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Washington Research Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.2M
Grant Range
$50K - $10.0M
Decision Time
3w

Washington Research Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10.2 million
  • Total Assets: $344.2 million
  • Decision Time: 3 weeks (technology commercialization pre-proposals); 3-4 months (postdoctoral fellowships)
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $10,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Washington state nonprofit research institutions only

Contact Details

Main Contact:

Program-Specific Contacts:

Overview

Founded in 1981 by Tom Cable, Bill Gates Sr., and Hunter Simpson, the Washington Research Foundation (WRF) is a private nonprofit organization with total assets of $344.2 million and annual grant distribution of $10.2 million. WRF's mission is to support groundbreaking research and early-stage companies in Washington state through grants and investments, with a focus on life sciences and enabling technologies. Since its founding, WRF has earned over $445 million for Washington's nonprofit research institutions through technology licensing and has distributed over $186 million in grants. In 2025, Dr. Orin S. Levine, formerly of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, became President and CEO, bringing new leadership focused on helping "Washington's life sciences ecosystem reach even greater heights."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Technology Commercialization Grants (Phased Program)

  • Phase One: Project development
  • Phase Two: $50,000 - $250,000 for 5-7 successful Phase One projects
  • Phase Three: Up to $1,000,000 for 1-2 most successful Phase Two projects
  • Application Method: Rolling basis - pre-proposals accepted anytime and reviewed within 3 weeks
  • Focus: Projects beyond discovery stage but not yet ready for commercial investment

BioInnovation Grants

  • Range: Typically $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 over multiple years
  • Focus: Late-stage preclinical development and first-in-human clinical trials of therapeutics, including gene and cell therapies, small-molecule or protein-based drugs
  • Requirement: Intellectual property must be owned and managed by a Washington state research institution
  • Recent Examples: $10 million to Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology (2025); $5.2 million for clinical trials program at Fred Hutch/Seattle Children's (2025)

Postdoctoral Fellowships

  • Amount: 3-year fellowships with first-year salary of $80,000
  • Quantity: Up to 12 awarded annually (102 total awarded to date)
  • Application Period: Opens May 1, deadline typically late June
  • Eligibility: Doctoral degree holders with no more than two years of postdoctoral training
  • Focus: Transformative research with potential for real-world impact in natural sciences and engineering-related disciplines

Student Programs

  • Focus: STEM research experience and entrepreneurial skill development
  • Eligibility: Nonprofit two- or four-year colleges or universities in Washington state
  • Restrictions: No scholarships or tuition waivers; payments must be for research/training outside regular coursework

Building the Innovation Ecosystem

  • Method: Invitation only
  • Focus: One-off strategic programs that accelerate systemic changes
  • Recent Example: Over $31 million to UW for Institute for Protein Design, Clean Energy Institute, Center for Neurotechnology, and eScience Institute

Priority Areas

  • Life Sciences: Immunotherapies, gene and cell therapies, protein design, vaccines, cancer treatments
  • Enabling Technologies: Cell and genome reprogramming, neuroengineering, clean energy, big data science
  • Technology Commercialization: Projects transitioning from academic research to commercial applications
  • Innovation Infrastructure: Programs that strengthen Washington state's life sciences ecosystem

What They Don't Fund

  • Geographic: Organizations, researchers, or students outside Washington state
  • Institutional Type: For-profit organizations (WRF does not directly fund individuals; all awards go to institutions)
  • Already Licensed IP: Projects where associated intellectual property has already been licensed to a company
  • Basic/Discovery Research: Technology commercialization grants target later-stage development
  • Duplicate Funding: Programs already funded all or in part by WRF
  • Direct Company Support: Funding cannot be used to directly support a for-profit company
  • Student Support Restrictions: No scholarships or tuition waivers
  • Out of Focus: Research outside life sciences and enabling technologies

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Dr. Orin S. Levine (appointed October 2025) - Former leader at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he led vaccine delivery programs. Dr. Levine stated: "I love innovation and WRF has a remarkable legacy of helping researchers turn bold ideas into innovations that improve lives. I'm excited by the organization's ambition and for the opportunity to work with the team and our partners to help Washington's life sciences ecosystem reach even greater heights."

