Investigators of projects with budgets over $40,000 are asked to submit a preliminary proposal following the guidelines below. If the Foundation is interested in the project, the Principal Investigator will be invited to submit a full proposal. Normally, you will be informed about the status of the preliminary proposal within four to six weeks of receipt.
The preliminary proposal submission should include the following elements:
- Proposal Cover Sheet
- the proposal cover sheet should be downloaded, saved to your computer, and then submitted with your preliminary proposal. Click to download.
- Proposal Narrative (The proposal narrative should be no longer than 1800 words, not including
the reference list.)
- a description of the project, the central research question(s) and its significance;
- a brief summary of the relevant literature, the relationship of the proposed research to that literature, and the new knowledge expected to result from the proposed research;
- a concise summary of the conceptual framework, research methods, data collection instruments, and modes of analysis that the project will employ;
- an explanation of (a) how the proposed work fits within one or more of the Spencer focus areas, or, (b) the unique contribution of the work if it does not fit within one of the Spencer focus areas; and
- a clear identification of the principal investigator(s) and a clear definition of the role(s) he/she and any supporting researcher(s) will play.
- Proposal Budget
- the suggested budget format sheet should be downloaded, saved to your computer and then submitted with your proposal. Click to download.
- Curriculum Vitae of the Principal Investigator(s) (each CV should be no longer than 6 pages).
Deadlines: Preliminary proposals are accepted at any time; there are no deadlines.
Submission Instructions: Please send two copies of your preliminary proposal and attachments to the mailing address below. Your submission should be addressed to the Spencer Focus Area under which your proposal primarily falls. (Please do not send your proposal to more than one focus area.)
Spencer Foundation
Attn: (Primary Focus Area)
625 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60611
Review Process: Normally, you will be informed about the status of the preliminary proposal within four to six weeks of receipt. Investigators may be invited to submit a full proposal based on their initial submission. An invitation letter will be sent to the Principal Investigator along with guidelines for submission and the various forms that we require.
Invited Full Proposals: If the preliminary proposal review results in an invitation to submit a full proposal, the Principal Investigator will receive an invitation letter. There are three deadlines per year for invited full proposals and though they normally fall in April, July, and December, the specific deadline date will be included in the invitation letter. The review process for invited full proposals takes approximately eight months and may include staff, external, and advisory committee review.
If you have any questions regarding the proposal submission process, please feel free to contact Annie Brinkman, Program Administrator, at abrinkman@spencer.org or 312-274-6511.