce the finalists for the 2022 Institutional Challenge Grant competition. The Institutional Challenge Grant encourages research institutions to build long-term research-practice partnerships with public agencies or nonprofit organizations in order to reduce inequality in youth outcomes. To do so, research institutions will need to shift their policies and practices to […]