The John E. Fetzer Institute funds large, targeted research and practice initiatives that explore human flourishing, consciousness, and the intersection of science and philosophy. Grants go to universities and value-driven international nonprofits to support interdisciplinary, empirical studies and programs that investigate causality, consciousness, and ethical leadership. The foundation appears oriented toward scholarly collaborations and global studies rather than broad-based community service.
John E Fetzer Institute Inc concentrates on collaborations that connect spirituality, science, and public life rather than broad project-by-project grantmaking. A defining example is its $2.35 million grant to World Conference of Religions for Peace to promote shared flourishing within Religions for Peace’s global network. Another large award went to Pvblic Foundation for general operating support for the Coalition for Faith & Media, showing how the institute backs convenings and field infrastructure as well as research and media work. The grant record also includes substantial support for interdisciplinary inquiry, such as Chapman University’s neuroscience-and-philosophy research collaboration and Baylor University’s longitudinal global study on causality in human flourishing. The foundation’s recent grants reach universities, faith-based nonprofits, and civic organizations, often through general operating support or collaborative initiatives. Across those awards, the institute appears to favor institutions that can host research, training, network building, or public-facing programs aligned with spiritual solutions to social problems. Its portfolio includes religious pluralism, moral leadership, chaplaincy, depolarization, and faith-and-science inquiry, with recipients in the United States and a smaller set of international organizations.
In faith-and-science work, the institute gave $1.4 million to Chapman University for a research collaboration between neuroscientists and philosophers, and $800,000 to Baylor University’s Office of Sponsored Programs toward a longitudinal global study on causality in human flourishing executed by Gallup. Its civic and public-life funding includes $500,000 to Millennial Action Project to implement the Pluribus Fellowship for young lawmakers and $300,000 to Millions of Conversations for the depolarization summit and 3142 program. The foundation also supports spiritual care infrastructure: Brandeis University received $300,000 to establish a national network of spiritual care providers with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. In media and culture, Pvblic Foundation’s support for the Coalition for Faith & Media connects to a broader effort to challenge religious stereotypes and widen public discourse about faith and spirituality.
Typical grant size is small relative to the largest awards, with a p25 of $500, a median of $2,029, and a p75 of $30,000. The recent record also shows a set of much larger collaborative and operating grants in the $250,000 to $2.35 million range. Recipients recur across years: On Being Project appears in both 2024 and 2025, as does World Conference of Religions for Peace, Brandeis University, 2164 Inc, and Union Theological Seminary. The institute is a Regular Funder, funds individuals, and makes no program-related investments. Its collaborative programs are invitation-only, and the active collaborative structure emphasizes multi-organization work rather than open unsolicited applications.
$40M
$829.6M
$66.1M
$42.4M
Most grants fall between $500 and $30K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 39% of grants go to recipients in IA.
Top 5 recipient countries by grant volume for John E Fetzer Institute.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 877 | $37.7M | 97.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 12 | $1.2M |
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of institutional recipients (universities and international NGOs); favors multi-year, large-scale research collaborations over many small grants.
Notable grantees: Chapman University, Baylor University (Office of Sponsored Programs), Initiatives of Change International
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, at 97.9% of grants, with a small set in the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and Iceland. Among named U.S. cities, New York, Atlanta, Washington, Minneapolis, and Waco appear repeatedly in recent awards. New York recipients include World Conference of Religions for Peace, 2164 Inc, and Union Theological Seminary; Atlanta recipients include Pvblic Foundation, Ebenezer Baptist Church, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and New Disabled South. The top state by grant count is Iowa, while 39% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state of Michigan.
Its recent grants emphasize faith and media, science and spirituality, spiritual care, civic engagement, depolarization, and moral leadership. Named awards include support for the Coalition for Faith & Media, a neuroscience-and-philosophy research collaboration at Chapman University, and a national spiritual care provider network through Brandeis University.
The distribution is skewed toward smaller awards: p25 is $500, median grant size is $2,029, and p75 is $30,000. At the same time, the recent grant list includes larger collaborative and operating grants ranging from $250,000 up to $2.35 million.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2024 and 2025, including On Being Project, World Conference of Religions for Peace, Brandeis University, 2164 Inc, and Union Theological Seminary. That pattern suggests recurring support for selected partners rather than only one-time awards.
The collaborative programs listed are invitation only, and the institute states that it does not fund individual projects, programs, or organizations outside its collaborative work. The active collaboratives are structured around areas such as public life, environment, science and the sacred, world religions, and organizational culture.
