Free societies allow for the flourishing of their citizens. It is also the case that having citizens of character is a requirement to sustain free societies. Whether it is the development of an entrepreneurial mindset, the development of virtuous leaders, or the promotion of virtues that are most strongly associated with free societies, we are interested in supporting projects at organizations that recognize the integrated nature of character development and free societies.

One essential element of successful character development is the ability to imagine the way the world should look, not merely how it looks at present. Like other kinds of imagination, this requires both study and practice. If we are to expect a better and brighter future, we must support new and innovative ways to educate young people on moral life and cultivate their curiosity for what can be.

Humility and love are two of the most consequential virtues for thriving societies. To better understand the nature of these powerful virtues and how they interact, we seek to fund interdisciplinary research on questions such as: How do certain skills and dispositions such as open-mindedness, curiosity, and intellectual hospitality interact to yield a life characterized by a humble perspective? What is the role of unlimited love, or the benevolent goodwill for all people, in the cultivation of humility? How do different communities around the world, especially religious and spiritual communities, cultivate unlimited love? Are humble communities more loving?

Economic systems, including free market systems, depend upon ethical norms that provide the basis for how individuals act within such systems. The challenge is that these ethical considerations are not always reflected in conversations and actions within economic systems. We seek research projects that can elucidate the role that virtues such as honesty, creativity, and love can play in successful free market systems.