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W.M. Keck Foundation

Annual Giving
$64.5M
Grant Range
$100K - $5.0M
Decision Time
8mo
Success Rate
5%

W.M. Keck Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $64.5 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $1.55 billion
  • Success Rate: ~5% (approximately 10 awards from 200 research applications per cycle)
  • Decision Time: 6-12 months (depending on application phase)
  • Grant Range: Research: $500,000 - $5,000,000 (typically $1-2 million); Southern California: $100,000 minimum
  • Geographic Focus: National (Research Program); Los Angeles County (Southern California Program)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.wmkeck.org/

Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

Application Portal: Online submission through institutional liaison (research program) or Foundation portal (Southern California program)

Pre-Application Support: Optional concept counseling strongly encouraged for research applications (scheduled on first-come, first-served basis)

Overview

Founded in 1954 by William Myron Keck, founder and president of Superior Oil Company, the W.M. Keck Foundation has made thousands of grants totaling billions of dollars supporting groundbreaking work across the country. With assets exceeding $1.55 billion and annual giving of approximately $64.5 million, the Foundation operates with a bold, creative approach to grantmaking that reflects Mr. Keck's vision of providing far-reaching benefits for humanity. The Foundation focuses on two major areas: a national Research Program supporting distinctive and novel medical research and science & engineering projects, and a Southern California Program strengthening resilient communities in Los Angeles County with emphasis on children, youth, and vulnerable populations. The Foundation explicitly seeks high-risk, potentially transformative research that falls outside the mission of traditional federal funding agencies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Program (National)

  • Medical Research Grants: $500,000 - $5,000,000 (typically $1-2 million over 3 years)

    • Pioneering biological and life sciences research
    • Basic biomedical research with transformative potential
    • Application method: Two-phase institutional submission (May 1 and November 1 deadlines)

  • Science & Engineering Research Grants: $500,000 - $5,000,000 (typically $1-2 million over 3 years)

    • Basic physical sciences and engineering research
    • Development of breakthrough technologies, instrumentation, or methodologies
    • Interdisciplinary approaches to fundamental questions
    • Application method: Two-phase institutional submission (May 1 and November 1 deadlines)

Southern California Program (Los Angeles County)

  • Grants: $100,000 minimum
    • Arts and Culture
    • Civic and Community Services
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
    • Health Care
    • Pre-collegiate Education
    • Application method: Online portal with fixed deadlines (January 5 and July 1)

Undergraduate Program

  • Liberal arts and science/engineering programs at designated undergraduate colleges
  • National organizations addressing undergraduate needs
  • Available only in Foundation-designated states

Priority Areas

Research Program:

  • High-risk, early-stage research too unconventional for federal funding
  • Projects that challenge prevailing paradigms
  • Work with potential to found new research fields
  • Research enabling new observations or altering perception of intractable problems
  • Basic research rather than applied or translational work
  • Projects demonstrating that Keck support is essential to success

Southern California Program:

  • Projects benefiting children and youth from low-income families
  • Support for developmentally disabled individuals
  • Services for foster children and homeless families
  • Capital projects (construction, renovation, equipment)
  • Program expansion with proven results
  • Innovative pilot models
  • Systems change initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Research Program Exclusions:

  • General operating expenses, endowments, or deficit reduction
  • Individual grants (only institutional applications accepted)
  • Public policy research
  • Fundraising campaigns and events
  • Book or film productions
  • Conference sponsorships
  • Medical devices and translational research
  • Treatment trials or drug development
  • Capital projects
  • Work that could readily be funded elsewhere

Budget Restrictions for Research Grants:

  • No indirect costs allowed
  • No student tuition charges
  • Faculty salary support cannot exceed 10% of total request
  • Renovation costs limited to 10% of request
  • International spending limited to 10% of request

Governance and Leadership

Co-Chairs & Co-CEOs:

  • Stephen M. Keck
  • Joseph Day

Other Key Leadership:

  • Robert A. Day - Chairman (formerly CEO 1995-2021)
  • Matt Day, Sr. - Vice Chair
  • Allison M. Keller - President & Chief Financial Officer
  • Lucinda Day Fournier - Vice President
  • Dr. Beth Pruitt - Chief Scientific Officer
  • Dr. James S. Economou - Senior Medical Advisor

Board of Directors: Approximately 35 members including prominent figures such as Bradford Freeman, Dr. Andrea Ghez (Nobel Laureate), Kent Kresa, Sherry Lansing, and Ronald P. Spogli. James A. Baker III serves as Director Emeritus.

Philosophy from Leadership:

The Foundation emphasizes that concept papers should "explain the science but leave the reader inspired from the outset by the potential of the work to change a field or science" and advises applicants to "focus on the 'grand challenge' you are seeking to solve and how you will do it, not on the technology or tool per se."

The Foundation looks for assurance that "other avenues of funding have been sought but declined, so be prepared (as you may be asked) to document denials received from federal agencies."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Research Program:

The Research Program requires applications through designated institutional liaisons only. Individual researchers cannot apply directly.

