Global Flourishing Study

In 2021, Baylor celebrated the largest funded research project in University history with the launch of The Global Flourishing Study (GFS)—a $43.4 million, five-year initiative surveying 240,000 individuals in 22 countries to investigate the factors that determine human flourishing.

The longitudinal survey is directed by Byron Johnson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor and Director of the Institute for the Studies of Religion. Partners on the project include Harvard University, Gallup and The Center for Open Science.

GFS represents the largest undertaking of its kind. Over the next five-plus years, the team will analyze longitudinal data on the patterns, determinants, and social, psychological, spiritual, political, economic, and health-related constituents and causes of human flourishing. Overall, the goal is to build a mature field of study around the science of human flourishing, producing research findings that will influence the direction of social and health policy.

Given its scope, joint support from a consortium of funders was needed to make the Global Flourishing Study financially viable, including support from the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton Religion Trust, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, the Fetzer Institute, the Paul Foster Family Foundation, the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation, Well Being Trust, and the David & Carol Myers Foundation.