Open Educational Resources Spark Grant

The Michelson 20MM Foundation, a private nonprofit organization operating under the broader Michelson Philanthropies network, has a long-standing commitment to expanding educational access and equity, particularly for underserved and historically underrepresented populations. Founded over a decade ago, the foundation was born out of Dr. Gary K. Michelson’s personal reaction to reports of students dropping out of community college due to the high cost of textbooks. Since then, the foundation has continually supported systemic solutions to address affordability in education, including a significant investment in the proliferation and institutionalization of Open Educational Resources (OER). The 2026 Open Educational Resources Spark Grants are a continuation of this legacy and will be administered through the Michelson Spark Grants program. The goal of the 2026 Spark Grants cycle is to fund impactful projects that strengthen, expand, and evaluate OER and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) degree pathways. These projects must aim to improve affordability, equity, and student success outcomes within California and, where applicable, on a national level. Specifically, the fund seeks to support initiatives that directly implement OER, conduct relevant research, increase public awareness, or influence policy development. Grant funding will support projects in two main focus areas. The first is California-specific work, particularly within the California Community College (CCC) system. This includes operational and technological infrastructure, professional development for faculty and staff, research into OER/ZTC program impacts, and expansion of ZTC pathways into the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. The second area includes national projects that also affect California, focusing on student consumer protection in textbook markets, such as research into automatic textbook billing, price transparency, and data privacy. Projects that educate policymakers or evaluate the effects of existing policies at federal and state levels are also eligible. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to United States–based nonprofits and educational institutions. However, the 2026 cycle prioritizes organizations that conduct work in California; any organization whose project does not demonstrate impact in California will be deemed ineligible. Applicants may submit proposals where Michelson Spark Grant funds contribute to a larger, multi-funded initiative, provided the project clearly aligns with the foundation’s focus areas. The application cycle opens on March 2, 2026, and closes on March 16, 2026. There is no pre-application stage or letter of intent required for this cycle. An informational webinar, hosted by the grant committee, will take place on February 18, 2026, providing applicants an opportunity to learn more about the grant's scope and expectations and hear from previous awardees. This is intended to guide applicants in crafting competitive and aligned proposals. The Michelson 20MM Foundation continues to seek out innovative, evidence-based projects that challenge current barriers in education through open access, collaboration, and policy advancement. Successful proposals will clearly articulate their intended outcomes, demonstrate how they contribute to the foundation’s mission of eliminating the cost of instructional materials, and show tangible benefit to California’s educational systems.