A fund offered through Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs will support creative, interdisciplinary research projects and programs addressing important issues in education.

Now in its fourth year, the Overdeck Education Innovation Fund will award small grants of up to $10,000 for multiple innovative faculty and student research projects, as well as education programs. Priority will be given to proposals that are cross-disciplinary.

In addition, preference will be given to proposals that align with one or more of the following areas of focus:

Early Impact: with the goal of ensuring all children enter kindergarten “ready to learn” and continue to experience high-quality learning in early elementary years.

Exceptional Educators: with the goal of increasing the concentration of expert educators in K-9 so that more children have access to educators who empower them to reach their full potential.

Innovative Schools: with the goal of ensuring that children in K-9 have access to personalized solutions that improve both academic and social-emotional skills.

Inspired Minds: with the goal of ensuring that all children have access to high-quality out-of-school STEM experiences that help them achieve their full potential.

Proposals may be submitted by individual faculty members, Princeton students, or groups of faculty or students. All submissions must include a Princeton faculty member as the principal investigator. For student applications, this person will typically be their advisor or the director of their program.

Given the importance of academic programming, faculty members are urged to discuss their ideas with relevant chairs, deans, and directors at an early stage of planning. Proposals that focus on all aspects of the “research continuum” — from planning grants to data collection and analysis — or those linked to innovative pedagogy and program implementation are welcome.

All proposals should include a letter of intent (no more than 5 single-spaced pages) and a detailed budget providing the following information:

• Overview of the project.
• Project goals and objectives.
• Project activities.
• Fully developed project budget.
• Background on faculty, students, and other participants involved in the project.

Proposals for awards of $10,000 or less will be considered on a rolling basis. Submissions are limited to one proposal per faculty member or student.

All proposal materials should be submitted to Heather Evans, executive assistant to the dean, at heathere@princeton.edu. Evans can be reached by email or 609-258-3143 for letter-of-intent guidelines and other questions.

The Overdeck Family Foundation was established in 2011 by John and Laura Overdeck with the goal to provide children opportunities to unlock their potential through education. The Foundation funds compelling, innovative research that will measurably enhance education inside and outside the classroom.

Laura Overdeck graduated from Princeton University in 1991 and currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Princeton University and on the Department of Astrophysical Sciences’ Advisory Council. She is a former member of the Woodrow Wilson Advisory Council, which is now known as the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs’ Advisory Council.