The Amgen Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $475 million total (since 1990); $275+ million to science education specifically
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Quarterly review (3-4 months typical); unsolicited requests reviewed semiannually (March and September)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $5,000,000 (most grants under $500,000)
Geographic Focus: U.S. and Puerto Rico for community grants; international for signature science education programs
Application Method: Primarily invitation-only; limited unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Website: www.amgenfoundation.org | www.amgen.com/foundation

Location: Newbury Park, CA

Application Portal: Online Letter of Inquiry system (after completing eligibility quiz for unsolicited applications)

Eligible Communities for Local Grants: Ventura County, CA; San Francisco Bay Area, CA; Central Ohio; Deerfield, IL; Greater Boston Area, MA; Juncos, Puerto Rico; Louisville, KY; Rhode Island; Rockville, MD; Tampa, FL; Wake County, NC

Overview

Established in 1991, The Amgen Foundation Inc (EIN: 77-0252898) serves as the philanthropic arm of Amgen Inc., a leading biotechnology company. Since its founding, the foundation has donated over $475 million to nonprofit organizations, with $275+ million specifically committed to science education initiatives. The foundation's mission centers on improving access to and advancing excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators, while also investing in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. In 2024 alone, the foundation reached 25 million students and educators worldwide through its four signature science education programs. The foundation has supported over 5,200 teachers with laboratory equipment and training since 1990 and has created 5,800+ Amgen Scholars alumni since 2007. The foundation emphasizes "meaningful, evidence-based initiatives" and awards grants to nonprofits whose programs are "replicable, scalable and designed to have a lasting and meaningful effect in Amgen communities."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Science Education Programs (National & International):

Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE): Provides teachers with professional development, curriculum, materials, and loaned research-grade equipment at no cost. Serves teachers and students in 16 countries with hands-on biotechnology laboratory experiences.
Amgen Scholars Program: Offers 8-10 week summer undergraduate research experiences at 26 premier institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, and Canada. Provides stipends (e.g., $6,000 at Caltech for 10 weeks), housing, meals, and symposium attendance. Open to students in any major with special encouragement for first-generation college students and those with financial need.
LabXchange: Free online platform developed with Harvard University providing middle, high school, and university students access to personalized instruction, virtual lab experiences, and networking opportunities.
Khan Academy Partnership: Exclusive sponsor of Khan Academy's multi-lingual biology resources from 9th grade through AP Biology. Recent commitment exceeded $10 million.

Community Grants (U.S. & Puerto Rico only):

Local grants supporting science education and community strengthening in 11 U.S. communities where Amgen operates
Grant range: $10,000 minimum to multi-million dollar commitments; most grants under $500,000
Rolling applications with quarterly review

Staff Engagement Programs:

Matching Gifts Program: Matches employee donations 1:1 from $50-$20,000 per full-time employee annually (part-time up to $10,000); 2:1 match on Giving Tuesday. $167 million donated through this program since 2004.
Volunteer Service Grants: $500 grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer at least 15 hours
Dollars for Doers: $25 per volunteer hour logged, up to $2,000 annually per employee

Priority Areas

Science Education Focus:

Teacher quality and preparation: Programs enhancing science teacher preparation and professional development opportunities that positively impact student achievement
Authentic inquiry-based learning: Programs providing students and teachers with hands-on learning experiences combined with educational technology
STEM literacy: Raising the value of science literacy and inspiring students toward scientific careers
Evidence-based initiatives with measurable impact on diverse populations

Community Strengthening:

Programs in communities where Amgen staff live and work
Initiatives with lasting, meaningful community impact
Programs that reflect "Amgen's dedication to impacting lives in inspiring and innovative ways"

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly detailed on the foundation's website, standard limitations include:

Organizations outside eligible geographic areas (for community grants)
Programs not aligned with science education or community strengthening priorities
Repeat funding within 12 months (organizations may only submit one request per year)
Non-501(c)(3) organizations (except for public schools, colleges, universities, libraries, and hospitals which are eligible)

Governance and Leadership

The Amgen Foundation is led by senior leadership from Amgen Inc. Eduardo Cetlin served as president of the Amgen Foundation until recently. The foundation operates as a private foundation (filing Form 990-PF) closely aligned with Amgen's corporate values and strategic priorities in communities where the company maintains operating sites.