Giving is national, with 97.9% of grants going to U.S. recipients. Iowa is the top state by grant count, while 39% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, the headquarters state. Recent awards also reach recipients in the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and Iceland.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | Switzerland | 4 | $852K | 0.5% |
| 4 | Iceland | 2 | $146K | 0.2% |
| 5 | Canada | 1 | $150K | 0.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORLD CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,350,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE SHARED FLOURISHING WITHIN RELIGIONS FOR PEACE'S GLOBAL NETWORK |
| PVBLIC FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE COALITION FOR FAITH & MEDIA |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS | WACO, TX | $800,000 | 2025 | TOWARD LONGITUDINAL GLOBAL STUDY ON CASALITY IN HUMAN FLOURISHING EXECUTED BY GALLUP |
| ON BEING PROJECT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| 2164 INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INNER VISIONS INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL | CLINTON, MD | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | WALTHAM, MA | $300,000 | 2025 | ESTABLISH A NATIONAL NETWORK OF SPIRITUAL CARE PROVIDERS WITH THE CHAPLAINCY INNOVATION LAB |
| EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH | ATLANTA, GA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ON BEING PROJECT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $267,230 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW DISABLED SOUTH INC | ATLANTA, GA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTER-RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $245,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| 2164 INC | NEW YORK, NY | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITIZEN UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $210,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF CIVIC SATURDAYS AND CIVIC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS |
| SAWALMEM | REDDING, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIGHLANDER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER | NEW MARKET, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAITH MATTERS NETWORK COLLABORATIVE | NASHVILLE, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TIDES CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR KAIROS CENTER FOR RELIGIONS, RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE |
| SOULFORCE INC | ABILENE, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION OF CHICAGOLAND | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY LOVE PROJECT |
| HINDUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INC | SANTA FE, NM | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LAND PEACE FOUNDATION | BANGOR, ME | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WORLD CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MILPA | SALINAS, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAITH IN PUBLIC LIFE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWS UNITED FOR JUSTICE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MISSION TALK INC | CLERMONT, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING INSTITUTE | CARRBORO, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | FOR DEVELOPING CONTEMPORARY BUDDHIST ETHICS TO RESPOND TO PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME |
| CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF UNITED TODAY, STRONGER TOMORROW'S FAITH STRATEGY |
| PUBLIC RELIGION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNDIVIDED INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOUNDLESS FREEDOM PROJECT | SACRAMENTO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EMPOWER INITIATIVE FOR LIVE FREE CA | OAKLAND, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR EMPOWERED POLITICS EDUCATION FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOCIAL IMPACT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR FREE AMERICA |
| UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CONSCIOUS FOOD SYSTEMS ALLIANCE & ITS CONSCIOUSNESS BASED WORK |
| ALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JAIA YOUTH | EAST ORANGE, NJ | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEO PHILANTHROPY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NUNS & NONES, AN INTERGENERATIONAL SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY |
| PILLARS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLACK BELT JUSTICE CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOCIAL GOOD FUND | RICHMOND, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
WORLD CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE
$2,350,000TO PROMOTE SHARED FLOURISHING WITHIN RELIGIONS FOR PEACE'S GLOBAL NETWORK
PVBLIC FOUNDATION
$2,000,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE COALITION FOR FAITH & MEDIA
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS
$800,000TOWARD LONGITUDINAL GLOBAL STUDY ON CASALITY IN HUMAN FLOURISHING EXECUTED BY GALLUP
ON BEING PROJECT
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW VENTURE FUND
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2164 INC
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INNER VISIONS INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
$300,000ESTABLISH A NATIONAL NETWORK OF SPIRITUAL CARE PROVIDERS WITH THE CHAPLAINCY INNOVATION LAB
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ON BEING PROJECT
$267,230GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW DISABLED SOUTH INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INTER-RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION INC
$245,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2164 INC
$225,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CITIZEN UNIVERSITY
$210,000IN SUPPORT OF CIVIC SATURDAYS AND CIVIC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
SAWALMEM
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HIGHLANDER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FAITH MATTERS NETWORK COLLABORATIVE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TIDES CENTER
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR KAIROS CENTER FOR RELIGIONS, RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE
SOULFORCE INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION OF CHICAGOLAND
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY LOVE PROJECT
HINDUS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LAND PEACE FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WORLD CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MILPA
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FAITH IN PUBLIC LIFE INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JEWS UNITED FOR JUSTICE INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MISSION TALK INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING INSTITUTE
$200,000FOR DEVELOPING CONTEMPORARY BUDDHIST ETHICS TO RESPOND TO PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE
$200,000IN SUPPORT OF UNITED TODAY, STRONGER TOMORROW'S FAITH STRATEGY
PUBLIC RELIGION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNDIVIDED INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BOUNDLESS FREEDOM PROJECT
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EMPOWER INITIATIVE FOR LIVE FREE CA
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CENTER FOR EMPOWERED POLITICS EDUCATION FUND
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SOCIAL IMPACT FUND
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR FREE AMERICA
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR CONSCIOUS FOOD SYSTEMS ALLIANCE & ITS CONSCIOUSNESS BASED WORK
ALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JAIA YOUTH
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEO PHILANTHROPY INC
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NUNS & NONES, AN INTERGENERATIONAL SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY
PILLARS FUND
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLACK BELT JUSTICE CENTER
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SOCIAL GOOD FUND
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT