Research

Program Overview

The W. M. Keck Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting Basic Science Research projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field.

Past grants have been awarded to support pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation or methodologies.  Please see our grant abstracts for examples of funded projects. We seek to fund a diversity of science, and projects overlapping with recent grants are unlikely to succeed.

All communication with the Foundation, including submitting applications, proposals and reports must be via the institution’s designated liaison.  Please see the liaison guidelines for more information on this role.

New Application Process

The W. M. Keck Foundation Research program is introducing a new 6-month application cycle to enable more responsive grantmaking and create a streamlined process for applicants.

Important changes to be aware of:

  • Concepts: We will no longer be hosting concept consultations
  • Single-phase application: A single proposal submission replacing our current multi-stage process
  • Deadlines: Submission deadlines in December and June
  • Application limits: Up to three applications per institution, not limited to any area of science

Instructions for constructing and submitting proposals will be available in September

Prospective Applicant Information

Please download this info here

We are looking for projects that aim to deliver pioneering and fundamental scientific discoveries in important and emerging areas of research. We fund high-impact research in basic physical, life, and biomedical sciences, including instrumentation development and engineering approaches in service of answering basic scientific questions.

Funding Priorities

Eligibility

  • High-impact research in basic physical, life, and biomedical sciences, including instrumentation and engineering in service of basic science
  • Pioneering, fundamental discoveries in important and emerging research areas
  • Novel approaches that are distinctive, innovative, field-expanding, and challenge existing paradigms
  • High-risk, high-reward proposals are welcome

What We Look For in Proposals

  • Project overview: What are the unique aspects, positioning relative to field, preliminary data, if available
  • Methodologies: What is validated, what is new
  • Key personnel: Why is this the right team
  • Knowledge gap: What is the basic scientific question to be answered
  • Impact: What will ~$1M enable
  • Innovation: How is this distinctive from existing work, especially any recent similar awards by Keck, in what ways does it challenge existing norms
  • Risk: What features of this project are high-risk

Funding Details

  • Typical awards: $1m–$1.3m over 3 years
  • Two limited submission funding cycles per year
  • No indirect costs—institution provides in-kind support by waiving indirects

Budget Guidelines

  • Faculty salary + benefits: up to 10% annually
  • Total PI/Co-PI salaries: up to 20% of total budget
  • Tuition + fees: Up to 25k per student annually, not to exceed 10% of the total budget; institution matches any gaps
  • PIs must be tenure-track faculty or equivalent (normally eligible to submit proposals without exceptional approvals)
  • Past grantees may apply on significantly different projects
  • No resubmission of declined proposals
  • No follow-on funding for previous awards

Institutional Best Practices

  • Utilize an internal committee engaging administrators and senior faculty
  • Select proposals focused on fundamental basic science, not applied or translational research
  • Provide coaching and feedback to PIs on fit to Keck mission

We Do Not Fund

  • Medical devices or bench-to-bedside translational research
  • Projects solely focused on engineering equipment, tools, or materials
  • Engineering for efficiency, optimization or cost reduction
  • Clinical trials, therapies, procedures
  • Drug discovery, development, or delivery
  • Disease biomarker screening
  • Digital twin implementations
  • User facilities or equipment for shared facilities
  • Supplements, renewals, or follow-on funding
  • Conferences or science policy

Grant Cycle Timeline

The Foundation awards grants twice annually in June and December:

For the June grant cycle:

Application Deadline

Notification of Selection for Scientific Presentation

Presentation Evaluations

Notification of Funding Decision

Second Monday after Thanksgiving by 4:30pm PT
(December 7, 2026)

End of March

Late April – Early May

Mid-June

For the December grant cycle:

Application Deadline

Notification of Selection for Scientific Presentation

Presentation Evaluations

Notification of Funding Decision

First Monday after Memorial Day by 4:30pm PT
(June 7, 2027)

End of September

Late October – Early November

Mid-December

If any deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline is 4:30pm (PT) the following Monday.

Application Instructions

Eligible institutions may submit up to three applications per grant cycle. Applications are not limited by area of science, but the Foundation encourages institutions to submit projects covering a diversity of science.

DEADLINES
  • The first Monday after Memorial Day for consideration at the December board meeting
  • The second Monday after Thanksgiving, 4:30pm (PT) for consideration at the June board meeting

At any phase of the application process, an institution may withdraw an application without prejudice to future requests.

Applications must be submitted by the institution’s designated liaison. See Liaison Guidelines for more information on this role.

Application Documents

Application instructions PDF available here.

