W.M. Keck Foundation

W.M. Keck Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports pioneering, fundamental basic research in physical, life and biomedical sciences, including instrumentation and engineering approaches that answer basic scientific questions. It seeks distinctive, novel work that challenges prevailing paradigms, and welcomes high-risk, high-reward proposals. Its Southern California Program funds projects in arts and culture, civic and community services, early childhood care and education, health care, and pre-collegiate education, aiming to promote children’s healthy development, strengthen families and enrich regional lives. It prioritises organisations strengthening under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County, with particular emphasis on low-income children and youth and special-needs populations. It also makes major, board-initiated special-project grants with potential for high impact.

Themes

• Basic science research
• Arts and culture
• Civic and community services
• Early childhood education
• Health care
• Pre-collegiate education
• Undergraduate education

Geographic Focus

Southern California; United States. Priority: Los Angeles County.

What They Don't Fund

• Research Program only: grants to individuals; private foundations (other than exempt operating foundations) or 509(a)(3) organizations; institutions that are located outside the United States; institutions that do not have at least three consecutive years of full, certified, audited financial statements; institutions that do not have a tax-exempt ruling from the federal government and (if located in California) the State of California; or if a government unit, do not provide a signed Declaration of Status
• Southern California Program only: projects that occur outside of Los Angeles County; projects that are only for one year (calendar or fiscal); projects for capital but lack site control (via signed lease or closed escrow) and, if required, a Conditional Use Permit; projects proposed by organizations with a pending leadership transition or have appointed an interim CEO or Executive Director; projects for the same purposes previously funded by the Foundation; projects for ongoing support of existing programs, unrestricted funding, or administrative overhead; projects for technology upgrades or deferred facilities maintenance; projects that establish or build endowments or award scholarships; projects that sponsor special events such as fundraisers, galas, and/or conferences; projects that underwrite book publication and/or film and theater production; projects requesting less than $100,000; grants to individuals; private foundations (other than exempt operating foundations) or 509(a)(3) organizations; organizations that do not have at least two consecutive years of full, certified, audited financial statements; organizations that are located outside the United States; organizations that do not have a tax-exempt ruling from the federal government and (if located in California) the State of California; organizations that are subsidiaries or affiliates of larger entities that do not have a separate board of directors and independent audited financial statements; “Conduit” organizations, unified funds or organizations that use grant funds from donors to support other organizations or individuals; projects or programs operating under fiscal sponsorship

Research applicants communicate with the Foundation through their institution’s designated liaison, who uploads applications to the Foundation portal.

Deadlines:

• Research Program submissions have deadlines in December and June.
• Southern California Program applications for the June grant cycle are due by January 5 at 4:30pm Pacific Time.
• Southern California Program applications for the December grant cycle are due by July 1 at 4:30pm Pacific Time.
• Optional concept submissions for the June cycle are accepted October 1 through November 1.
• Optional concept submissions for the December cycle are accepted April 1 through May 1.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 60% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 757 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• Research proposals should be distinctive and novel, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field.
• The Research Program welcomes high-risk, high-reward proposals.
• Southern California proposals should strengthen the resiliency of under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County.
• The Southern California Program places special emphasis on projects for children and youth from low-income families and special-needs populations.
• Projects should demonstrate organizational leadership and support and reflect thorough implementation planning.
• Projects should be capable of significant, long-term impact and be innovative, with potential to inform the field or achieve systems change at scale.
• Proposals should provide data on effectiveness, expand or replicate a proven model, and show that other funding sources are fully utilised.