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Spencer Foundation

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The Spencer Foundation is an independent foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, that supports education research.[1] It was founded in 1962 by Lyle M. Spencer, and funds studies, fellowships, and other programs focused on understanding and improving education in the United States and internationally. Since beginning its grantmaking in 1971, the foundation has awarded more than $500 million. It is currently led by its president, Na'ilah Suad Nasir.

Spencer Foundation
Founded1962
FounderLyle M. Spencer
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
FocusEducation research
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois
Websitespencer.org

Founder

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Lyle M. Spencer the founder of the Spencer Foundation, received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington,[2][3] and studied at the University of Chicago under a University Fellowship and a Marshall Field Fellowship in Sociology.[3]

In 1938, Spencer co-founded Science Research Associates, Inc. (SRA), a commercial publisher of standardized tests.[3]

In 1962, Spencer created The Spencer Foundation using the wealth generated by SRA.[4][2] He would later write, “All the Spencer dough was earned, improbably from education. It makes sense, therefore, that much of this money should be returned eventually to investigating ways in which education can be improved, around the world.”[5]

In 1964, SRA was acquired by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), and in 1966, Spencer was elected a director of IBM.[3]

Spencer died at the age of 57 on August 21, 1968.[3]

History

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The Spencer Foundation was founded in 1962 by Lyle M. Spencer.[2] It remains one of the leading funders of education research in the United States.[6][7]

Upon Spencer's death in 1968, the foundation received a large endowment.[8] The bulk of the endowment came from Spencer’s IBM shares, which amounted to about $71.6 million.[8] With these resources, the foundation began making formal grants in 1971.[8][9] As of 2020, its grants have totaled more than $500 million.[9]

Leadership

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Henry Thomas James was the first president of the Spencer Foundation. He led the organization until 1985.[10][11] He was succeeded by Lawrence A. Cremin, who held the position until his death in 1990.[12][13] Patricia Albjerg Graham was the foundation's third president, holding the role from 1991 until 2000.[14] She was followed by Ellen Condliffe Lagemann, president from 2000 to 2002,[15] and Michael S. McPherson, president of from 2003 to 2017.[16][17]

In 2025, the foundation is led by Na’ilah Suad Nasir, who was named president in 2017.[18][19]

Programs

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The Spencer Foundation supports education research through a range of grants, fellowships, and research programs. Its programs are designed to advance the understanding of education and identify ways it can be improved around the world.[2]

Fellowships

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The Spencer Foundation also supports education research through fellowships aimed at strengthening and renewing the educational research community.[20][21] These programs provide funding and professional development to researchers addressing critical issues in the history, theory, and practice of education both nationally and internationally.[20]

The foundation partners with the National Academy of Education to administer two longstanding fellowship programs:

National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Program

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Through this program, the foundation awards 35 dissertation fellowships annually to doctoral candidates conducting research on education.[22][20] Fellows receive $27,500 for up to two academic years.[23][24] As of 2024, the program had over 400 alumni.[24]

National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

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The Spencer Foundation and the National Academy of Education also jointly award postdoctoral fellowships to early-career scholars. The program provides $70,000 for two years to 25 fellows.[25][26] As of 2025, it had more than 800 alumni.[27][25]

References

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  1. ↑ "The Spencer Foundation | Foundation Directory | Candid". fconline.foundationcenter.org. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Spencer Foundation Project: Learning to Improve". Evidence-Based Improvement in Higher Education. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Times, Special to The New York (1968-08-22). "LYLE M. SPENCER, TESTS PUBLISHER; Head of Science Research Associates Dead at 57". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  4. ↑ "Ogren receives grant to write book on life, legacy of Lyle Spencer | College of Education - The University of Iowa". education.uiowa.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  5. ↑ Nicklin, Julie L. (1992-06-17). "Spencer Fund, With a Unique Niche in Philanthropy, Seeks to Make Education Research a Priority for Others". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  6. ↑ "USask-led international partnership for sustainability education receives unprecedented funding". University of Saskatchewan. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Spencer Foundation - MacArthur Foundation". www.macfound.org. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  8. 1 2 3 "Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois". newspapers.com. 13 March 1969. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  9. 1 2 "BC Lynch School Faculty Member Receives Spencer Foundation Mentor Award". Boston College. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  10. ↑ "Henry Thomas James, former education dean, dies at 101". ed.stanford.edu. 2026-03-24. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  11. ↑ "Spencer Foundation to Mark the Passing of Its Founder, Henry Thomas James". Teachers College - Columbia University. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  12. ↑ "Lawrence Arthur Cremin". www.c250.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  13. ↑ Fowler, Glenn (1990-09-05). "Obituary; Lawrence Cremin, 64, Educator And a Prize-Winning Historian". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  14. ↑ "Graham, Patricia Albjerg". archives.lib.purdue.edu.
  15. ↑ "Spencer Foundation head new GSE dean". Harvard Gazette. 2002-04-11. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  16. ↑ "Michael McPherson". National Academy of Education. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  17. ↑ "Michael McPherson | Institute for Research in the Social Sciences". iriss.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  18. ↑ "Nasir Named Spencer Foundation President". aera.net. February 2017. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  19. ↑ "Na'ilah Nasir". National Academy of Education. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  20. 1 2 3 "Two CU Boulder education scholars earn prestigious National Academy of Education/Spencer dissertation fellowships". colorado.edu. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  21. ↑ Davidson, Elijah. "Spencer Foundation Awards Fuller Grant for Empathy Research". fuller.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  22. ↑ Abernethy, Michael; staff (2021-06-09). "Wu named 2021 National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow". Today at Elon. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  23. ↑ Sallee, Emily; Nelson, Amanda (2020-07-14). "UK's Haupt Awarded National Education Dissertation Fellowship". UKNow. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  24. 1 2 "Doctoral student is the first at TXST to receive NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship". news.txst.edu. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
  25. 1 2 Murphy, Connor (2025-08-12). "UND professor named 2025 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow". University Letter. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  26. ↑ "Vanderbilt scholars awarded prestigious National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Fellowships". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  27. ↑ "Prof. Chanelle Wilson Named a National Academy of Education Postdoctoral Fellow". www.brynmawr.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
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