amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5.5 million (research grants, 2023)
• Total Investment: $635+ million since 1985
• Total Grants Awarded: 3,800+ grants worldwide
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $480,000
• Geographic Focus: International (U.S., Europe, Asia)
• Application Method: Fixed deadlines via RFP

Contact Details

New York Office (Headquarters):

• Address: 120 Wall Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10005
• Phone: (212) 806-1600
• Toll-Free: 1-800-392-6327
• Email: info@amfar.org
• Grant inquiries: grants@amfar.org
• Website: www.amfar.org

Overview

Founded in 1985, amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending the global HIV/AIDS epidemic through innovative research. With total assets exceeding $950 million raised since inception and having awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide, amfAR has invested over $635 million in HIV/AIDS research, prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. The organization's strategic approach focuses on funding high-risk, high-reward research that may lack preliminary data required by traditional grant makers, with an unwavering commitment to finding a practical, accessible, and affordable cure for HIV. In 2024, amfAR supported 195 researchers and awarded nine new grants and fellowships. The organization holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator (98%) and an "A−" grade from CharityWatch.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Target Grants: $180,000 - $480,000

• Focus: Research on mechanisms for HIV persistence and strategies for sustained HIV remission or complete viral eradication
• Maximum: Up to $480,000 total costs for multi-year projects
• Standard: Up to $180,000 total costs (including up to 20% indirect costs) for one-year projects
• Application: Online portal via formal RFP, fixed deadlines

Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research: $130,000 - $180,000

• Focus: Early-career postdoctoral scientists transitioning to independent HIV/AIDS research careers
• Phase 1: Up to $130,000 (including indirect costs) for two-year fellowship period
• Phase 2: Additional $50,000 available for first 12 months of independent research position
• Application: Online portal via formal RFP, fixed deadlines

Priority Areas

• HIV cure research, particularly viral reservoir elimination strategies
• Novel therapeutic approaches including gene therapy and gene editing
• CAR-T cell therapy for HIV elimination
• Repurposing existing drugs (cancer medications, immunotherapies) for HIV treatment
• Immunotherapy and antibody-based treatments
• HIV prevention and treatment in Asia
• High-risk, innovative research that may lack preliminary data for traditional funders

What They Don't Fund

• Research unrelated to HIV/AIDS
• For-profit institutions (grants limited to nonprofit research institutions)
• Indirect costs exceeding 20% of direct costs
• Projects lacking clear relevance to HIV cure research or treatment advancement

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Kyle Clifford (January 2026 - present), previously Chief Development Officer since 2020. Clifford stated: "The first is our unwavering commitment to finding a cure for HIV, ensuring that groundbreaking research continues while advocating for the critical global funding required to end the epidemic." He emphasized the personal nature of the work: "As CEO, I want people to know that the person sitting at this desk is not just leading the fight for a cure—I am living that fight every single day."

Former CEO: Kevin Robert Frost (2004-2025), who pioneered amfAR's bold HIV cure research agenda. Frost stated: "I was determined that if we were going to get a cure for HIV, we needed to say it publicly." On progress: "Right now, we can cure some people living with HIV some of the time, and these new grants will enable researchers to test exciting ideas about how we can push into the next phase: curing more of the people, more of the time."

Board of Trustees: Co-Chairs: T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy, with 25 total board members overseeing strategic direction

Management: 8-member management team plus over 100 advisors

VP and Director of Research: Oversees grant evaluation and scientific advisory processes

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

amfAR's grant-making begins with formal Requests for Proposals (RFPs) distributed to thousands of researchers worldwide. Applications are accepted ONLY through RFPs—there is no open rolling application process.

Step 1: Registration and Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Register on amfAR's online grants portal when RFP is announced
• Submit Letter of Intent or Proposal Synopsis by deadline specified in RFP
• LOIs reviewed by Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members
• Only investigators with highly-recommended LOIs invited to submit full applications

Step 2: Full Application Submission

• Invited applicants submit complete applications through online portal
• Deadline typically 6-8 weeks after LOI notifications

Eligibility:

• Principal investigators must hold doctoral degree
• Must be affiliated with nonprofit research institution
• For Krim Fellowships: Postdoctoral investigators at nonprofit institutions

Contact for Questions:

• grants@amfar.org or grantapps@amfar.org

Decision Timeline

• RFP announcement to LOI deadline: Several weeks
• LOI review period: Approximately 4-6 weeks
• Full application submission window: 6-8 weeks after LOI invitation
• Full application review: 2-3 months
• Board of Trustees final approval: Following review completion
• Total timeline: Approximately 6-9 months from RFP to award notification

Success Rates

amfAR receives hundreds of proposals annually and funds the highest quality projects. The process is highly competitive:

• LOI stage: Only best-qualified LOIs invited to submit full applications (limited number)
• Full application stage: Only top-ranked proposals selected for funding
• Specific success rate percentages not publicly disclosed
• In 2024: 9 new grants awarded from hundreds of proposals

Reapplication Policy

Applications receiving an overall impact score below 2.0 (on NIH-style 1-9 scale, where 1 is exceptional) but not funded due to budget constraints qualify for resubmission and review in the following cycle without requiring a new synopsis. Applications scoring above 2.0 must submit entirely new applications in future cycles.

