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Wyss Foundation

Annual Giving
$149.3M
Grant Range
$40K - $35.3M

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Wyss Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $149.3 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $1.71 billion (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $40,000 - $35,300,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States and international conservation projects
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 1759 R St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 232-4418
Email: Contact via website form only
Website: www.wyssfoundation.org

Note: The foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. General inquiries may be submitted through their website contact form.

Overview

The Wyss Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1998 by Swiss-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss. With total assets of $1.71 billion and annual giving of $149.3 million (2023), the foundation supports innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. The foundation's most significant initiative is the Wyss Campaign for Nature, launched in 2018 with a $1.5 billion commitment to protect 30% of the world's land and ocean by 2030. Since its establishment, the Wyss Foundation and its partners have permanently protected more than 120 million acres of land and 3.2 million square kilometres of ocean. The foundation's approach emphasises locally-led conservation, supporting projects guided by local communities and Indigenous Peoples. The foundation disbursed grants to organisations across four main focus areas: conservation and environment, medical research and healthcare, education and the arts, and economic opportunity and social services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wyss Foundation distributes approximately $149+ million annually across four primary areas:

1. Conservation & Environment (~41% of funding)

  • Wyss Campaign for Nature: $1.5 billion commitment to protect 30% of the planet by 2030
  • Land Protection Grants: Support for local communities, Indigenous Peoples, national governments, land trusts, and conservation nonprofits
  • Ocean Conservation: Marine protection projects globally
  • Grant range: $100,000 - $18,600,000
  • Recent examples: The Nature Conservancy ($16.1M), Conservation Fund ($8.5M), African Parks Foundation ($18.6M), Western Rivers Conservancy ($5M)

2. Medical Research & Healthcare (~41% of funding)

  • Biologically Inspired Engineering: Research and innovation in medical technology
  • Orthopedic Trauma Care: Support for underserved communities
  • Spinal Injury Treatment: Advances in treatment and care
  • Recent example: Harvard Wyss Institute ($35.3M - exceptional grant)

3. Education & The Arts (~11% of funding)

  • Wyss Scholars Program: Graduate-level conservation leadership education at six universities; covers up to half of master's degree tuition or one-third of law degree tuition, plus up to $5,000 for summer internships
  • Wyss Fellows Program: Two-year fellowships providing $140,000 grants to host organisations for campaign training and conservation leadership development
  • Museum Support: Art collection expansion and cultural institutions
  • Recent example: Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($11.9M)

4. Economic Opportunity & Social Services (~7% of funding)

  • Poverty Reduction: Financial equity initiatives and consumer protection
  • Community Support: Food and financial insecurity programmes
  • Recent example: Center on Budget & Policy Priorities ($2.5M)

Application Method: Invitation only for all programmes. The Wyss Fellows Program and Wyss Scholars Program host organisations are selected by invitation only.

Priority Areas

  • Conservation of vulnerable lands, waterways, and ecosystems - Primary focus
  • Economic opportunity - Programmes that expand access to the middle class
  • Women and girls - Building a society where women are empowered with equal opportunities
  • Civic engagement and democracy - Supporting democratic participation
  • Medical research - Biologically inspired engineering and healthcare innovation
  • Higher education - Conservation leadership and graduate education
  • Arts and culture - Museum support and cultural preservation
  • Conflict resolution - Peace-building initiatives

All conservation work emphasises locally-driven efforts led by communities with direct ties to the land being protected.

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation explicitly prohibits grant recipients from using funds for partisan electoral activity
  • Unsolicited grant proposals are not accepted
  • The foundation does not make grants to individuals (for scholarships, student loans, etc.)

Governance and Leadership

Founder and Chairman: Hansjörg Wyss - Swiss-born entrepreneur who built his fortune in medical device manufacturing before dedicating his philanthropy to conservation and social causes

President: Molly McUsic - Former Counselor to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in the Clinton Administration, former attorney, Skadden Fellow at the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, tenured professor at University of North Carolina, and visiting professor at Harvard Law School

Treasurer: Joseph Fisher

Vice Presidents: Mary Killingsworth, Chris Killingsworth

Offices: Washington, D.C. (headquarters) and Durango, Colorado

Leadership Philosophy

Hansjörg Wyss has articulated a clear vision for his philanthropic work:

On his conservation commitment: "Inspired by the wonders of nature — and motivated by the fear of losing the wild places I love — I've pledged a significant portion of my fortune to protect at least 30 percent of the world's land and oceans by 2030. This commitment is a promise to future generations that I'm going to do everything I can to leave them a world that's as alive and glorious as the one I was born into."

On collective responsibility: "We can solve the crisis facing nature. But it's going to take the wealthiest nations and the wealthiest individuals committing to reinvest our enormous bounties here on Earth, safeguarding nature and protecting our lands, waters, and wildlife."

On locally-driven conservation: "The efforts we support are led by local communities and Indigenous Peoples – those who have a direct tie to the land they are advocating to get permanently protected."

On government action: "Promises alone can't save nature — it's time for governments to take action."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Wyss Foundation's grantmaking is conducted by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion - The foundation identifies organisations and projects aligned with their mission
  • Pre-existing relationships - Many grantees have established connections with the foundation or founder
  • Strategic partnerships - The foundation collaborates with major conservation organisations and established institutions

The foundation warns that scammers have been representing themselves as Hansjörg Wyss or the Wyss Foundation online to solicit money. Organisations should be wary of such approaches.

Getting on Their Radar

The Wyss Foundation identifies potential partners through established networks in the conservation, healthcare, education, and social services sectors. While there is no public application process, organisations working in the foundation's priority areas may consider:

Wyss Scholars Program: If you are a graduate student pursuing conservation leadership, the foundation partners with six host schools (University of Montana, University of Colorado, University of Michigan, Northern Arizona University, and others) where students can apply for the Wyss Scholars Program through their school's programme coordinator. Applications typically open in the autumn.

Conservation Networks: The foundation collaborates extensively with major conservation organisations like The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Fund, Western Rivers Conservancy, The Wilderness Society, and African Parks Foundation. Organisations working in conservation may build visibility through these networks.

Policy and Advocacy Spaces: The foundation supports policy-focused organisations working on conservation, economic opportunity, and social justice. Organisations such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and League of Conservation Voters Education Fund have received support.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed as the foundation operates by invitation only. Grant awards are announced periodically on the foundation's website and news section.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates by invitation only and maintains ongoing relationships with grantee organisations.

Application Success Factors

Since the Wyss Foundation operates by invitation only, there is no application process to optimise. However, organisations aligned with the foundation's mission may benefit from understanding what the foundation values:

Alignment with Core Mission: The foundation prioritises conservation of vulnerable lands, waterways, and ecosystems, with emphasis on the 30x30 goal of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030.

Locally-Driven Approach: The foundation explicitly seeks projects "led by local communities and Indigenous Peoples – those who have a direct tie to the land they are advocating to get permanently protected." This applies to projects in Montana and the Australian Outback alike.

Innovation and Collaboration: Wyss describes his philanthropy as "practical and innovative by nature" that "fosters new ideas, new tools, and new collaborations." The foundation values projects that bring fresh approaches to conservation and social challenges.

Permanent Protection: In conservation, the foundation focuses on permanent land and ocean protection through legal mechanisms, not temporary conservation measures.

Scale and Impact: Recent grants demonstrate the foundation funds both large-scale initiatives (tens of millions) and targeted projects (hundreds of thousands), suggesting they evaluate impact rather than organisational size.

Multi-Sector Integration: The foundation's funding shows they support the intersection of conservation with other priorities like economic opportunity, women's empowerment, and civic engagement.

Government Engagement: Wyss has emphasised that "Getting conservation done requires close collaboration with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, all levels of government, private industry, and philanthropy," indicating the foundation values projects that engage policy and governmental structures.

Examples of Funded Work:

  • African Parks Foundation received $18.6M (2023) for large-scale African conservation
  • Western Rivers Conservancy received $5M (2023) for land and river protection
  • Harvard Wyss Institute received $35.3M for biologically inspired engineering research
  • Museum of Fine Arts Boston received $11.9M for arts and cultural support
  • Wyss Fellows Program provides $140,000 to host organisations for two-year conservation leadership fellowships

Prohibited Activities: Grant recipients explicitly cannot use funds for partisan electoral activity, though the foundation does support policy advocacy through its separate Berger Action Fund.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: The Wyss Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals; all grants are made by invitation based on strategic priorities and established relationships
  • Conservation leadership: Conservation is the dominant focus (41% of funding), with emphasis on permanent land and ocean protection contributing to the 30x30 global goal
  • Locally-led imperative: The foundation consistently emphasises that conservation efforts must be "led by local communities and Indigenous Peoples" with direct ties to the land
  • Scale matters: The foundation makes both very large grants ($35M+) to major institutions and targeted grants ($100K-$500K) to specific initiatives, suggesting flexibility based on impact potential
  • Multi-year commitment: Programmes like the Wyss Campaign for Nature represent billion-dollar, decade-long commitments, indicating the foundation thinks long-term
  • Innovation and practicality: Wyss describes his approach as fostering "new ideas, new tools, and new collaborations" that address practical challenges
  • Education pathway: For conservation-focused graduate students, the Wyss Scholars Program at six partner universities offers a direct connection to the foundation's mission and network
  • No partisan activity: While the foundation supports policy advocacy, it explicitly prohibits grant funds from being used for partisan electoral activities

References

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