The Laerdal Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_2229C624

Annual Expenditure: £25.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approx. ??31.25 million (over 400 million NOK total since establishment)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks after application deadline
  • Grant Range: USD 30,000 - 150,000 (??23,500 - ??117,500)
  • Geographic Focus: International (with special focus on Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal for birth-related projects)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.laerdalfoundation.org

Email: Foundation.laerdal@laerdalfoundation.org

Application Portal: https://application.laerdalfoundation.org/en

Address: P.O. Box 556, Sentrum 4003 Stavanger, Norway

Overview

The Laerdal Foundation was established in 1980 in collaboration with the University of Oslo to provide financial support to practically oriented research projects aimed at helping prevent needless deaths from sudden cardiac arrest, trauma, and during birth. Operating independently from the Laerdal companies under the regulation of the Norwegian Foundation's Act, the Foundation has supported more than 2,000 research projects with over 400 million NOK throughout its history. The Foundation prioritizes projects with high potential to save lives and has earmarked 50% of grants to saving lives at birth projects in low-resource settings, particularly focusing on interventions on the day of birth including prevention of stillborn deaths.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Project Support - Saving Lives at Birth: USD 30,000 - 50,000 (average USD 30,000)

  • Up to 20 projects funded annually in this category
  • Focus on low-resource settings
  • Special consideration for projects in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal
  • Application deadlines: April 1 and October 1 annually

Program Support: Up to USD 150,000 per year for 3-5 year programs

  • Multi-year programs supporting focus areas within Foundation strategy
  • Larger-scale initiatives with significant impact potential
  • Application deadlines: April 1 and October 1 annually

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds practically oriented research projects addressing:

  • Preventing needless deaths from sudden cardiac arrest
  • Preventing needless deaths from trauma
  • Preventing needless deaths during birth (50% of funding allocation)
  • Day of birth interventions
  • Prevention of stillborn deaths
  • Maternal and newborn health in low-resource settings

All applications must have a research dimension and demonstrate potential to save lives.

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects without a research dimension
  • Projects outside the three core focus areas (cardiac arrest, trauma, birth)
  • Institutional overhead costs beyond 10% of project budget
  • Costs not directly related to the project
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Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Tore L??rdal

The Foundation operates under the regulation of the Norwegian Foundation's Act and maintains independence from the Laerdal companies while sharing their mission of helping save lives.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Foundation's online application portal at application.laerdalfoundation.org. The Foundation accepts applications in English (preferred), Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish.

Application Requirements:

  • Clear project objectives
  • Detailed methodology
  • Realistic budget (only covering costs directly related to the project)
  • Potential impact assessment
  • Sustainability plan
  • Evidence of collaboration with local partners (particularly for low-resource setting projects)

Application Cycles: Two annual deadlines - April 1 and October 1

Decision Timeline

Results and feedback from the Foundation Board evaluation are typically available 6-8 weeks after the application deadline. All applicants receive a confirmation email upon submission indicating when evaluation results can be expected.

Success Rates

The Foundation has funded more than 2,000 research projects throughout its history, supporting approximately 20 projects annually in the Saving Lives at Birth category. Specific overall success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants are advised to contact the Foundation directly at Foundation.laerdal@laerdalfoundation.org for guidance on resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Priorities

The Foundation emphasizes:

  • Practical experience dealing with challenges typically found in low-resource settings
  • Strong commitment and participation from local partners
  • Projects that can leverage new initiatives with support from other sources
  • Evidence-based approaches with clear research dimensions
  • High potential for life-saving impact

Budget Considerations

  • Keep budgets realistic and directly tied to project activities
  • Institutional overhead costs limited to 10%
  • The Foundation prefers funding relatively few projects with significant impact potential
  • Demonstrate ability to secure co-funding from other sources

Successful Project Examples

The Foundation has supported:

  • More than 35 Utstein expert meetings
  • Establishment of five Global Resuscitation Alliances
  • More than 200 published papers related to Safer Births
  • Seed funding to the World Health Organization's Acute Care Action Network
  • Collaborative initiatives including Helping Babies Survive, Helping Mothers Survive, and Survive & Thrive Global Development Alliances

Application Tips

  • Demonstrate practical experience: Show proven capacity to work in challenging, low-resource environments
  • Build strong local partnerships: Evidence of genuine collaboration with local organizations is essential
  • Show co-funding potential: Indicate how the project could attract or leverage additional funding
  • Focus on impact: Clearly articulate how the project will save lives
  • Include sustainability: Demonstrate how outcomes will continue beyond the grant period
  • Research dimension: Ensure the project has a clear research component and methodology

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Research is essential: All funded projects must have a research dimension - this is non-negotiable
  • Geographic targeting matters: For birth-related projects, applications from the six focus countries (Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Bangladesh, India, Nepal) receive special consideration
  • Timing is predictable: With only two annual deadlines (April 1 and October 1), plan submissions well in advance
  • Local partnerships are critical: Demonstrate strong commitment from local partners, particularly for low-resource setting projects
  • Co-funding increases competitiveness: The Foundation prefers to support projects that can leverage additional funding sources
  • Keep overhead minimal: Only 10% institutional overhead is allowed - focus budgets on direct project costs
  • Quick decisions: 6-8 week turnaround time means you'll receive feedback relatively quickly
  • Practical orientation: The Foundation prioritizes practical, implementable research over purely theoretical work

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