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Gilead Sciences Foundation

Annual Giving
$21.5M
Grant Range
$25K - $5.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Gilead Sciences Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $21.5 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-12 weeks
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $5,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.), with emphasis on Bay Area communities and international health equity programs

Contact Details

Website: https://www.gilead.com/responsibility/giving-at-gilead/gilead-foundation

Email: grants@gilead.com

Phone: Not publicly listed

Address: Gilead Sciences Foundation, Foster City, CA

Application Portal: Accessed through online system at gilead.com

Overview

The Gilead Sciences Foundation (EIN: 20-1042419) was re-launched in 2021 with a $200 million endowment from Gilead Sciences Inc., and received an additional $85 million contribution in 2022. The foundation distributed $23.8 million in grants during 2023 and $21.5 million in 2024 to organizations committed to advancing programs that promote education equity, health equity, and community resilience. The foundation takes a holistic approach to mitigating the root causes of health inequities by providing resources to organizations that empower people and strengthen communities, classrooms, and workplaces. Since 2018, the foundation has awarded more than $150 million in grant funding to nearly 250 nonprofit organizations, primarily focused on the San Francisco Bay Area region while also supporting strategic health equity initiatives nationally and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Creating Possible Fund: $20 million multi-year initiative

  • Focus: Building pipeline of Black health leaders through education equity
  • Supports innovative approaches to changing systems, practices, and policies that disproportionately impact Black students
  • 13 inaugural grantees awarded grants ranging from approximately $1-2 million each
  • Examples: Brown University (Annenberg Institute for School Reform), KQED, Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, Pulse of Perseverance, Southern Poverty Law Center, Xavier University of Louisiana

STEM Education Grants: $500,000 - $5,000,000

  • Strengthening STEM education pathways, particularly in Bay Area communities
  • Recent example: $6.5 million commitment in 2025 to support STEM education
  • $500,000 to San Mateo Foster City Education Foundation
  • $5 million to San Francisco State University for Science & Engineering Innovation Center

Healing Hunger Initiative: $25,000 - $500,000

  • Over $3 million committed in 2024-2025 to 14 regional organizations
  • Supports mobile pantries, produce recovery, urban farming, and school-centered food distribution
  • Recipients include California Association of Food Banks, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Community Food Bank of New Jersey

Community Sustainability Grants: $500,000+

  • Local community support where Gilead employees live and work
  • Example: $500,000 to Foster City for green building measures in Recreation Center Replacement Project

Application Method: Rolling basis via online portal (Letter of Interest followed by full application)

Priority Areas

Health Equity

  • Programs addressing social determinants of health
  • Expanding access to HIV and hepatitis B education, outreach, prevention, and health services
  • Supporting underserved communities globally

Education Equity

  • STEM education and workforce pipeline development
  • Programs for underrepresented students, particularly Black students
  • Pre-college STEM programs and intensive mentorship
  • School-to-career pathways in health and life sciences

Food Security

  • Addressing food insecurity in communities with health disparities
  • Long-term nutrition access solutions
  • Community-based food distribution programs

Community Resilience

  • Social services in communities where Gilead employees live and work
  • Environmental sustainability programs
  • Building systems of support for community thriving

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating expenses at institutions in a position to influence, purchase, or prescribe Gilead products
  • Individual healthcare professionals or for-profit physician group practices
  • Healthcare practitioner expenses for attendance or travel to educational programs
  • Honoraria for healthcare providers employed by or affiliated with requesting organization
  • Advertising or promotional materials related to Gilead products
  • Government lobbying activities
  • Indirect costs of organizations or activities
  • Standard equipment or hardware purchases at institutions that could influence Gilead product decisions
  • Repeat grant requests for the same project within 12 months

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Keeley Wettan - Chair of the Gilead Foundation Board and Senior Vice President, Legal, at Gilead Sciences

  • Quote: "The Creating Possible Fund is new this year with a focus on health justice that will go beyond what we've already been doing"

Andrew Dickinson - Chief Financial Officer, Gilead Sciences and Director, Gilead Foundation

  • Quote: "Our additional contribution to the Gilead Foundation demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting communities and advancing health equity. We are proud to dedicate our philanthropic resources in this way because we believe a more just society is a healthier one."

