Wyss Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_B6FDC51F

Annual Expenditure: £149.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $149,332,735 (2023)
  • Endowment: $1.71 billion (2023)
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $22,100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global, with emphasis on American West
  • Application Process: Invitation only
  • Primary Focus: Land and ocean conservation

Contact Details

Website: https://www.wyssfoundation.org/

Contact Form: https://www.wyssfoundation.org/contact

Location: Washington, D.C., United States

Note: General inquiries may be submitted via the contact page, but the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals.

Overview

The Wyss Foundation is a private, charitable foundation established in 1998 by Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who graduated from Harvard Business School in 1965 and built a successful medical research and design company. With an endowment of $1.71 billion as of 2023, the foundation is dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. In 2018, the foundation launched the landmark Wyss Campaign for Nature with a commitment that has grown to $1.5 billion, aiming to help conserve 30% of the Earth's lands and ocean by 2030 (known as the “30x30” initiative). Since its founding, the Wyss Foundation and its partners have helped permanently protect more than 120 million acres of land and over 3.2 million square kilometers of ocean. The foundation's mission is inspired by Hansjörg Wyss's early experiences working for the Colorado Highway Department and his deep connection to American public lands.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Conservation Grants: $100,000 - $22,100,000

The foundation makes substantial grants to conservation organizations working on land, ocean, and ecosystem protection. Recent examples include:

  • African Parks Foundation of America: $18,600,000
  • Western Rivers Conservancy: $5,000,000
  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK): $1,027,448

Wyss Fellows Program: $140,000 per host organization

A two-year fellowship program funding the training and development of future conservation leaders. The grant covers 80% of the Fellow's salary and benefits plus programmatic support. Fellows gain experience in conservation advocacy, policy development, grassroots organizing, coalition-building, research, media, and fundraising, with annual week-long training programs. Recent host organizations include Trust for Public Land, Blue Ridge Conservancy, League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Western Rivers Conservancy, and Mass Audubon.

Social Justice and Community Development: $100,000 - $1,300,000

Grants supporting economic opportunity, women and girls, civic engagement, and social justice initiatives. Examples include:

  • Pro Mujer (gender equality in Latin America): $300,000
  • Center for Responsible Lending: $1,300,000
  • Brookline Food Pantry: $100,000

Medical Research and Education: $1,000,000 - $10,000,000

Support for healthcare institutions and educational organizations, such as:

  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles: $10,000,000

Priority Areas

  • Conservation of vulnerable lands, waterways, and ecosystems (primary focus): Land preservation, river restoration, ocean conservation, anti-poaching efforts, environmental journalism
  • Indigenous engagement in conservation: Supporting Indigenous peoples as leaders in conservation efforts
  • 30x30 Initiative: Protecting 30% of Earth's surface by 2030
  • Locally led conservation projects: Supporting communities establishing, expanding, or improving management of parks and protected areas
  • American West focus: Large-scale land conservation initiatives with global reach
  • Economic opportunity: Community development and economic empowerment
  • Women and girls: Gender equality and empowerment programs
  • Civic engagement and democracy: Social justice and policy advocacy
  • Medical research and higher education: Healthcare and academic institutions

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not explicitly list exclusions, but their invitation-only model means they proactively identify organizations aligned with their strategic priorities rather than responding to broad application categories.

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Governance and Leadership

Founder and Chairman: Hansjörg Wyss, a native of Switzerland who lives in Wilson, Wyoming. As he stated about conservation work: “This is about neighbors and communities coming together to protect an iconic Western landscape...”

President: Molly McUsic, who previously served in the Clinton Administration as Counselor to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt

Treasurer: Joseph Fisher

Vice President: Mary Killingsworth

Conservation Program Officers: Include Andrew French and Matthew Griffis

The foundation's approach reflects Wyss's philosophy to “encourage new ideas and new solutions that expand the reach of human possibility and compassion.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Wyss Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. All grantmaking is conducted by invitation only. This applies to both their main grant programs and the Fellows Program for host organizations.

Organizations interested in the foundation's work may submit general inquiries through the contact form on the foundation's website (https://www.wyssfoundation.org/contact), but should understand that this does not constitute a grant application process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. The foundation proactively identifies and invites organizations that align with their strategic conservation and philanthropic priorities.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation operates through strategic identification of partners rather than competitive application processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Since the Wyss Foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations working in the foundation's priority areas can position themselves strategically:

Alignment with Conservation Priorities: Organizations demonstrating significant impact in land, ocean, and ecosystem conservation—particularly those working on large-scale protection initiatives—align with the foundation's core mission.

Indigenous Engagement: The foundation has explicitly named engagement of Indigenous peoples in conservation as a priority. Projects that center Indigenous leadership and knowledge systems may be of particular interest.

Locally Led Initiatives: The Wyss Campaign for Nature emphasizes support for locally led conservation projects. Organizations rooted in their communities with strong local partnerships demonstrate alignment with this strategy.

Scale and Impact: Recent grants show the foundation invests significantly in projects with potential for large-scale conservation impact, such as the protection of 1.6 million acres in Kazakhstan through partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Innovation and New Solutions: The foundation seeks to “encourage new ideas and new solutions that expand the reach of human possibility and compassion,” suggesting openness to innovative approaches to conservation challenges.

Track Record: Organizations receiving funding typically have established credibility in conservation work. Examples include The Nature Conservancy, African Parks, and Western Rivers Conservancy—organizations with proven conservation outcomes.

Global Reach with Specific Focus: While the foundation supports conservation globally, it maintains particular interest in the American West while also supporting strategic international initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Wyss Foundation operates exclusively by invitation and does not accept unsolicited proposals—traditional grant writing will not lead to funding
  • Conservation credentials are essential: The foundation's primary focus is protecting vulnerable lands, waterways, and ecosystems as part of the ambitious 30x30 goal
  • Scale matters: Grants range from $2,000 to over $22 million, with many substantial six- and seven-figure awards for high-impact conservation projects
  • Indigenous engagement is a stated priority: Projects that meaningfully involve Indigenous peoples as conservation leaders align with current strategy
  • Building visibility in conservation networks may be more valuable than direct outreach—the foundation proactively identifies partners
  • Multi-year impact potential: Programs like the Wyss Fellows demonstrate commitment to long-term capacity building in conservation
  • UK organizations are eligible: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has received over $1 million, demonstrating the foundation's global reach extends to UK-based organizations working on international conservation

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