Templeton, Lilly back Wake Forest with $8.5M for nationwide character education network

Wake Forest University has announced an $8.5 million joint grant from the John Templeton Foundation and Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand the Educating Character Initiative in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The funding includes $3.5 million from the John Templeton Foundation matched by $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to strengthen character education across higher education through a three-year initiative. The grant will establish multi-institutional communities, support emerging leaders, advance research, develop educational resources, and provide $50,000 subgrants, helping sustain a nationwide movement expected to reach 1.2 million learners by decade’s end.