Three-Phase Process:

  1. Phase 0: Optional Concept Counseling (Strongly Encouraged)

    • Submit up to 8 one-page concept papers for feedback
    • Institutional liaisons and administrators participate (PIs cannot join)
    • Counseling period deadlines: June 15 (for July-August consultations) or December 15 (for January-February consultations)
    • Scheduled first-come, first-served basis (slots fill quickly)

  2. Phase I Application

    • One-page project summary required
    • Two-page project description
    • Detailed budget spreadsheet
    • Five expert references
    • One application per institution per cycle to each grant area
    • Deadlines: May 1, 4:30pm PT (December board meeting) or November 1, 4:30pm PT (June board meeting)

  3. Phase II Proposal (Invitation Only)

    • Selected Phase I applicants invited to submit full proposals
    • Site visits scheduled with institutional liaisons
    • Deadlines: February 15, 4:30pm PT (June board) or August 15, 4:30pm PT (December board)

Southern California Program:

  • Online application through Foundation portal
  • Two cycles annually: January 5 and July 1 deadlines
  • Concept review stage (optional but encouraged)
  • Application submission
  • Invitation-only site visit
  • Organizations must be headquartered in Southern California or have independent LA County operations

Decision Timeline

Research Program:

  • Foundation acknowledges receipt within 4 weeks of submission
  • Phase I to Phase II invitation: approximately 3-4 months
  • Phase II to final decision: approximately 3-4 months
  • Total timeline from initial Phase I submission to final decision: 6-12 months
  • Applicants notified in writing after Board decisions
  • Important: "Inquiries regarding the Board's decision are not welcome" - do not contact Foundation to check application status

Grant Cycle Schedule:

  • May 1 Phase I deadline → December Board meeting
  • November 1 Phase I deadline → June Board meeting

Recent Award Statistics:

  • June 2025: 17 grants totaling $19.6 million (11 Research Program grants totaling $12.8 million)
  • 2024: 14 Medical Research grants totaling $18.1 million; 13 Science & Engineering grants totaling $16.2 million
  • 2024 Southern California: 20 grants totaling $7.8 million

Success Rates

The Research Program is extremely competitive:

  • Approximately 200 applications received per cycle
  • About 10 total awards made per cycle (5 Medical Research, 5 Science & Engineering)
  • Success rate: approximately 5%
  • Note: "Approximately 75% of funding is awarded west of the Mississippi"

Reapplication Policy

Federal Rejection Requirement: The Foundation requires applicants to demonstrate that federal funding agencies have declined the project before applying. Specifically:

  • Projects must "fall outside the mission of public funding agencies"
  • Written evidence of federal funding rejection required (may be in email form)
  • Reviews or discussions with agency program staff should be pursued with written rejection obtained
  • PIs must provide tangible evidence that federal funding was declined "not because of lack of merit but because proposal is too ambitious" and that resubmission to federal sponsors is not viable

Keck Reapplication:

  • At any phase of the application process, an institution may withdraw an application without prejudice to future requests
  • No explicit waiting period stated for reapplication after Keck rejection
  • One submission per institution per cycle allowed

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

1. Demonstrate High-Risk, Transformative Potential

The Foundation asks: "How bold or groundbreaking is the idea and the fundamental science proposed?" They seek projects that:

  • Challenge prevailing paradigms through unconventional approaches
  • Have potential to found new research fields
  • Enable new observations or alter perception of intractable problems
  • Are too ambitious for federal funding agencies

2. Write for Inspiration, Not Like an NIH/NSF Proposal

According to Foundation guidance: "Concept papers should be written as a narrative, not as you would write an NSF or NIH proposal and should both explain the science but leave the reader inspired from the outset by the potential of the work to change a field or science."

3. Focus on the Grand Challenge, Not the Tool

The Foundation advises: "Focus on the 'grand challenge' you are seeking to solve and how you will do it, not on the technology or tool per se." Emphasize the fundamental scientific question rather than technical specifications.

4. Demonstrate That Keck Support Is Essential

The Foundation is "unwilling to fund work that could readily be funded elsewhere" and requires evidence that:

  • Other funding avenues have been sought but declined
  • Federal agencies have rejected the project (with written documentation)
  • The project is essential but outside traditional funding mechanisms
  • Keck support is necessary for the project to succeed

5. Research Past Winners

The Foundation explicitly advises applicants to "research past winners and abstracts at the Foundation website to get a sense of the high-risk ideas funded." Grant abstracts for recent cycles (December 2024, June 2025) are publicly available on their website.

6. Participate in Concept Counseling

While optional, the Foundation "strongly encourages" participation in the pre-application concept counseling period. This provides valuable feedback from Foundation staff before submitting a formal application. Note: Slots fill quickly on a first-come, first-served basis.

7. Work Through Your Institution's Internal Process

All applications must go through designated institutional liaisons. Foundation staff will only communicate with institutional administrators, not individual PIs. Ensure you understand and follow your institution's internal selection process for limited submission opportunities.

8. Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Review the Foundation's published grant abstracts to understand the types of projects funded. Recent awards have included:

  • Novel imaging technologies for biological systems
  • Fundamental physics research with breakthrough potential
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to complex biological questions
  • Development of new research methodologies and instrumentation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Extremely competitive (5% success rate) - Only the most transformative, high-risk projects are funded; ensure your proposal demonstrates genuine potential to change a field
  • Federal rejection is effectively required - Document that your project has been declined by federal agencies because it's too ambitious or unconventional, not due to lack of merit
  • Write to inspire, not to satisfy reviewers - Concept papers should be narrative-driven and focus on the transformative potential rather than technical details
  • Institutional applications only - Work closely with your institution's liaison and understand their internal selection process; PIs cannot apply directly
  • Participate in concept counseling - This optional step is strongly encouraged and provides valuable feedback; submit early as slots fill on first-come, first-served basis
  • Research past winners thoroughly - Study published grant abstracts on the Foundation website to understand what types of "bold" and "groundbreaking" ideas get funded
  • Do not check application status - The Foundation explicitly states that "inquiries regarding the Board's decision are not welcome"; wait for written notification
  • Geographic preference exists - Approximately 75% of research funding goes to institutions west of the Mississippi

References

Research compiled December 2025

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