Open call: John Templeton Foundation – Online Funding Inquiry (OFI)

May 21, 2026 | Awards & Funding, Faculty, Research

To: Science Faculty and Researchers
From: Office of Foundation Relations
Subject: Funding Opportunity

The Office of Foundation Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the John Templeton Foundation.   

 

Overview 

The John Templeton Foundation supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder.  The foundation welcomes Online Funding Inquiries (OFI) to support field-leading research and high impact public engagement programs in the following funding areas and ventures:

  • Intelligence Venture
    • As current science and scholarship yield a more subtle understanding of biological intelligence from cells to plants to animals, as complexity theorists illuminate collective intelligences from bee swarms to social networks to entire societies, and as machine intelligence develops powers outstripping our own, we confront a set of questions. Starting in 2026, the John Templeton Foundation will award over $60 million in grants focused on questions across their six funding areas. 

Restrictions

Templeton 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.

Award Amount & Terms

  • Grant duration is often up to three years. In rare instances the Foundation may support a project for up to five years. The Foundation will not fund any project for more than five years. Projects can be renewed under specific guidelines.
  • The Foundation allows projects to include an overhead/indirect cost component that is no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total direct expenses. We welcome proposals that request a lower percentage. The overhead/indirect cost should be included in the total amount you request.

See here for FAQs.

See here for previously awarded grants.

Eligibility 

  • Anyone can request funding from the Foundation.
  • Generally, Templeton funds charitable entities that operate inside and outside of the United States. On rare occasions, the Foundation may fund individuals and for-profit companies doing charitable work that is consistent with our tax-exempt status.

Timeline

  • July 15, 2026 OFI Deadline
  • Early Fall OFI Decision 
  • December 4, 2026 Full Proposal Deadline (or earlier for select proposals)
  • By July 9, 2027 Funding Decision (or earlier for select proposals)

Special Instructions

Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). For support developing your Online Funding Inquiry, please send a request to the Office of Research Development, resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu), and within the Arts, please contact Hannah Jasper (hannahjasper@ucsc.edu) to initiate support.

Call sent: May 21, 2026

The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website:  FR Calls for Funding.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact caroline@ucsc.edu
Back to the Message Center