Detailed current officer and trustee information is available in the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer or GuideStar (EIN: 77-0252898).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Nearly all Amgen Foundation grants are made by invitation only. However, the foundation accepts a limited number of unsolicited requests under specific conditions.

For Unsolicited Applications (U.S. & Puerto Rico only):

Verify Eligibility: Organizations must be located in an Amgen community and focused on science education programs fully aligned with foundation strategy
Complete Eligibility Quiz: Required before submitting Letter of Inquiry
Submit Online Letter of Inquiry: Paper forms not accepted; must be submitted through online portal
Foundation Staff Review: Staff evaluate the inquiry and send invitation to submit full application if appropriate
Full Application: Only submitted by invitation after Letter of Inquiry review

Review Schedule:

Unsolicited requests reviewed semiannually in March and September only
Full proposals (by invitation) reviewed quarterly
Organizations may submit only one request per year

For Signature Programs:

Most grants made by invitation based on foundation's strategic priorities
National and international science education programs typically initiated by foundation staff

Decision Timeline

Letter of Inquiry Review: Applications remain in "Under Review" status until decision made
Notification: When decision is made, status changes to "E-mail Sent" with correspondence expected within 2 weeks
Full Proposal to Decision: Quarterly review meetings mean typical timeline of 3-4 months depending on submission timing relative to quarterly schedule
Unsolicited Applications: Longer timeline due to semiannual review (March and September)

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation emphasizes that "nearly all" grants are made by invitation, indicating that unsolicited application acceptance rates are likely very low. The foundation "carefully considers each grant application it receives, seeking out diverse organizations whose philosophies, objectives and approaches align with the Foundation goals and mission."

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have met criteria in the Amgen Foundation Grant Guidelines may submit one funding request every 12 months. No specific information provided about waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants, but the one-request-per-year policy applies to all organizations.

Application Success Factors

Critical Alignment Requirements: The foundation explicitly states: "Successful requests will fall within both the current eligibility guidelines and funding priority areas established by the Amgen Foundation." Applications must demonstrate:

Geographic Alignment: For community grants, organization must be in one of 11 eligible U.S. communities or Puerto Rico where Amgen operates
Mission Alignment: Programs must advance science education OR strengthen communities where Amgen staff live and work
Program Quality: Projects should be "replicable, scalable and designed to have a lasting and meaningful effect"
Evidence-Based Approach: Foundation seeks "meaningful, evidence-based initiatives that advance science education"

What the Foundation Values:

Programs that enhance science teacher quality and provide meaningful professional development impacting student achievement
Authentic, inquiry-based learning experiences combining hands-on activities with educational technology
Initiatives serving diverse populations and underserved communities
Projects with measurable impact on student excitement about science and scientific careers
Organizations with philosophies and approaches that align with foundation goals

Preparation Strategies:

Review the Letter of Inquiry Checklist and Grant Application Checklist on the foundation website
Study the foundation's four signature programs (ABE, Amgen Scholars, LabXchange, Khan Academy) to understand their approach to science education
Connect with foundation staff on LinkedIn to better understand priorities
Ensure program is in an eligible geographic location before applying
Complete the eligibility quiz carefully and honestly
Provide clear evidence of program outcomes and scalability potential

Key Quote from Foundation: "The Amgen Foundation carefully considers each grant application it receives, seeking out diverse organizations whose philosophies, objectives and approaches align with the Foundation goals and mission."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only is the norm: Nearly all grants are by invitation; unsolicited applications face very limited opportunities and should only be submitted if fully aligned with science education priorities in eligible Amgen communities
Geographic restrictions matter: Community grants strictly limited to 11 U.S. locations plus Puerto Rico where Amgen has operations; verify eligibility before investing time in application
Science education is paramount: Foundation's $275+ million commitment to science education demonstrates this is the dominant priority; proposals must show strong STEM focus, particularly teacher development and inquiry-based learning
Scale and sustainability required: Foundation explicitly seeks programs that are "replicable, scalable and designed to have lasting and meaningful effect"—one-off projects unlikely to succeed
Evidence-based results essential: Show measurable impact on student achievement, teacher quality, or community outcomes with data to support claims
One shot per year: Organizations can only submit one request annually, so timing and preparation are critical; consider whether unsolicited approach is worth the opportunity cost
Consider indirect routes: Employee matching gifts (up to $20,000 per employee) and volunteer grants ($500 per 15 hours) may be more accessible pathways for smaller organizations in Amgen communities

References

Information compiled December 2025