Application Success Factors

Evaluation Criteria

Applications evaluated on 5 criteria using NIH-style 1-9 scoring (1 = exceptional, 9 = significant weaknesses):

For Target and ARCHE Grants (weighted emphasis on Innovation and Significance):

1. Investigator - Qualifications and track record
2. Significance - Impact on HIV research and potential to advance cure research
3. Innovation - Novelty of approach, challenging current concepts
4. Approach - Scientific methodology and feasibility
5. Environment - Research facilities and institutional support

For Krim Fellowships (weighted emphasis on Investigator):

1. Investigator - Trajectory toward research independence
2. Significance
3. Innovation
4. Approach
5. Mentorship & Environment - Quality of mentorship and support for career development

Specific amfAR Advice

• Show distinct research trajectory: For Krim Fellowships, amfAR expects applicants to demonstrate "how their proposal positions them to develop a distinct and independent research program over time"
• Embrace innovation: amfAR specifically seeks "high-risk, high-reward" research that may lack preliminary data
• Focus on cure relevance: Projects must clearly address "mechanisms for HIV persistence and the potential for HIV eradication"
• Avoid AI-generated content: amfAR explicitly prohibits use of generative AI in applications or reviews

Recent Successful Projects (2024 Examples)

• Dr. Michael Peluso (UCSF): $480,000 to test N-803's ability to suppress HIV rebound after antiretroviral therapy cessation
• Dr. Adam Spivak (University of Utah): $480,000 to test cancer drug dasatinib for reducing HIV reservoir
• Dr. Yiming Yin (Boston Children's Hospital): $240,000 to test B cell-based antibody therapy as ART replacement
• Dr. Elena Herrera-Carrillo (University of Amsterdam): Gene-editing using lipid nanoparticles to render cells immune to HIV

Review Process Details

• Each application evaluated by 3 external scientific reviewers plus amfAR's VP of Research
• Reviewers present findings to panel of 8-20 SAC members
• Panel discusses and scores by confidential ballot
• Applications ranked by weighted average scores
• Top-ranked proposals selected for Board of Trustees approval
• All applicants receive anonymized evaluation summary with individual criterion scores and general feedback

Common Success Factors

• Strong preliminary data showing feasibility (even if limited)
• Clear articulation of innovative approach
• Direct relevance to HIV cure or treatment breakthrough
• Excellent investigator credentials and institutional support
• Well-designed methodology aligned with amfAR's cure-focused priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Application by invitation only: You cannot apply unless invited via RFP—sign up for RFP alerts at amfar.org to be notified of opportunities
• Two-stage process is critical: LOI must be compelling enough to secure full application invitation—this is your first hurdle
• Innovation trumps safety: amfAR explicitly seeks high-risk, high-reward research; don't shy away from bold, unconventional approaches
• Cure focus is non-negotiable: All research must clearly advance HIV cure strategies, particularly addressing viral reservoir elimination
• Weighted scoring matters: For Target Grants, Innovation and Significance carry more weight; for Krim Fellowships, Investigator trajectory is paramount
• Score below 2.0 to resubmit: If unfunded but scored below 2.0, you can resubmit in next cycle—this indicates your proposal was excellent but funding-limited
• NIH-style peer review: Expect rigorous scientific evaluation modeled on NIH standards with 3 external reviewers and panel discussion
• International scope welcomed: amfAR funds researchers worldwide, not just in the U.S.

References

1. amfAR Research Grants page - https://www.amfar.org/research/grants/ (accessed January 2026)
2. amfAR Grant Application Review Process and Guidelines - https://www.amfar.org/grant-application-review-process-and-guidelines/ (accessed January 2026)
3. amfAR Apply for a Grant page - https://www.amfar.org/research/apply-for-a-grant/ (accessed January 2026)
4. amfAR Mathilde Krim Fellowships page - https://www.amfar.org/research/grants/mathilde-krim-fellowships/ (accessed January 2026)
5. amfAR Impact Report 2024 - https://www.amfar.org/impact-report-2024/ (accessed January 2026)
6. "2023 amfAR Research Grants Total $5.5 Million" - https://www.amfar.org/innovations/1223-2/2023-amfar-research-grants-total-5-5-million/ (accessed January 2026)
7. amfAR Contact Us page - https://www.amfar.org/contact-us/ (accessed January 2026)
8. "Meet the New CEO: Kyle Clifford" - https://www.amfar.org/news/meet-the-new-ceo-kyle-clifford/ (accessed January 2026)
9. "Inside the bold new fight for an HIV cure: An exclusive interview with amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost" - BioPharma Dive, https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/inside-the-bold-new-fight-for-an-hiv-cure-an-exclusive-interview-with-amfa/410291/ (accessed January 2026)
10. POZ - "amfAR Awards New HIV Cure-Focused Research Grants Totaling $2.4M" - https://www.poz.com/article/amfar-awards-new-hiv-curefocused-research-grants-totaling-24m (accessed January 2026)
11. amfAR Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmfAR (accessed January 2026)
12. Charity Navigator - amfAR Profile - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/133163817 (accessed January 2026)
13. GuideStar - amfAR Profile - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-3163817 (accessed January 2026)