Our Strategic Framework
Through this commitment, Templeton World Charity Foundation will support projects that will form a robust pipeline of innovations aimed at improving key aspects of human flourishing. Our strategy is not just about having good ideas or making interesting new discoveries but also about translating discoveries into new practices that can be developed using rigorous testing and launched for the benefit of individuals and communities. To that end, we plan to support a range of activities across three different stages in the pipeline for new innovations: Discovery, Development, and Launch.
Discovery: This stage involves rigorous and imaginative interdisciplinary research to answer key questions related to human flourishing, or research which contributes to the potential discovery of innovations that can promote human flourishing. Not all scientific discoveries can be predicted, so we remain enthusiastic about bold, high-risk projects where the benefits may not be immediately obvious.
When supporting scientific research, we believe it is important to make sure that it is based on a sound conceptual framework and that key information about the experiments is accessible to anyone who may benefit from it. All projects must adhere to our Open Science Policies.
Development: This stage involves the development of new interventions to promote one or more aspects of human flourishing. Many types of activities fit within the Development stage, including the following:
- Research and practice review, innovation design;
- Iterative prototyping and pilot testing;
- Efficacy trials or other forms of proof-of-concept testing; and
- Replication, effectiveness, or scale-up testing in real-world settings.
These various activities aim to thoroughly test innovations to the point where we know whether they work, for whom, and under which circumstances they are effective. It is important to use an iterative process to consider qualitative, practice-based evidence early on in the development process.
Launch: This phase focuses on creating resources and platforms to spread awareness of innovations. The academic setting, where many innovations are discovered and tested, does not always provide the best channel for distribution. We will facilitate partnerships with leading organizations across many sectors—such as business, government, NGOs, academia, and the media—for uptake and impact.
We will support programs across each of these phases of this framework. In most cases, however, grant activities will align with one of these phases.
