Frequently Asked Questions
General Grantmaking Questions
Templeton Portal Questions
Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) Questions
General Grantmaking Questions
Does the Foundation have particular funding areas?
Yes, guided by our charter, the Foundation has established several Core Funding Areas.
Does the Foundation have formal funding deadlines?
Yes, the Foundation has two annual grantmaking cycles, each of which begins with the submission and review of Online Funding Inquiries and ends with funding decisions based on Full Proposals, which are by invitation only. To learn more, please consult Our Grantmaking Process.
How many grants does the Foundation fund each year and what is the average size of the Foundation’s grants?
In 2006, the Foundation funded 153 grants with an average size of $468,411. In 2007, the Foundation funded 141 grants with an average size of $620,134. In 2008, the Foundation funded 130 grants with an average size of $549,821. Individual grants range greatly in amount, however, from several thousand dollars to several million.
What is the typical duration of the Foundation’s grants?
Our grants typically range from a few months to 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.
Does the Foundation fund non-U.S. organizations?
Yes.
Does the Foundation fund individuals?
The Foundation strongly prefers to fund projects that are affiliated with an institution (typically a university, research institution, or other non-profit organization). We encourage individuals to find appropriate institutions to administer their grants. When this is not practical or possible, the Foundation will make a grant directly to an individual.
Does the Foundation provide challenge grants?
Yes, the Foundation welcomes proposals in which there is an expectation that our support will be matched by other funding sources.
Does the Foundation fund buildings, renovations, or capital campaigns; direct-service programs; scholarships for college or graduate school; general operating support for organizations; or disaster relief?
Generally the Foundation does not provide grants for any of these forms of support.
Does the Foundation fund travel and lodging?
Travel for a project related to research can be fully underwritten by the Foundation. However, the Foundation will allow only up to 10% of a grant to be used for travel and lodging for attending a conference. If the Foundation's potential 10% contribution will not cover travel and lodging, the proposal must explain where additional funding will come from. Please note that the Foundation will not fund costs related to first-class airfare for any grantee.
Does the Foundation support indirect costs?
The Foundation will cover overhead costs of up to 15% of the overall grant amount. However, the Foundation welcomes proposals that request a lower percentage for overhead costs. We often find proposals with a lower percentage for overhead costs to be a more cost-effective investment.
Does the Foundation support planning grants?
Generally the Foundation does not support planning grants, and applicants may not submit requests for planning grants. In rare instances, the Foundation may opt to offer a planning grant to an applicant who has submitted a project idea as an Online Funding Inquiry.
Does the Foundation support research on environmental issues or bioethics?
The Foundation does not make grants in these areas, for which there is already a great deal of existing philanthropic support.
Does the Foundation support “intelligent design”?
No. We do not support the political movement known as “intelligent design,” which denies large areas of well-documented scientific knowledge in evolutionary biology. As a matter of policy and in keeping with our legal status, we do not support or endorse political movements of any kind.
Should I call or e-mail the Foundation to discuss my project idea?
No. The first step in the application process is to submit an Online Funding Inquiry OFI), which is similar to a concept paper or letter of intent. You may start an OFI by clicking the Apply for Funding button on this page, which gives you access to the Templeton Portal for grant applications.
Should I visit the Foundation before submitting my proposal?
No. Visits to the Foundation are rarely necessary and only by our request.
Templeton Portal Questions
What is the Templeton Portal?
The Templeton Portal is the Foundation’s online grantmaking system. This system allows users to create, submit, and monitor funding requests to the John Templeton Foundation.
How do I create an account?
Go to portal.templeton.org and register as a new user. You will receive a confirmation e-mail to verify your access to the account. Follow the enclosed instructions to activate your account.
I did not receive an e-mail confirmation to register my account or the link in the e-mail confirmation has expired. How do I gain access to my account?
If you have not received an e-mail confirmation, please check your junk or spam folder. Otherwise, please click the “Forgot Password” link and enter your e-mail address. Instructions will be sent to your e-mail account. If you still are experiencing difficulty, please e-mail support@templeton.org.
