Our Funding and Program Partners
We are Grateful to these Funding Partners
The HTC Education Foundation, based in Taiwan, supports character and civic education in Taiwan and around the world. The Foundation works with schools and education organizations to develop character education programs, create curriculum, and train educators.
For more than 10 years, the HTC Education Foundation has been a generous supporter of the CCC. Their funding has helped sustain the Center’s operations and advance its mission. The Foundation has also sponsored the University of Missouri’s LACE® program.
The John Templeton Foundation aims to advance human well-being by supporting research on the Big Questions, and by promoting character development, individual freedom, and free markets. The Foundation takes its vision from its founding benefactor, the late Sir John Templeton, who sought to stimulate what he described as “spiritual progress.”
The Kern Family Foundation works to help young people build strong character and live meaningful, successful lives. The Foundation supports quality education, encourages an entrepreneurial mindset, and promotes the desire to create value for others. Founded in 1998 by Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern, founders of Generac Power Systems, the Foundation focuses on initiatives that create long-term, lasting impact across education systems.
Templeton World Charity Foundation supports research and programs that explore meaning, purpose, and human flourishing. Inspired by the vision of Sir John Templeton, the Foundation promotes scientific research and thoughtful exploration of life’s deepest questions. The Foundation believes that strong character is essential to human flourishing. Through its support, TWCF helps advance research and practical tools that strengthen character and contribute to personal, relational, and social well-being.
We are Proud to Work With These Program Partners
Become is an organization that helps people and communities grow into who they are called to be. They work with schools and other institutions to create environments that support personal growth, strong character, and well-being. Become uses an evidence-based and practical approach that puts people first, above outcomes or productivity. They believe that strong leadership is key to building communities where individuals can flourish.
Through our partnership, Become uses the Center for Character and Citizenship’s PICE and vLACE programs to train educators around the world. Together, we support leadership teams as they reflect, learn, and redesign their schools to promote character development in intentional and lasting ways.
The Centre for Character and Leadership is based in Kenya and works to promote ethical behavior, peace, good governance, and strong leadership. The Centre supports schools and organizations by providing training in character education, national values, and servant leadership. Their programs help build cultures that promote character development, emotional well-being, and human flourishing.
The CCC partnered with Peter Kingori, M.A., Director of the Character Education Program at the Centre for Character and Leadership, on a project to strengthen character education leadership training for Kenyan educators. The Templeton World Charity Foundation funded this collaborative project.
Founded in 1993, Character.org has been a national leader in advancing character education in schools and communities. The organization was launched with the vision and support of Sanford “Sandy” McDonnell, former CEO of McDonnell Douglas, whose leadership also played an important role in the early development of the CCC.
Character.org is widely known for its 11 Principles Framework for Schools, which guides schools in building strong, values-centered cultures. Over the past 25 years, more than 1,300 schools have been recognized as National Schools of Character.
In June 2025, Character.org transferred its intellectual property and programs to CharacterPlus, a St. Louis–based organization that now continues the Schools of Character and Promising Practices programs.
CharacterPlus is a St. Louis–based organization that inspires and supports positive character development in young people. Founded by Sanford “Sandy” McDonnell, a national advocate for character education, CharacterPlus has partnered with schools for more than 30 years to strengthen school culture and support the development of the whole child.
CharacterPlus provides evidence-based resources, training, and support to help educators create caring, high-achieving school environments. Their work empowers students to become compassionate people of integrity who are prepared to make a positive impact in their communities.
Coschool is a Colombian organization dedicated to strengthening social-emotional learning in students, educators, and school leaders. Through its programs, Coschool helps schools build social-emotional skills, promote well-being, and empower individuals to become agents of positive change.
In partnership with the CCC, Coschool has adapted and implemented the PRIMED model to train school leaders through in-person and virtual formats, supporting leadership teams as they strengthen social-emotional education in their schools.
IMG Academy is a leading preparatory boarding school and sports training institution based in Bradenton, Florida. The academy serves more than 1,600 on-campus students and thousands of additional participants each year through its academic, residential, and athletic programs.
The CCC has partnered with IMG Academy’s Student Life Department, led by Dr. Pete Paciorek, Head of Leadership & Character Development. Together, we are designing and implementing a three-year, evidence-based staff certificate program that equips Student Life staff to serve as high-impact youth mentors and character educators.
Grounded in CCC’s research-based frameworks—including the CViL virtues and the PRIMED coaching and mentoring model—the partnership is strengthening student character, enriching campus culture, and developing a scalable model for character development in boarding schools.
Polaris is a Brazilian organization dedicated to promoting character education in schools and educational institutions. Inspired by the North Star as a symbol of moral direction, Polaris helps educators strengthen school culture and guide students toward lives of purpose and integrity.
Since 2018, Polaris has partnered with schools—primarily in São Paulo—to support the implementation of evidence-based character education. They have served more than 20 schools, trained over 900 educators, and impacted thousands of students.
Since 2022, Polaris has partnered with the Center for Character and Citizenship (CCC) to apply the PRIMED framework in leadership and teacher training programs. Through ongoing support and professional development, Polaris helps schools align their policies, practices, and culture with the principles of intentional and sustainable character development.
