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General Foundation Guidelines

The Luce Foundation empowers knowledge makers and supports dynamic community leaders through seven grantmaking areas and two leadership programs.

Before you apply through our online portal, please visit our program pages to determine which mission best matches your areas of interest. Below are the general guidelines and details for each grant category.

If you have difficulty registering for the online portal or submitting a concept note, please contact the grants administrator at [email protected].

Who is Eligible for a Luce Grant?

• Grants are only made to institutions and cannot be awarded directly to individuals, with the exception of the Luce Scholars Program. However, individuals may seek funding from Luce-supported programs administered by other organizations.
• Typically, grants are made to U.S. not-for-profit organizations or their international equivalents.
• An organization that already has an active Luce Foundation grant should contact the appropriate Program Director before applying for a second grant in the same area. An organization with an active grant from one of our programs is welcome to apply for a grant from a different program category.
• The Foundation does not support healthcare, medical initiatives, disaster relief, or international development projects.
• The Foundation does not provide support to political parties, political campaigns, lobbyists or any political activities.
• The Foundation does not contribute to annual funds, fundraising events, endowments, or building campaigns.

The Application Process: What to Expect

1. Do not apply for a grant until you’ve thoroughly reviewed the goals and guidelines for the program you’re interested in.
2. Create an account on our online portal and complete the concept note form. If you have difficulty registering for the portal or submitting the form, please contact the grants administrator at [email protected].
3. After submitting a concept note, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. All concept notes are reviewed within eight weeks of submission. If you have any questions or concerns during the application process, feel free to contact the relevant Program Director via email.
4. Following review by Luce program staff, selected applicants will be invited to submit detailed proposals through our online portal.
5. We present recommended proposals to the Luce Foundation’s board of directors for consideration three times each year—in March, June, and November. The concept note review and proposal development process generally takes a minimum of 3 to 4 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can apply for a Luce Grant?

  With the exception of the Luce Scholars Program, the Foundation only awards grants to institutions. However, individuals seeking support may apply for funding from Luce-supported programs administered by other organizations.

  Typically, grants are made to US-based 501(c)(3) organizations or their international equivalents. For non-US-based organizations, if a Concept Note advances to a proposal, we will request an Equivalency Determination (ED) certificate from NGOsource on behalf of the applicant organization.
  The Foundation’s Women in STEM Programs, Clare Boothe Luce Program and STEM Convergence, have very specific eligibility requirements. Please review them carefully before applying.

• Does an institution need to be invited to apply for a grant?

  An invitation is not required to apply through our online portal, however, for the second phase of the consideration, only selected institutions will have the opportunity to submit a full proposal. Be sure to review the eligibility criteria and program requirements thoroughly before applying for a grant.

• How do I apply for a grant?

  Each applicant must create an account on our online portal (accessible here) before submitting a Concept Note (formerly known as a Letter of Inquiry or LOI). A Concept Note is a brief description of the institution’s request, including the grant and/or program they would like to be considered for, a summary of their project, and the desired amount of funding.

  Every applicant receives an automatic confirmation of receipt after submitting a Concept Note. All Concept notes are reviewed within eight weeks of submission. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the relevant Program Director by email with any specific questions or concerns during the application process.

  Following review by Luce program staff, selected applicants are invited to submit detailed proposals through our online portal. We present recommended proposals to the Luce Foundation’s Board of Directors for consideration three times each year—in March, June, and November. The Concept Note review and proposal development process generally takes a minimum of 3 to 4 months.

  Visit the Grants Portal(this link opens in new window)

• How much funding do grantees typically receive?

  Grants from the Luce Foundation range from $10,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the program and project scope. Please carefully review all application guidelines before seeking funding.

• Can I meet with the Foundation before applying?

  Due to the high level of interest, pre-application meetings with the Luce team are not possible. Please use your Concept Note as an introduction and summary of your project. Upon review, our staff may invite your institution to submit a full proposal or contact you for more information.

• What types of programs does the Henry Luce Foundation support?

  The Henry Luce Foundation advances its work through seven grantmaking programs and two leadership programs. All of the projects we support reflect our commitment to education and research, knowledge-based leadership, and the dissemination of impactful ideas to the public.

  The guidelines, requirements, and deadlines vary for each program. Learn more about the variety of opportunities available here.

• What types of projects, activities, or groups are NOT eligible for funding from the Foundation?

  We do not support any of the following:

  • Projects related to healthcare, medical initiatives, disaster relief, or international development.
  • Political parties, political campaigns, lobbying, or other political activities.
  • Projects related to annual funds, fundraising events, endowments, or building campaigns.

• What do Program Directors look for when reviewing proposals?

  The Foundation is committed to identifying the most promising ideas and projects for support, and we partner with a wide range of organizations in pursuit of this mission.

  All Luce programs accept unsolicited Concept Notes through our online portal.
  Get a detailed overview of our programs here.

• What is the Henry Luce Foundation indirect cost (IDC) policy?

  The Luce Foundation will cover indirect costs (general operating costs) up to 20% of the total grant amount. Please account for this in your proposal, as we do not retroactively increase grants to cover these expenses. The exact percentage of IDC reimbursement is determined by each Program Director based on factors such as institutional need, grant size, and scope of the project.

• What are the deadlines for grant applications?

  Each program has unique goals and specific guidelines for applications. Be sure to review all requirements and key dates here before submitting a Concept Note.

• Does the Henry Luce Foundation renew grants or make multi-year grants?

  The Foundation regularly awards multi-year grants and renews grants on a case-by-case basis. We determine grant duration and renewals based on many factors including the scope of the project and its performance and impact.

• What if I need help writing my organization’s Concept Note?

  We don’t provide assistance with Concept Note or proposal writing.

• Will my institution be notified if we’re not selected?

  Yes, we inform all applicants about the status of their application via email within 8-12 weeks after submission of the Concept Note.

• My organization applied for a grant and didn’t receive one. Can we reapply?

  Yes, we invite you to reapply for the same grant once per year.

• Whom can I contact with additional questions or concerns?

  If you’re a grantee, please reach out to your Henry Luce Foundation Program Director with any additional questions or concerns. For general inquiries about the grant categories or the application process, email [email protected].