What if I forget my username or password?
Please click the “Forgot Password” link and enter your e-mail address. Instructions will be sent to your e-mail account. If you still are experiencing difficulty, please e-mail support@templeton.org.
May several individuals share one Templeton Portal account?
For security and privacy reasons, please do not share your account with others.
May more than one person edit a funding request that is in my Templeton Portal account?
At this time only the account holder who creates the OFI may edit it or the Full Proposal.
May I work offline and mail in my Online Funding Inquiry instead of using the Templeton Portal?
We only accept online submissions. However, you have the option of working offline and then copying and pasting your answers into our online form.
Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) Questions
What if I don’t know which request type applies to my proposed project?
If you believe your project idea is related to one or more Core Funding Areas or Funding Priorities, you may indicate that you are “unsure.” The “unsure” option is the last category listed under the Core Funding Areas request type.
If I answer “yes” to one or more of the prescreen questions, does that mean the Foundation will not fund my request?
If you answer “yes” to one or more of the prescreen questions, it is unlikely that the Foundation will fund your request.
Do the character limits on the OFI fields include spaces and punctuation?
Yes, they do include both spaces and punctuation.
The character limits on the response fields are too short for me to tell you about my project. May I attach a longer narrative?
The OFI is a short introduction to your proposed project. If the Foundation is interested in learning more about your proposed project, we will invite you to submit a Full Proposal. The Full Proposal will provide you with significantly more space to describe your project.
Will the response fields in the OFI form accept formatting and special characters?
The OFI form accepts plain text only; it does not support special characters. If special characters (such as formulas) are required to describe your project, you may attach a document with information supplementing your project description.
Are any of the questions that appear in the OFI optional?
The fields with an asterisk (*) are required to complete the OFI; all other fields are optional.
How do I submit my OFI?
After completing all required fields, proceed to the “Review and Submit” page. At the bottom of that page you may click “Mark for Submission” to send it to the Foundation.
May I edit my OFI after I have marked it for submission?
Prior to the OFI deadline you may edit any section of your OFI from the “Review and Submit” page. However, you must “Save” your work to overwrite the previous version. You will not be able to edit your OFI after the deadline.
May I withdraw an OFI that I have marked for submission?
Yes, you may withdraw your OFI by going to the “Review and Submit” page and clicking on the “Cancel Mark for Submission” option on the bottom right. Please note that this option is only available prior to the OFI deadline. After the deadline you may not withdraw your OFI.
May I delete my OFI?
Yes, from the dashboard you have the option to delete your OFI. Once deleted, your work cannot be recovered.
If I submit my OFI early, will you review it early?
Generally the Foundation reviews all Online Funding Inquiries during a specified window of time. Please visit our grantmaking calendar to learn more about OFI review dates.
What happens after I submit my Online Funding Inquiry?
The Foundation will review all Online Funding Inquiries. For those that we feel offer the greatest potential for advancing Sir John Templeton’s philanthropic vision, we will issue an invitation to complete a Full Proposal. Please note that Full Proposals are by invitation only.
How will I know if the Foundation has received my Online Funding Inquiry?
You will receive an e-mail acknowledgement that your OFI was received, and you can check the status of your OFI inside the Templeton Portal.
If my Online Funding Inquiry is declined, will the Foundation provide feedback?
No. Because of the large number of OFI’s we receive, the Foundation is unable to provide specific feedback.
May I submit more than one Online Funding Inquiry?
Yes. You may submit more than one Online Funding Inquiry if you have more than one project for which you are seeking funding. Each OFI must be completed in full.
What happens if my Online Funding Inquiry is accepted?
The Foundation has a required Full Proposal form that will be sent to those grant-seekers whose OFI’s have been accepted. Please note that Full Proposals are by invitation only.
For all other questions related to applying for a grant, please consult Our Grantmaking Process.
