About John E Fetzer Institute
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.
Focus Areas
Interdisciplinary consciousness and philosophy-neuroscience researchLongitudinal global studies on causality and human flourishingValues-based leadership and ethical transformation (Initiatives of Change)
Who They Fund
BIPOC-led organizations and leadersfaith communities and underrepresented faith voicesspiritual care providers / chaplainsyoung legislators / emerging lawmaker fellowsdonor advisors (receiving training on faith/spirituality)rural faith-based organizers (esp. Southern rural areas)
About John E Fetzer Institute
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.
What John E Fetzer Institute Funds
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.
How John E Fetzer Institute Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$40M
Total Assets
$829.6M
Total Revenue
$66.1M
Total Expenses
$42.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $500 and $30K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$30K
Geographic Reach
National32 states funded
About 39% of grants go to recipients in IA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where John E Fetzer Institute Funds
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 |
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