Breaking: Pew Research Center Invites Researchers to Tap Global religious Futures Data
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Pew Research Center Invites Researchers to Tap Global religious Futures Data
- 2. Funding, deadlines and selection process
- 3. How to apply
- 4. What the program seeks
- 5. Why this matters — evergreen perspective
- 6. Key details at a glance
- 7. Engagement and questions for readers
- 8. The portal.
- 9. What the Grant Offers
- 10. Who Can Apply
- 11. key Dates to Remember
- 12. Accessing the Pew‑Templeton Global Religious Futures Datasets
- 13. Application Process – Step‑by‑Step
- 14. practical Tips for a Competitive Proposal
- 15. Sample Research Topics That Fit the Call
- 16. Real‑World Example: Previous pew‑Templeton Grant Recipient
- 17. benefits of Securing the Grant
- 18. Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
- 19. Quick Reference Checklist
In a strategic push to maximize the reuse of it’s data assets, the Pew Research Center, backed by the John Templeton Foundation, has announced a call for research proposals that use one or more Global Religious Futures (GRF) datasets.
The centerpiece is the Spring 2024 Survey data, which measures religion and spirituality across 35 countries. The international dataset also comes with materials that cover United States data from 2023 and 2024.
Funding, deadlines and selection process
The program will award 3,000 USD to each selected researcher, with up to 19 researchers funded in total. Proposals must be submitted by 5:30 p.m.Eastern Time on Monday, March 2, 2026. Recipients will be announced by March 31, 2026.
Funding is contingent upon the submission of a minimum 3,000-word paper in August 2026. Payments are issued directly to individual researchers, who will retain all intellectual property rights to their final publications.
How to apply
Applications should be emailed to [email protected] by the March 2 deadline and must include two PDF attachments:
| Attachment 1 | Attachment 2 |
|---|---|
| Your name’s CV, saved as YOURNAME_CV.pdf | Your name’s GRF proposal, saved as YOURNAME_GRFproposal.pdf |
The GRF proposal PDF should cover the following elements:
- The applicant’s name, position, institutional affiliation, and email address.
- A project description (no more than 1,500 words) outlining the research question(s), how one or more GRF datasets will be used to answer them, and how the study will advance current knowledge.
- A statement (no more than 250 words) detailing the applicant’s expertise and resources that will support the completion of the study.
- Optional: the conference and outlet were the researcher hopes to present and publish the work.
What the program seeks
proposals that leverage one or more GRF datasets—possibly alongside other Pew Research Center data—will be considered. Preference is given to applications that demonstrate familiarity with Pew research center studies and related research questions. Researchers from around the world at all career stages are welcome, including doctoral candidates. If multiple authors are selected, payments will be evenly split among them.
Judging will focus on the potential for meaningful advances in knowledge or theory and the likelihood of resulting publication. The fund aims to support a diverse range of research questions rather than several studies on identical topics. researchers should conduct their work independently from Pew Research Center, though staff may offer limited technical guidance to facilitate self-reliant reuse of the GRF datasets.
For questions, contact Conrad Hackett, the Center’s Associate Director of Research and Senior Demographer, at [email protected].
Disclaimer: By submitting a proposal,applicants acknowledge that Pew Research Center may be developing its own publications using the Datasets and may publish research on topics same as or related to those proposed.
Why this matters — evergreen perspective
The GRF project spans multiple datasets that illuminate religious demographics and spirituality across a broad geographic canvas. By encouraging independent reuse, Pew aims to foster fresh analyses and new insights that can inform scholarly conferences and peer‑reviewed journals in the coming years.
Key details at a glance
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Datasets | Global Religious Futures, including Spring 2024 Survey data (35 countries); U.S. data from 2023–2024 with accompanying materials |
| funding per researcher | USD 3,000; up to 19 researchers |
| Proposal deadline | March 2, 2026, 5:30 p.m. EST |
| Notification of award | By March 31, 2026 |
| Draft requirement | Minimum 3,000-word manuscript due August 2026 |
| IP rights | Researchers own all rights to their final work |
| How to apply | Email two PDFs to [email protected] (CV and GRF proposal) |
Engagement and questions for readers
What research questions would you pursue using GRF data to shed light on religion and society across countries?
Are you planning to apply? Which country data in the GRF dataset would you focus on first, and why?
Share your thoughts and tell us how you would leverage these datasets to advance understanding of global religious dynamics.
The portal.
