Research Program – $500,000 to $5,000,000 – Jan 1 through Feb 15 and Jul 1 through Aug 15, annually

Sponsored by W. M. Keck Foundation

Eligibility:            Private, Public, Other (including homeschool, 501 (c)(3) organizations)

Award(s):           Awards range from $500,000 to $5 million, with an average award less than $2 million.

Deadline(s):       Optional preapplication counseling periods take place January 1 through February 15 and July 1 through August 15, annually. Phase I applications are due May 1 and November 1, annually. Invited Phase II proposals are due February 15 and August 15, annually.

Focus:   Engineering, STEM/STEAM/STREAM, Technology Education/Computer Science

Grade Level(s):  Higher Ed

Content Area(s):             Mathematics, Science

Themes and Skills:          Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Innovation, Problem Solving

State(s):              National

Description:       The W. M. Keck Foundation’s Science and Engineering Research Program supports 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. The Research Program supports projects in the following two specific areas: (1) medical research, and (2) science and engineering. Past grants have been awarded to major universities and independent research institutions to support pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation, or methodologies.

Funding is awarded to university and institutions for projects that focus on the following priorities: (1) focus on important and emerging areas of research; (2) have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation, or methodologies; (3) are innovative, distinctive, and interdisciplinary; (4) demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches or by challenging the prevailing paradigm; (5) have the potential for transformative impact, such as founding a new field of research, enabling observations not previously possible, or altering perception of a previously intractable problem; (6) are not focused on clinical of translational research, treatment trials, or research for the sole purpose of drug development; and (7) fall outside of the mission of public funding agencies and demonstrate that private philanthropy is essential to the projects success.

Research universities, medical colleges, and major private independent scientific and medical institutes are eligible to apply. Organizations must be designated as public charities. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the foundation during the preapplication counseling period. The foundation employs a two-phase application process. Applications must be submitted online.

Contact:              W. M. Keck Foundation

515 S. Flower St.

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: 213.612.2000

Email: concepts@wmkeck.org (To submit concept papers); research_med@wmkeck.org; research_scieng@wmkeck.org (For questions)

Website:             http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research