Our Philosophy of Grant Making
Dear Potential Grantee of the John Templeton Foundation:
My colleagues and I are delighted that you are taking the time to get to know us. Any high aspirations we might have can only be achieved through the vision, passion and action of extraordinary grantees around the world. We are in the business of actively "talent-scouting" for people and projects of exceptional promise in our funding areas. Our approach is distinctive, and these brief notes are designed to help convey to you the way we work:
We are investors, not just donors. As philanthropic investors, we seek high-potential projects likely to generate a significant return on investment – in the sense of impact relative to the resources invested. This "return" belongs to you and to the world, as your work generates exciting new knowledge and contributes to important new discoveries and breakthroughs.
We look for bold ideas that engage the "big questions" and draw in multiple disciplines. The division of labor and increasing specialization in most fields means that some of the most interesting, difficult or profound research questions don't get addressed. In a contrarian spirit, we try to help give great minds the space and opportunity to address significant questions and issues that cross disciplinary boundaries.
We seek to keep the grant making process rigorous, systematic – and as un-bureaucratic as we can. We have an obligation to be good stewards of the Foundation's resources, and so we work hard to ensure we make fair and appropriate decisions based on thoroughly detailed proposals. This normally requires reviewing substantial information and comprehensive expert reviews. However, we try to avoid a bureaucratic mindset, even as we work with large volumes of paper and electronic documents.
We recognize the value of your "sweat equity." To realize any ambitious goal, tenacity and motivation are vital, and are typically key contributors to success in any field. We especially welcome potential grantees with this kind of entrepreneurial spirit. We also welcome projects that include elements which one normally associates with the for-profit marketplace, including the use of competition and of financial leverage (the recruitment of other funders that bring added momentum and a larger resource base).
We aim to be a catalyst that transforms careers and sparks innovation. We are fortunate to be able to assist many highly gifted people and distinguished institutions around the world. Wherever possible, we try to get involved early enough in people's careers to help make a big difference in their work and allow them to flourish to their highest potential.
When we do our jobs right, it's a bit like giving rocket fuel to highly creative people. Effective philanthropy can be exciting and great fun – for both grant maker and grantee – as the investments we make provide the right amount of support and inspiration that enables exceptional people and ideas to take off.
Sincerely,
Charles L. Harper, Jr., D. Phil.
Senior Vice President