John Templeton Foundation
The John Templeton Foundation (based in West Conshohocken, PA) supports interdisciplinary research and public engagement on fundamental questions about science, philosophy, and society. The site provides detailed information on funding areas, a grant database, application guidance, news, and contact/staff information.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An established university, research center, or nonprofit conducting interdisciplinary research or public engagement on science, philosophy, religion, virtue, or human flourishing with capacity to manage multi-year, rigorously evaluated projects.
Good Fit
- • Interdisciplinary research on big questions in science, philosophy, religion, or human flourishing.
- • Strong evaluation design and measurable research outputs.
- • Capacity to manage grants in the mid-six-figure to multi-million-dollar range.
- • Proposals that include public engagement or scalable dissemination.
- • Institutional track record (university, research institute, or established nonprofit).
Geography
Observed grants reached 46 states with an out-of-state share near 95% and no single state dominating (the largest state share is about 13%), indicating national and some international reach.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year the foundation made 369 grants to 239 distinct recipients and across three years funded 221–252 distinct organizations per year, including universities, foundations, and nonprofits, showing a broad and diverse recipient set.
New Applicants
The foundation publishes application guidance and an online submission portal, and the latest year shows 105 new recipients (about 44% of that year's grantees), so unfamiliar applicants demonstrably can and do enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
