The William T. Grant Foundation, in partnership with the Spencer, Bezos Family, and Doris Duke foundations, has announced the winners of this year’s Institutional Challenge Grant.

Grants totaling $2.6 million were awarded to the University of Delaware, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Santa Clara University, and Washington University in St. Louis. The funding will support the schools’ efforts with local nonprofits or public agencies to address inequalities in literacy opportunities and outcomes for K-3 students; establish an implementation science program to better serve low-income and minoritized populations, with a focus on Black and Latina pregnant teens; support college preparation, persistence, and completion for Latinx students; and connect Black male youth with employment and enriched education opportunities.

Established in 2017, the Institutional Challenge Grant program encourages university-based research institutes, schools, and centers to expand research-practice in collaboration with public agencies or nonprofit organizations to reduce inequality in youth outcomes. Each partnership receives a three-year award of $650,000.

“We are thrilled to receive so many high-quality applications,” said William T. Grant Foundation president Adam Gamoran. “It’s a clear sign that researchers are recognizing the value of building research agendas in response to community priorities—and that universities are finding innovative ways to value and encourage community-engaged scholarship.”

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