Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Private foundation · EIN 23-7225395 · since 1972bwfund.org·Canada, North Carolina, United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$39.9M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Burroughs Wellcome Fund is based in Durham, NC and gives across the U.S., Canada and North Carolina, but most of what it funds is competitive, peer-reviewed support for early-career biomedical scientists channelled through degree-granting institutions rather than open grants to nonprofits.
The one route open to small nonprofit organisations is the Student STEM Enrichment Program, which backs hands-on, inquiry-based K-12 STEM enrichment in North Carolina with awards of up to $60,000, so a request of that scale is realistic for a fitting programme.
Applications must be submitted electronically by the recurring June deadline; paper applications are not accepted, so plan well ahead of that date.
The Fund looks for proposals that are innovative and engaging, that make special efforts to reach students from traditionally underrepresented groups in science, mathematics and technology, and that have a plan to continue or replicate the programme after its support ends; awardees must then submit annual progress and fiscal reports.
For this programme, individuals, nonprofits offering religious programming, curriculum development, in-school classroom activities, and programmes giving less than 10 contact hours per student should not apply.

Overview

Burroughs Wellcome Fund is a US private foundation based in Durham, NC.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Fund supports biomedical scientists at the beginning of their careers and areas of science poised for significant advancement. Its competitive, peer-reviewed awards primarily go to degree-granting institutions on behalf of individual researchers, while it also makes grants to nonprofit organisations working to improve the general environment for science. Its programmes span primary and secondary students, science and mathematics teachers, institutions, and academic scientists, including bridging and faculty awards. In North Carolina, the Student STEM Enrichment Program backs nonprofit organisations providing hands-on, inquiry-based STEM enrichment for K–12 students, particularly creative, career-oriented opportunities beyond the usual classroom setting. The wider portfolio includes fields such as biomedical science, climate and health, infectious diseases, reproductive science and regulatory science.

Themes

Biomedical sciences
Science education
Climate change and human health
Diversity in science
Infectious diseases
Reproductive sciences
Regulatory science

Geographic Focus

U.S.; Canada; North Carolina.

What They Don't Fund

Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP) only: Individuals; nonprofit organizations that offer religious programming; curriculum development; in-school classroom activities; Programs with activities providing less than 10 contact hours over the course of the program for each student participant

How to apply

Applications for the Student STEM Enrichment Program must be submitted electronically; paper applications are not accepted.

Deadlines: The Student STEM Enrichment Program has a recurring June deadline.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

The proposed activity should meet programme goals and be innovative and engaging.
Applicants should make special efforts to reach students from traditionally underrepresented groups in science, mathematics and technology.
The Fund considers plans to continue or replicate the programme after its support ends.
Awardees are expected to submit annual progress and fiscal reports.

Officers and directors

Dr Jenny Ting — Board Member, Chair-Thru 10/24
Ken Browndorf — Vice President, Finance & CFO
Dr Blossom Damania — Board Member-As Of 10/31/24
Dr Cynthia K Larive — Board Member-As Of 10/31/24
Mr Tim Hasara — Investment Committee
Ms Melissa Nigro — Investment Committee
Ms Lauretta Reeves — Investment Committee
Dr Geoffrey Gerber — Investment Committee
Dr Wendell Lim — Board Member
Mr Michael Giarla — Board Member, Investment Chair
Dr Kafui Dzirasa — Board Member
Dr Harmit Malik — Board Member
Ms Deborah Blum — Board Member
Dr Christine Seidman — Board Member / Investment Committee
Dr Brian Druker — Board Member
Dr Brenda Andrews — Board Chair
Louis Muglia — President - Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$36,957,017	$34,200,360	$792,326,837	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$45,516,168	$37,721,546	$848,033,791	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$44,855,222	$39,902,052	$885,672,359	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.