Jyoti Mehra - Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Gilead Sciences and Director, Gilead Foundation

  • Quote: "We have seen how generous our employees are – a recent matching donation program for employees in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine has raised more than $750,000 to date, in addition to the $3 million donated by the Gilead Foundation"

Shreya Jani - Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences and Board Member

  • Quote: "There is a deep connection between food security and health"

Foundation Staff

Kate Wilson - Executive Director, Gilead Foundation

Smita Pamar - Director, Creating Possible Fund, Gilead Foundation

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Interest (LOI) The initial step is completion of a Letter of Interest through a brief questionnaire on the foundation's website. You will be directed to the grant portal where you can log in or create a new account.

Step 2: Full Application If the LOI is approved, applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application via the secure online system at gilead.com.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Only organizations (not individuals) are eligible
  • Must provide U.S. federal tax ID number
  • Nonprofit organizations must include proof of 501(c)(3) status (IRS letter)
  • Applications accepted year-round on a rolling basis

Required Information:

  • Dates and locations of project events (grants awarded for maximum one year at a time)
  • Detailed project budget with breakdown of requested Gilead funds
  • Total estimated project expenses
  • Defined and achievable approach to measuring impact
  • Demonstration of organizational track record and financial stewardship

Important Notes:

  • Review applications carefully before submission; changes cannot be made after submission
  • Confirmation email sent upon receipt
  • Applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks before activity begins
  • Recipients must complete post-program budget reconciliation and provide program outcomes

Decision Timeline

Review Period: 6-12 weeks from submission to decision

Notification: Email sent directly to contact listed on grant account profile

Advance Planning: Applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to activity start date

Success Rates

The foundation made 64 awards in 2023 and 56 awards in 2022. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed. The foundation states that submission of an application does not guarantee funding, and they reserve the right to approve or deny any application at their sole discretion.

Reapplication Policy

Same Project: The foundation does not consider repeat grant requests for the same project within a 12-month period.

Different Projects: Organizations may apply for different projects at any time.

Previous Funding: Past funding does not guarantee future funding; each application is evaluated independently.

Application Success Factors

Organization Characteristics Valued by Foundation

Strong Track Record: Demonstrated history of sound financial stewardship and ability to deliver impactful programming with good corporate governance, compliance, and ethics.

Strategic Partnerships: Strong existing networks and ability to develop new allies and successful stakeholder coalitions that create accountability and amplification.

Measurable Impact: Clear and achievable approach to measuring impact against defined deliverables.

Alignment with Foundation Mission

The internal review committee awards grants based on how closely the proposed project matches the foundation's mission and focus areas. Projects should clearly demonstrate connection to:

  • Health equity through addressing social determinants
  • Education equity, particularly for underrepresented students
  • Community resilience and systems of support
  • Evidence-based approaches to systemic change

Proposal Best Practices

Clarity and Conciseness: Present proposals as clear, concise presentations of the proposed work and expected outcomes.

Use Foundation Language: Align proposal language with foundation terminology around health equity, education equity, social determinants of health, and systems change.

Demonstrate Community Connection: Show how the organization is embedded in and responsive to the communities it serves.

Avoid Conflicts: Ensure the organization is not in a position to influence, purchase, or prescribe Gilead products, as this creates eligibility concerns.

Recent Successful Projects as Examples

  • Mobile pantries and produce recovery efforts addressing food insecurity
  • Urban farming initiatives and school-centered food distribution programs
  • Pre-college STEM programs providing intensive mentorship for underserved youth
  • School reform initiatives addressing disciplinary policies that disproportionately impact Black students
  • STEM workforce pipeline programs building pathways to health and life sciences careers

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Rolling applications accepted year-round, but submit at least 6 weeks before program start; allow 6-12 weeks for review
  • Focus on systems change and root causes rather than one-time interventions; the foundation values innovative approaches to addressing structural inequities
  • Emphasize measurable outcomes with clear deliverables and evaluation plans; track record of impact is critical
  • Bay Area organizations have strategic advantage as the foundation prioritizes communities where Gilead employees live and work, though national and international grants are also made
  • Cannot reapply for same project within 12 months, so ensure applications are comprehensive and well-developed before submission
  • Education equity and health equity are deeply connected in the foundation's theory of change; proposals linking these areas align well with their mission
  • Grants are separate from commercial activities; ensure your organization is not in a position to influence Gilead product decisions to avoid conflicts of interest

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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