Board Chair: Brooks Simpson

Key Staff:

  • M. Ragan Hart, Ph.D. - Senior Associate for Strategic Investments
  • Joe Albe, Ph.D. - Manager of Grants and Venture Research
  • Loretta L. Little - Managing Director, Washington Research Foundation Capital

WRF operates with 11 employees and manages both grantmaking and investment activities (WRF Capital has backed 132 local startups since 1996).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Technology Commercialization Grants:

  1. Submit a pre-proposal through the online portal at https://www.wrfseattle.org/grants/submit-pre-proposal/
  2. Pre-proposals accepted on a rolling basis
  3. Pre-proposals reviewed within 3 weeks
  4. Selected applicants invited to submit full proposals
  5. Eligible applicants: Employees or students at Washington state nonprofit research institutions (faculty, postdoctoral scholars, research scientists, staff)

Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  1. Application opens May 1 annually
  2. Applications and letters of recommendation due by late June (June 26 in recent years)
  3. Online application required
  4. Applicants must have doctoral degree in STEM field
  5. Cannot have completed more than two years of postdoctoral training

BioInnovation Grants:

  • Contact grants@wrfseattle.org to discuss potential fit before applying
  • Requirements include IP ownership by Washington state research institution

Building the Innovation Ecosystem:

  • Invitation only - not open to unsolicited applications

Decision Timeline

Technology Commercialization:

  • Pre-proposals reviewed within 3 weeks of submission
  • Full proposal to decision timeline not publicly specified

Postdoctoral Fellowships:

  • Application deadline: Late June
  • Shortlist notification: By posted dates (typically late July/early August)
  • Interviews: September
  • Final decisions: By posted dates (typically October/November)
  • Fellowship start: January, April, July, or October of following year
  • Total timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from application to decision

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, WRF awards:

  • Up to 12 postdoctoral fellowships annually
  • 5-7 projects advance from Phase One to Phase Two in technology commercialization
  • 1-2 projects advance from Phase Two to Phase Three

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are mentioned in public materials. Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff to discuss unsuccessful applications and potential for resubmission.

Application Success Factors

For Technology Commercialization Grants:

  • Commercial Potential: Projects must be beyond discovery stage but not yet ready for commercial investment - the "valley of death" between basic research and commercial funding
  • IP Status: Cannot have already licensed the intellectual property; must be owned by a Washington state nonprofit research institution
  • Real-World Impact: WRF seeks innovations that will "improve health and advance technology for public benefit"
  • Feasibility: Strong scientific and commercial development plans

For Postdoctoral Fellowships: Applications are evaluated on:

  • Innovation and Creativity: Both in the proposed research project and in past research
  • Long-term Impact and Public Benefit: Emphasis on transformative research with real-world applications
  • Resilience: Demonstrated ability to overcome challenges
  • Education and Training: Strong academic background

For BioInnovation Grants:

  • Stage Appropriateness: Late-stage preclinical development or first-in-human clinical trials
  • Ecosystem Impact: Projects that advance Washington state's life sciences ecosystem
  • Scale: WRF is looking for "big, emergent opportunities" - these are typically multi-million dollar, multi-year initiatives
  • Recent Examples Show Preference For: Cell and genome technologies, immunotherapies, clinical trials infrastructure, collaborative multi-institutional programs

General Success Factors Across Programs:

  • Washington State Focus: All work must benefit Washington state nonprofit research institutions
  • Clear Pathway to Impact: Articulate how research will translate to products/services that improve lives
  • Strong Institutional Support: Applications from researchers at established Washington institutions with track records of innovation
  • Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Life sciences and enabling technologies, particularly areas like protein design, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and neuroengineering

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Restriction is Absolute: You must be affiliated with a Washington state nonprofit research institution - no exceptions
  • Focus on Translation: WRF fills the gap between basic research and commercial investment; emphasize how your project will lead to real-world products or services
  • Technology Commercialization Has Fast Initial Response: Pre-proposals reviewed in just 3 weeks, making this a relatively quick initial screening
  • Postdoctoral Fellowships Are Highly Competitive: Only 12 awarded annually, with evaluation emphasizing innovation, impact, and resilience
  • Build Relationships for Large Grants: BioInnovation grants and ecosystem-building investments are often invitation-only or require pre-application consultation
  • IP Matters: For commercialization and BioInnovation grants, the status and ownership of intellectual property is critical
  • Think Big for BioInnovation: Recent BioInnovation grants have been $5-10 million; these are for major initiatives, not incremental projects
  • New Leadership May Signal Evolution: Dr. Levine's appointment in 2025 from the Gates Foundation may bring increased emphasis on global health impact and equity

References

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