What we seek to accomplish
About the Global Innovations for Character Development initiative
Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Global Innovations for Character Development seeks to establish character development as a lever for social change, increased prosperity, and overall human flourishing. It envisions a world in which character strengths are recognized for their critical role in improving the lives of individuals and communities.
With grant-funded projects around the globe, GICD is a first-of-its-kind initiative to promote character strengths worldwide. Character strengths are learned and learnable attributes, virtues, skills, habits, or capabilities that enable individuals to lead better lives. Examples include compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, honesty, humility, and kindness. Some Global Innovations for Character Development projects also seek to promote local character strengths, such as the East African concept Utu (shared humanity, humanness).
New Funding Opportunity: Request for Ideas in Character Development and Health.
This funding opportunity is now closed. Shortlisted applicants will be notified directly.
The Global Innovations for Character Development initiative expands the frontier of human development by supporting research on the contribution of character strengths to human flourishing.
Stories from our grantees
Forgiveness can transform your life. Everett Worthington’s pioneering REACH method has helped thousands of people—including himself—reap the mental and physical benefits of forgiveness.
Featured Projects
Utu: Building Character with Innovative Edu-cartoons
PRIMED for Character Education in Colombian Schools: School Leadership Development
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Interested in learning more? We will send occasional updates about the GICD initiative.