Emotional Intelligence for Impact
The Six Seconds Grant Program

Six Seconds has been working to increase the world’s emotional intelligence since 1997. Through research, business, education, and community programs in more than 190 countries, we’ve seen how emotional intelligence transforms learning, leadership, community, and lives–.

For over ten years, we have supported social impact programs and academic researches through this Grant Program, empowering researchers, grad students, educators, and changemakers to bring emotional intelligence to more people — and to bring meaningful stories of impact to the world.

What We Offer

Grants may include some or all of the following forms of support, and the amount or level of support awarded may differ from what is requested, depending on project needs and alignment with program criteria:

• Credits for Six Seconds’ assessment tools to support data collection and measurement.

• Data summary spreadsheet providing a clear overview of assessment results.

• Data analytics such as pre–post results, A/B comparisons, and group comparison summaries.
• Research design consultation to strengthen project implementation, including guidance on intervention planning.

• Writing support for publication, offering guidance from emotional intelligence experts to help grantees share their findings effectively and meaningfully.

Grants enable innovation and research, but long-term implementation typically requires standard service contracts or paid assessments. 

What We’re Looking For

We evaluate grant applications based on six key criteria:

1. Social Impact

Will this project create meaningful, positive change in people’s lives, schools, organizations, or communities?
We’re looking for projects that demonstrate real potential to make a difference and show how EQ practices can help people thrive.

2. Awareness & Reach

Will it help more people understand and value emotional intelligence (EQ) and social emotional learning (SEL) — in new and powerful ways? Projects that reach wider audiences or introduce EQ to new contexts are especially encouraged.

3. Research Contribution

Will it contribute to advancing EQ science — generating data, insights, or stories that reveal how EQ works and why it matters? We prioritize projects that demonstrate thoughtful research design and a clear plan for sharing findings.

4. Support & Collaboration

Is there institutional, community, or organizational support that strengthens the project’s success?
Partnerships, mentorship, or institutional backing show readiness and sustainability.

5. Feasibility & Need

How essential is this grant to make the project viable?
We value proposals with a realistic plan, clear timeline, and capable leadership, where the grant resources are used effectively.

6. Design & Communication

Is the project design clear, ethical, and focused on measurable outcomes?
Will the grantee publish or present results to help others learn from the findings — both within and beyond the Six Seconds community?

Responsibility and Expectations for Grantees

We’re excited to invest in your work and collaborate in advancing emotional intelligence research and practice. As part of this partnership, we ask grantees to:

• Share progress and results — Provide quarterly updates and a final case study highlighting your findings, insights, and impact.

• Publish your work — Commit to sharing your research through an official publication such as an academic paper, journal article, or industry report.

• Engage publicly — Showcase your project through a webinar or conference presentation, reaching audiences beyond the Six Seconds community.

• Collaborate openly — Allow Six Seconds to feature your project as a case study and contribute anonymized data to advance global EQ research.

Please note that the Six Seconds Grant Program supports research and learning purposes, and is not intended to cover regular project expenses or generate profit. Projects may receive additional funding from other sources to support their broader work; however, any interventions conducted using Six Seconds’ assessment tools must be provided free of charge, and grantees may not receive payment or profit for offering these interventions. 

For projects that do not meet the grant criteria or require faster implementation, Six Seconds also offers the option to purchase assessments and services directly. Please reach out to our Grants Coordinator: Ayaka Mawarida [email protected] 

For questions, please contact our Global Social Impact Project Manager, Ayaka Mawarida  [email protected] 

For questions, please contact our Global Social Impact Project Manager, Ayaka Mawarida  [email protected]