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Water Research Foundation

Annual Giving
$20.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20+ million (in research funding)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-4 months (program dependent)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $300,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: International (primarily North America)
  • Subscribers: Approximately 1,200 water utilities and organizations globally

Contact Details

Address: 6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80235-3098, USA

Phone: 303.347.6100 | Toll-free: 800.926.7337

Email: Info@WaterRF.org

Website: www.waterrf.org

Pre-application support: Questions about individual RFPs should be directed to the WRF staff contact listed on each specific RFP

Overview

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1966 that has evolved into the world's leading One Water research and innovation organization. Operating on six continents with approximately 1,200 subscribers worldwide, WRF funds, manages, and publishes research on drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems. The organization was created in its current form in 2018 through the integration of three research collaboratives (Water Research Foundation, Water Environment Research Foundation, and WateReuse Research Foundation). With an annual research budget exceeding $20 million and a research library of over 2,300 projects valued at $700 million, WRF is committed to advancing the science of water through applied research and innovative processes. WRF earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 96%. CEO Peter Grevatt leads the Foundation in delivering world-class research to drive integrated water resources management.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Priority Program ($5.9M in 2024)

  • Individual project range: $150,000 - $325,000
  • 60% of annual research budget
  • Addresses broadly relevant subscriber issues through strategic research topics
  • Application method: Specific RFPs released periodically through the year

Unsolicited Research Program ($1.8M biennial budget)

  • Individual project range: $25,000 - $175,000
  • 10% of annual research budget
  • Funds novel, transformative research projects
  • Application method: Two-stage competitive process (pre-proposals, then full proposals)
  • Launched every other year on even years (e.g., 2024, 2026)

Tailored Collaboration Program ($5M+ annually)

  • Up to $150,000 in matching funds per project
  • 20% of annual research budget
  • Partners directly with utility subscribers on regional research
  • Application method: Annual call for pre-proposals (typically due mid-March)
  • Requires WRF utility subscriber sponsorship

Emerging Opportunities Program

  • Individual project range: $25,000 - $200,000
  • 10% of annual research budget
  • Time-critical research on emergent, high-priority issues
  • Application method: Staff-driven program requiring staff sponsor

Facilitated Research Program

  • Fully funded by specific utility or group of utilities
  • WRF provides research management expertise
  • Application method: Direct partnership with WRF

Priority Areas

WRF's research programming includes five research themes approved by the Board of Directors:

  1. Healthy Communities & Environment

    • Holistic Watershed Management & Integrated Planning
    • Monitoring Tools at Watershed & Sewershed Scale
    • Receiving Water Quality Management

  2. Treatment: Innovation & Optimization

    • Treatment & Process Optimization
    • Nature-based Solutions
    • Diversifying Water Systems

  3. Asset Management & Resilience (including climate change adaptation)

  4. Emerging Contaminants (including PFAS research)

  5. Water Reuse & Resource Recovery

Recent funded projects (2024) include: PFAS treatment residuals management, biosolids products valuation, microplastics standardization, GHG mitigation, pipeline infrastructure assessment, AI applications in water sector, biological nutrient removal, and distribution system condition assessment.

What They Don't Fund

  • Emerging Opportunities Program: External unsolicited proposals not supported by WRF staff
  • Tailored Collaboration Program restrictions:
    • Grants and awards from other institutions cannot be used as cash match
    • No matching of in-kind contributions
    • Non-utility subscribers cannot sponsor Tailored Collaboration projects
  • Eligibility restrictions: Researchers late on ongoing WRF-sponsored studies without approved no-cost extensions are ineligible
  • Scope limitations: Research must relate to drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, or stormwater systems

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Peter Grevatt, Ph.D., CEO - Dr. Grevatt has over 30 years of experience leading public health and environmental protection programs with significant focus on the water sector. Appointed in February 2019, he is described as having "demonstrated strong leadership and exceptional communication skills, combined with extensive water research knowledge." Dr. Grevatt stated, "WRF could not accomplish our work without extraordinary utilities and researchers like those honored today."

WRF's CEO leads the Foundation in delivering world-class research and works with subscribers to "identify their most important research priorities, oversee the carrying out of that research, and provide the results back to our subscribers."

Board of Directors

Members of the Board of Directors are subscribers and leaders in the water community, representing water utilities and professional organizations from around the world. The Board provides strategic direction, fiscal stewardship, and leadership to ensure WRF's vision and mission are achieved through optimized utilization of resources.