  • Artboard 209 copy 3 Proposal - Instructions and templates will be available by September 1
  • Artboard 222 Recognition Statement
  • Artboard 224 Biographical Sketches for all key personnel
  • Artboard 224_1 Collaborative Arrangements (if applicable)
  • Artboard 225 Project Budget
  • Artboard 226 Budget Justification
  • Artboard 227 Capital Equipment Quotes (if applicable)
  • Artboard 228 Other Support
  • Artboard 229 Suggested Referees - Five knowledgeable experts who can review the project
  • Artboard 230 State of California Determination Letter* (if applicable)
  • Artboard 230 copy 2 Governing Board - Concise list of members of the institution's governing board

*All tax exempt documentation and audited financial statements must be in the same, current and full name of the payee organization.  Please see the Eligibility page for more information.

The Foundation will notify applicants with funding decisions. Please do not contact the Foundation to check on the status of an application.

The Foundation does not allow the following charges in the project budget:

  • Support for tenured and tenure track faculty exceeding 10% of their 12-month salary and benefits
  • Student tuition beyond $25k per student per year
  • Indirect Costs/Overhead - We recommend including this in the Other Sources portion of the budget
  • Renovation in excess of 10% of the WMKF request
  • Grant funds spent outside the US in excess of 10% of the WMKF request
  • General operating expenses, endowments, or deficit reduction
  • Conference or seminar sponsorship
  • Capital projects

Submit an Application

Applications may only be submitted by the designated liaison
Apply Here

WMKF Portal

Access applications in progress or submitted requests

Account Login

ELIGIBILITY

STEM PhD granting institutions are eligible to apply to the Research Program.

Tax

Organizations must be prepared to provide:

  • An IRS determination letter demonstrating exemption from federal taxation as defined by 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and designating one of the following:
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • A public charity as defined by Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) or 170(b)(A)(I-VI) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • An exempt operating foundation as defined by Section 4940(d)(2).
  • A California FTB letter demonstrating exemption from California State Franchise or Income Tax under Section 23701(d) of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if located in the State of California.
  • Current full, certified, audited financial statements prepared on an annual basis in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. If in existence less than five years, the organization must be able to provide at least two consecutive full, certified, audited financial statements prepared on an annual basis.
  • The most recently filed complete Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), including Public Charity Status and Public Support (Schedule A).
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • Any organization designated as an exempt operating foundation must be able to provide the most recently filed complete Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF) in place of Form 990.

Organization

If the Organization:

  • Will be part of a collaborative project, the lead institution must be identified and all members must meet the Foundation’s eligibility requirements. We may request additional documentation from the other members of the collaboration.
  • Is a government unit as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(v) and (c)(1) and, therefore, does not receive a determination letter as to such organization’s tax exempt classification from the Internal Revenue Service, the organization must submit a Declaration of Status signed by the organization’s Chief Executive or President and by its Chief Legal Officer. The declaration must specify:
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • the federal, state or local laws pursuant to which the organization is created and governed;
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • whether the organization also is a school as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), hospital or medical research institute as defined by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(iii) or other organization described in Section 170(b)
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • that the organization is legally and financially responsible for its debts; and
  • Artboard 230 copy 6 • that the organization is not a non-operating private foundation within the meaning of Section 509.
  • Is part of a group that received a determination letter as to such group’s tax exempt classification from the Internal Revenue Service, such organization must provide such determination letter that identifies such organization as part of such group. Such organization must also provide an attestation as to the continued group status of such organization. Such attestation must be signed by the organization’s chief executive or president and by its chief legal officer. The Form 990 required for such organization may be the Form 990 of the group.

Legal

All tax-exempt documentation, audited financial statements and the Form 990 must be in the same, current and full name of the qualifying organization.

We will consider the management and fiscal condition of an institution when reviewing an institution for eligibility.

The Parties to a grant agreement will agree it is deemed to have been entered into in the County of Los Angeles, State of California; and, California law will apply to the interpretation and enforcement of the grant provisions.

Ineligible for funding:
  • Grants to individuals
  • Private foundations (other than exempt operating foundations) or 509(a)(3) organizations
  • Institutions that are located outside the United States
  • Institutions that do not have at least three consecutive years of full, certified, audited financial statements
  • Institutions that do not have a tax-exempt ruling from the federal government and (if located in California) the State of California; or if a government unit, do not provide a signed Declaration of Status
  • Institutions that are subsidiaries or affiliates of larger entities that do not have a separate board of directors and independent audited financial statements
  • “Conduit” organizations, unified funds or organizations that use grant funds from donors to support other organizations or individuals
Liaisons may contact research@wmkeck.org in advance to check eligibility and tax requirements.