Call for Proposals: $3,000 Grants for Research Using Pew‑Templeton Global Religious Futures datasets
Deadline : March 2 2026
What the Grant Offers
- Award amount: $3,000 per project
- Purpose: Support short‑term, data‑driven research that explores religious change, belief systems, and demographic trends worldwide
- Scope: Open to scholars, graduate students, and self-reliant researchers in religious studies, sociology, anthropology, political science, and related fields
Who Can Apply
| Category | Eligibility | Typical Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Academic researchers | Faculty or post‑doctoral scholars at accredited institutions | CV, recent publications, affiliation verification |
| Graduate students | Enrolled in a master’s or PhD program | Advisor endorsement, proof of enrollment |
| Independent scholars | No formal institutional affiliation required | Portfolio of relevant work, brief research bio |
All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in quantitative or mixed‑methods research and must agree to share findings openly.
key Dates to Remember
- January 15 2026 – Submission portal opens
- February 15 2026 – Deadline for registering for a data access tutorial (optional but recommended)
- March 2 2026 – Proposal submission deadline (23:59 UTC)
- April 10 2026 – Notification of awardees
- May 1 2026 – Grant disbursement begins
Accessing the Pew‑Templeton Global Religious Futures Datasets
- Create a free Pew‑Templeton account on the official data portal.
- complete the data‑use agreement, which outlines confidentiality and citation requirements.
- Request specific data modules (e.g., country‑level religious affiliation, conversion rates, youth religiosity).
- Download the CSV/JSON files or use the API for real‑time queries.
Tip: Attend the quarterly webinar (held every second Thursday) to learn best practices for cleaning and visualizing the datasets. Recordings are archived on the portal.
Application Process – Step‑by‑Step
- Log in to the grant portal using your Pew‑Templeton credentials.
- Fill out the personal information form (name, contact details, institutional affiliation).
- Upload a concise research proposal (max 1,200 words) covering:
- Research question(s)
- Hypotheses and theoretical framework
- Methodology (data extraction, analysis tools, statistical techniques)
- Expected outcomes and impact
- Attach a detailed budget (breakdown of the $3,000 award).
- provide a data management plan that outlines how you will store, secure, and eventually share your results.
- Submit and receive an automatic confirmation email with a tracking number.
practical Tips for a Competitive Proposal
- Align with Pew‑Templeton priorities: focus on emerging religious trends, intergenerational change, or the interaction between religion and public policy.
- Showcase methodological rigour: specify statistical software (R, Stata, Python) and validation steps.
- Demonstrate open‑science commitment: plan to deposit code and data extracts in a public repository (e.g., Zenodo).
- Provide a clear impact statement: explain how findings will inform scholars, policymakers, or NGOs.
- Keep language concise: aim for 2‑3 short paragraphs per section; use bullet points for clarity.
Sample Research Topics That Fit the Call
- “The Rise of ‘Nones’ in Urban Asia: A Comparative Study of 2010–2025 Survey Waves.”
- “Religious Switching Among Millennials in Sub‑Saharan Africa: Drivers and Consequences.”
- “Correlation Between Religious Affiliation and Climate‑change Attitudes in Latin America.”
- “Mapping the Spread of New Religious Movements Through Social Media footprints.”
Real‑World Example: Previous pew‑Templeton Grant Recipient
Project title: “Secularization and Political Participation in Eastern Europe” (2022)
- Funding: $3,000 grant awarded by Pew‑Templeton
- Method: Integrated the global Religious Futures dataset with Eurobarometer surveys; used logistic regression to test the link between religiosity and voter turnout.
- Outcome: Published a peer‑reviewed article in Journal of Comparative Sociology and presented findings at the International Conference on religion & Politics (2023).
Takeaway: A focused, data‑rich approach combined with clear dissemination plans can turn a modest grant into a high‑impact publication.
benefits of Securing the Grant
- Financial support to cover data processing, software licenses, or conference travel.
- access to a reputable global dataset that is otherwise costly to compile.
- visibility through Pew‑templeton’s interaction channels (newsletter, blog, social media).
- Networking opportunities with leading scholars in the field of religious futures.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I submit more than one proposal?
A: No. Each applicant may submit only one proposal per funding cycle.
Q: Is ther a page limit for the proposal?
A: yes—maximum 1,200 words for the narrative.Appendices (budget, CV) are not counted toward this limit.
Q: Do I need prior experience with the dataset?
A: Not mandatory, but completing the optional data‑use tutorial (deadline Feb 15) greatly strengthens your application.
Q: How will the grant be paid?
A: After award notification, funds are transferred via direct deposit or PayPal, depending on your preference indicated in the application.
Q: What citation format must I use?
A: follow the APA 7th edition style for all references to Pew‑Templeton data and related literature.
Quick Reference Checklist
- Verify eligibility (academic/graduate/independent).
- Register on the Pew‑Templeton data portal and accept the data‑use agreement.
- Draft a 1,200‑word proposal with clear research question and methodology.
- Prepare a detailed $3,000 budget breakdown.
- Include a data management and open‑science plan.
- Submit before March 2 2026 (23:59 UTC).
- Keep confirmation email and tracking number for follow‑up.
Ready to turn global religious data into groundbreaking research? Apply today and join a community of scholars shaping the understanding of religious futures worldwide.
