Overview
In 2027, the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) will award grants to U.S. colleges and universities that are committed to developing the moral, civic, and/or intellectual character of faculty, staff, students, and institutions.
We anticipate awarding:
- Institutional Impact Grants between $100,000 and $1,000,000
- Capacity-Building Grants of up to $50,000
These grants provide institutions with the time, resources, and support to discern how character education works best in their context.
Priority will be given to applications that show:
- Strong institutional support
- Alignment with mission, vision, and values
- Potential for integrating character in robust and meaningful ways across the institution
- Commitment to preparing students to engage the world beyond their institution
- Willingness to contribute to the community of character through shared wisdom and resources
ECI will also provide context-specific support to grant recipients from Wake Forest staff and consultants.
For those familiar with the rhythm of our institutional grants, please note the accelerated timeline for the 2027 grant cycle. Deadlines are significantly earlier than in previous years to create a longer runway between award notifications and grant start dates.
Read a PDF of the complete Request for Proposals, including additional details, linked below:
Read the full Invitation to Community and 2027 RFP
Grant Opportunities
1. Institutional Impact Grants
- Funding range: $100,000 – $1,000,000
- Duration: Three years
- Purpose: Support substantial and sustained efforts to integrate character into undergraduate education, either within a single institution or across multiple institutions.
These grants are well-suited for institutions that:
- Have an established framework and the infrastructure to support a significant effort in character education
- Have faculty/staff expertise to lead a major initiative
- Are well-positioned to advance the field through the contribution of practical resources that can be adapted for use by other institutions and practitioners across the landscape of higher education
Applications are welcome from:
- Two- and four-year U.S. colleges and universities
- Cross-institutional networks (funds must be based at one institution but can be shared)
Key Dates
- Grant Portal opens: September 15, 2026
- Letters of Inquiry due: November 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Responses to LOIs shared: January 15, 2027
- Final proposals from invited institutions due: March 15, 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Decisions announced: April 16, 2027
- Grant start date: August 1, 2027
2. Capacity-Building Grants
- Funding range: Up to $50,000
- Purpose: Provide institutions with resources to strengthen their ability to educate and embed character in their distinctive contexts.
These grants are designed for institutions that:
- Are exploring character education for the first time
- Want to pilot smaller projects
- May be preparing for larger funding opportunities in the future
Applications are welcome from:
- Two- and four-year colleges and universities
- Cross-institutional networks (funds must be based at one institution but can be shared)
Key Dates:
- Grant Portal opens: November 15, 2026
- Applications due: December 15, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Decisions announced: March 19, 2027
- Grant start date: July 1, 2027
Information Sessions
The ECI will host online information sessions to help applicants understand the opportunities available.
- General Grants Info Session — September 3, 2026, 12–1 p.m. ET
- Institutional Impact Grants Info Session — September 16, 2025, 12–1 p.m. ET
- Capacity-Building Grants Info Session — September 17, 2026, 12–1 p.m. ET
Deadlines at a Glance
How to Apply
- Applications are submitted through the ECI Grant Portal (opens Sept. 15, 2026, for Institutional Impact Grants; Nov. 15, 2026, for Capacity-Building Grants).
- Project leaders must hold (or be contracted to) a long-term faculty or staff position at an accredited U.S. college or university.
Contact
Please direct any questions to . Our staff is committed to learning from, with, and for the ECI Community — including those of you who are applying for grants. We want to partner with you in a shared effort and movement to educate character in colleges and universities.