Staff Structure

  • Regional Liaisons: Serve as primary points of contact for subscribers, providing personalized service
  • Research Services Team: Research Program Managers and Project Coordinators work together on research planning and project management
  • Research Advisory Council (RAC): Board-appointed council that meets twice per year to review and approve Research Priority Program projects

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application processes vary by program:

Research Priority Program:

  • WRF releases specific Requests for Proposals (RFPs) throughout the year
  • Eligible applicants: academic institutions, research organizations, utilities, government agencies, consulting firms
  • Proposals must follow WRF's Guidelines for Research Priority Program Proposals
  • Submit through WRF's online portal at waterrf.org/open-rfps
  • Each RFP lists specific WRF staff contact for questions

Unsolicited Research Program (biennial, even years):

  • Stage 1: Submit pre-proposals when call is issued (typically due late March)
  • Stage 2: Shortlisted applicants invited to submit full proposals
  • Eligible applicants: Any academic, consultant, utility, or non-governmental organization in good standing
  • 2026 program opens January 2026 with pre-proposals due by 3pm MT on specific deadline
  • Submit through online portal following program-specific guidelines

Tailored Collaboration Program (annual):

  • Stage 1: Submit pre-proposals (typically due mid-March, e.g., March 17, 2026 at 3pm MT)
  • Stage 2: Shortlisted applicants invited to submit full proposals
  • Requirements: Must be sponsored by WRF utility subscriber; utility eligible to sponsor one project per funding year
  • Detailed budget not required with pre-proposal
  • Cash match due upon execution of funding agreement
  • Submit through WRF's Proposal Guidelines page

Application Resources:

  • Proposal guidelines available at waterrf.org/proposal-guidelines
  • Budget preparation instructions provided
  • Training materials available for new submission process
  • Allow extra time to learn and navigate the online system

Decision Timeline

Research Priority Program:

  • Research Advisory Council (RAC) meets twice per year (spring review for project approvals)
  • Timeline varies by specific RFP
  • Each project has a Project Advisory Committee that reviews proposals

Unsolicited Research Program (2024 cycle):

  • Program launch: January 19, 2024
  • Pre-proposal deadline: March 28, 2024 (3:00 PM MT)
  • Stage 1 notifications: By June 10, 2024 (approximately 2.5 months)
  • Stage 2: Full proposal submission and evaluation (timeline varies)

Tailored Collaboration Program:

  • Annual call for pre-proposals issued (typically January)
  • Pre-proposal deadline: Mid-March
  • Tailored Collaboration Review Committee (TCRC) reviews and provides comments
  • Full proposal invitation and evaluation by TCRC
  • Typical timeline: 2-4 months from pre-proposal to decision

Success Rates

WRF uses a "comprehensive and competitive selection process, proven quality control measures, and a nationally recognized expert review system." Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. In the 2024 Unsolicited Research Program, 11 projects were selected from all pre-proposals submitted (total number of submissions not disclosed).

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in publicly available materials. Applicants should contact WRF staff for guidance on resubmission opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Based on WRF's documented guidance and recent funding patterns, successful proposals demonstrate:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities:

  • WRF emphasizes research that addresses "broadly relevant water sector issues, challenges, and opportunities"
  • Recent funded projects focus on PFAS, microplastics, climate resilience, nature-based solutions, AI applications, and asset management
  • For Tailored Collaboration, projects should have "potential for broader applicability" beyond the sponsoring utility

Scientific Innovation and Practical Application:

  • Unsolicited Research Program specifically seeks "novel, transformative research projects that can significantly advance scientific knowledge and result in practical water quality solutions"
  • WRF focuses on "applied research and innovative processes and technologies"
  • CEO Peter Grevatt emphasizes WRF's mission to help the water sector "protect public health and the environment most efficiently and effectively"

Strong Collaboration and Utility Engagement:

  • WRF describes itself as "the world's leading research collaborative supporting the water sector"
  • Successful proposals often involve utility partnerships or demonstrate utility relevance
  • For Research Priority Program, each project has a Project Advisory Committee that monitors results

Comprehensive Proposal Development:

  • Follow WRF's proposal guidelines exactly to "ensure consistency and expedite the review process"
  • Use budget preparation instructions provided
  • For Tailored Collaboration pre-proposals, detailed budgets not required initially
  • Proposers should "allow themselves extra time to learn and navigate the new system"

Demonstrated Capacity:

  • Principal investigators must be in good standing with WRF (not late on ongoing studies)
  • Proposals should demonstrate research team's expertise and track record

Quality and Completeness:

  • WRF's "nationally recognized expert review system" evaluates proposals
  • All proposals undergo rigorous peer review by subject matter experts
  • Research Advisory Council provides strategic oversight of research selection

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multiple funding pathways: WRF offers five distinct programs with different eligibility requirements and application processes—identify the best fit for your research
  • Subscriber advantages: While some programs (Research Priority, Unsolicited) accept non-subscriber applications, Tailored Collaboration requires utility subscriber sponsorship—consider partnering with a subscribing utility
  • Two-stage process is standard: Most programs use pre-proposal screening before full proposal invitations—invest time in compelling pre-proposals
  • Applied research focus: WRF emphasizes practical applications that help utilities "protect public health and the environment most efficiently and effectively"—connect research to real-world utility challenges
  • Strategic timing: Unsolicited program operates biennially on even years; Tailored Collaboration has annual March deadlines; Research Priority releases RFPs throughout the year—plan accordingly
  • Rigorous review process: Expect comprehensive peer review by expert panels and advisory councils—ensure proposals demonstrate scientific rigor and practical value
  • Global reach with North American focus: While WRF operates on six continents with 1,200 subscribers worldwide, the organization is US-based and primarily serves North American water utilities

References

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