Children and Screens Awarded Prestigious Grant from The John Templeton Foundation to Advance Research on Youth Character Development in the Digital Age

The grant underscores the urgency of addressing the impact of digital environments on youth development. The initiative will bring together more than 100 participants for a four-day virtual retreat aimed at breaking down disciplinary silos and fostering collaborative research. The project will include a four-part webinar series and a suite of educational resources designed to guide parents, educators, and policymakers.

“This grant enables us to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing families and educators today—understanding how digital environments shape youth character,” said Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens. “We are grateful to the Templeton Foundation for supporting this important work and helping us create resources that empower communities to foster resilience and moral development in the digital age.”

Work begins on “Character Matters: Values and Resilience in the Digital Age” in June 2025 and continues through June 2027.

The Character Matters initiative seeks to:

• • Identify the contextual structures needed to support optimal character development in youth.
  • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration to create holistic solutions.
  • Equip families and educators with actionable strategies and resources to navigate the challenges posed by the digital age.

Children and Screens is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research, education, and public dialogue about the impacts of digital media on children and adolescents. By convening experts from diverse fields and translating their insights into accessible resources, the Institute empowers families and communities to make informed decisions in the digital age.

Founded in 1987, the John Templeton ​Foundation supports interdisciplinary research ​and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe ​and wonder. With an endowment of $3.4 billion and annual ​giving of approximately $140 million, the ​Foundation ranks among the 25 largest ​grantmaking foundations in the United States. ​Headquartered outside Philadelphia, our ​philanthropic activities have engaged all major ​faith traditions and extended to more than 58 ​countries around the world. For more ​information, visit www.templeton.org.

*This project was made possible through the support of Grant 63314 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

For more information on Children and Screens, please contact Jon Bleicher at Prospect PR [jon@prospectpr.com, 973.330.1711]