Templeton World Charity Foundation launched a new strategy to support new scientific research on human flourishing and to translate related discoveries into practical tools. Over the next five years, the Foundation will fund a range of projects across three distinct stages: discovery, development, and launch. We hope that this commitment will lead to the development of innovative solutions and the launch of new practices that make a lasting impact on human flourishing. 

You can find more information about our new strategy here.

The Future of Human Flourishing

We are investing $60 million in bold research, practices, and policies that promote human flourishing.

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Harnessing the Science of Human Flourishing to Accelerate Sustainable Development

In a new working paper, we review the growing evidence for how human flourishing in all its dimensions can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Our call to action is for policymakers, philanthropists, scientists, and others around the world to help build the field of human flourishing—encompassing research, practice, and policy.

View the Working Paper

Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing:

The Ideas Database

More than 500 teams of scientists from over 350 academic institutions across the world answered Templeton World Charity Foundation's Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing request for ideas, which push beyond traditional measures of physical and mental health to include happiness, meaning and purpose, spiritual well-being and striving in adversity. With so many opportunities for new investments to have impact, we released an Ideas Database highlighting more than 100 of the research proposals.

Visit the Ideas Database


What is Human Flourishing?

Webinars on Why It Matters and How Studying it Can Change the World

The Greatest Accelerator for Reaching the SDGs

A panel of esteemed policymakers, researchers, and funders, convened by Templeton World Charity Foundation and Ekskäret Foundation, joined for a discussion on the science of human flourishing and how the field can aid in reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Global Voices in Human Flourishing: Beyond Western-centric Research 

Panelists share their approach for integrating neglected perspectives and voices into their work on Human Flourishing.

Moderator: Ellen Morgan, Advisor, TWCF

Dr. Blaine Fowers, University of Miami
Dr. Carol Henry, University of Saskatchewan
Melani O’Leary of World Vision Canada
Dr. Toni Antonucci, University of Michigan
Dr. Pamela Wadende, Kisii University

Learning & Listening, Changing Mindsets and Emotional Responses to Promote Human Flourishing  

Panelists discuss psychological barriers to human flourishing and applying research on listening to potentially surmount them.

Moderator: Dawid Potgieter, Director, Programs in Discovery Science, TWCF 

Dr. Netta Weinstein, University of Essex
Dr. Guy Itzchakov, University of Haifa
Dr. Jordan Mansell, University of Western Ontario
Dr. Brie Linkenhoker, co-Founder, Worldview Studio

Human Flourishing and Adversity 

Panelists consider the potential for flourishing especially in light of negative and challenging circumstances and the potential for post-traumatic growth.

Moderator: Dr. Bonnie Zahl, Advisor, TWCF

Dr. David Addiss, The Task Force for Global Health
Dr. Deborah Carr, Boston University
Dr. Shigehiro Oishi, University of Virginia

Community Level Truth-Seeking to Promote Human 

In our fourth - and final - webinar in the series, panelists will discuss the evolution of culture in the 21st century and how to consider epistemic vigilance to empower human flourishing.

Moderator: Dawid Potgieter, Director, Programs in Discovery Science, TWCF

Dr. Michael Muthukrishna, London School of Economics
Dr. Jocelyn Dautel, Queen’s University, Belfast
Dr. Jing Xu, University of Washington

 

For updates on building this robust field, sign up here: