Abbott Fund

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $17-20 million
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,400,000
Geographic Focus: International (East Africa for health programs; Illinois, China, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, South Korea for education programs)

Contact Details

Website: www.abbottfund.org
Phone: (224) 668-2803
Address: 100 Abbott Park Road, D379/AP6D, Abbott Park, IL 60064
Matching Gift Portal: www.abbottemployeesgive.com/match

Overview

The Abbott Fund was established in 1951 by Abbott Laboratories as its global philanthropic foundation and became tax-exempt in February 1953. With approximately $17.3 million in assets and annual giving of $17-20 million distributed through approximately 60 grants, the Abbott Fund focuses on creating lasting, measurable impact in global health and science education. The foundation operates according to four core principles: community-driven solutions developed collaboratively with supported populations, impactful programs with emphasis on measurement and evaluation, sustainable investments designed to create lasting change, and equitable focus on historically under-resourced and marginalized populations. Since 2001, more than 1 million children and families impacted by AIDS have received services through Abbott Fund programs, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to large-scale, transformational partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Access to Healthcare
Grant range varies widely; examples include $100,000-$120,000 for educational grants. This program addresses chronic and noncommunicable diseases including diabetes and cancer, COVID-19 response, and children's access to healthcare. The Fund has invested more than $100 million to advance HIV testing, treatment and support services in developing countries through Abbott Global AIDS Care programs. Geographic focus is primarily East Africa, particularly Kenya and Tanzania.

2. Science Education
Grant amounts vary. The program includes:

Operation Discovery: Since 2002, this program has engaged more than 8,000 middle school students in China, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, South Korea, and the U.S. Programs are held in Abbott's R&D labs where students work with Abbott experts. Results show 82% of participants said the event made them want to learn more about how science and engineering can improve human health.
Family Science Program: Abbott employees volunteer at schools and museums to present hands-on science activities to younger children and parents, exploring health technology, innovation and invention.

3. Community Engagement
Supports various community development initiatives in regions where Abbott has a corporate presence.

4. Matching Gifts Program
The Abbott Fund matches employee and retiree contributions from $25 to $5,000 per contributor per year to educational institutions, public broadcasting stations, hospitals, and eligible funds and foundations on a one-for-one basis.

Priority Areas

Arts and culture
Education (particularly STEM/science education)
Water conservation
Health (HIV/AIDS, diabetes, tropical diseases)
Hunger and nutrition
Disaster relief and community resilience
Human services
Community development
Programs serving children, minorities, women, and economically disadvantaged populations
Science and medical innovation
Healthcare access expansion

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in available sources, though the Fund's focus on invitation-based grantmaking suggests they do not fund requests outside their strategic priorities or geographic focus areas.

Governance and Leadership

The Abbott Fund operates as the philanthropic arm of Abbott Laboratories. Abbott's corporate leadership includes Robert B. Ford as Chairman of the Board and CEO, and Miles D. White as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors (served as Chairman and CEO from 1999-2020). The Fund's Investment Committee members are Mary K. Moreland, Karen M. Peterson, and Brian P. Wentworth, all employees of Abbott.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The Abbott Fund explicitly states: "We value the incredible work of mission-driven organizations improving health and well-being and appreciate your interest. Please note that Abbott Fund does not accept unsolicited requests."

The Fund operates primarily through:

Strategic partnerships identified by Abbott Fund leadership and trustees
Invitation-based grantmaking aligned with corporate presence and strategic priorities
Occasional Requests for Proposals (RFPs) posted on their website for grants related to community health and well-being, science education, and community outreach

Getting on Their Radar

Monitor for RFPs: The Abbott Fund occasionally posts RFPs on their website (www.abbottfund.org) for specific initiatives. Organizations interested in funding should regularly check the website or sign up for Abbott's newsletter to be notified when new opportunities become available.

Geographic Alignment: The Fund prioritizes regions where Abbott has significant corporate presence (Illinois, China, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, South Korea) for education programs, and East Africa (particularly Kenya and Tanzania) for global health initiatives.

Strategic Partnership Model: The Abbott Fund seeks to "form lasting partnerships and invests massive amounts into them to accomplish large-scale results." They favor multi-year, transformational partnerships over one-time grants, as evidenced by their work with organizations like Baylor College of Medicine, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Government of Tanzania.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-based model and focus on strategic partnerships, timelines likely vary significantly based on the nature of the partnership and program.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With approximately 60-61 grants awarded annually from an invitation-based process, traditional success rates do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations interested in funding should monitor for posted RFPs or develop relationships in regions where Abbott has corporate operations.

Application Success Factors

Since the Abbott Fund operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors are limited. However, organizations that have succeeded in partnering with the Fund demonstrate these characteristics:

1. Alignment with Abbott's Corporate Presence and Expertise
Successful partnerships align with Abbott's health technology expertise and geographic footprint. For example, partnerships in pediatric HIV/AIDS leverage Abbott's diagnostic capabilities, while science education programs operate where Abbott has R&D facilities.

2. Scale and Transformational Impact
The Fund explicitly seeks "lasting partnerships" and "invests massive amounts into them to accomplish large-scale results." The Tanzania partnership, which built an outpatient center, clinical laboratory, and Emergency Medicine Department Center of Excellence at Muhimbili National Hospital, exemplifies this approach.

3. Measurable, Sustainable Outcomes
The Fund's principle of being "impactful" emphasizes "measurement and evaluation." Programs like Operation Discovery track outcomes (82% of students want to learn more about science) and partnerships with Baylor College of Medicine achieved measurable results (reduced death rate for children with HIV by more than 90% in Romania).

4. Community-Driven Solutions
The Fund's first principle is that solutions must be "developed collaboratively with supported populations." The 2002 Abbott Fund-Government of Tanzania partnership demonstrates this collaborative, community-driven approach.

5. Focus on Historically Under-Resourced Populations
The Fund's principle of being "equitable" means focusing on "historically under-resourced and marginalized populations," particularly in global health programs targeting women, children, and economically disadvantaged communities in East Africa.

6. Capacity for Multi-Year Partnerships
Examples of funded organizations include established institutions like Baylor College of Medicine, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), and Family Health International (FHI)—all demonstrating capacity for sustained, large-scale programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Do not submit unsolicited applications—the Fund does not accept them and explicitly states this policy
Monitor their website for occasional RFPs related to community health, science education, and community outreach
Geographic targeting matters—education programs focus on Illinois, China, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, and South Korea; global health programs focus on East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania)
Think partnership, not grant—the Fund seeks multi-year, transformational partnerships with established organizations capable of large-scale impact
Measurement is critical—demonstrate capacity for rigorous evaluation and tracking measurable outcomes
Align with Abbott's expertise—programs that leverage Abbott's health technology focus (diagnostics, nutrition, medical devices) may be more attractive
Scale matters—the Fund distributes $17-20 million annually through only ~60 grants, indicating preference for larger investments over numerous small grants

References

All sources accessed December 2025.