The W. M. Keck Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting Medical Research and Science & Engineering Research projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field. Past grants have been awarded to major universities, independent research institutions, and medical schools to support pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation or methodologies. Grants range from $1 million to $5 million and are typically $2 million or less. The Research Program employs a two-phase application process with optional pre-application counseling for up to four proposals per research area. All communication with the Foundation, including submitting applications, proposals and reports must be via the institution’s designated liaison.

The Keck Foundation funds projects that:

• Focus on important and emerging areas of research
• Have potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation, or methodologies
• Are innovative, distinctive, and interdisciplinary
• Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches or challenge the prevailing paradigm
• Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies
• Have potential for transformative impact such as the founding of a new field of research, enabling of new observations, or altering perception of a previously intractable problem        
• Demonstrate that W. M. Keck Foundation support is essential to the project’s success

Link to UD's 2024 Webinar: 2024 Keck Webinar - UD Capture | University of Delaware

Internal Limited Submission Concept Paper Deadline: 07/14/2025, 11:59 PM (ET)
Phase 1 Application Deadline: 11/03/2025, 4:30 pm (PT)
Invited Phase 2 Full Proposal Deadline: 02/16/2026, 4:30 (PT)
Link to FOA Here

Institutional Limit: Institutions may submit one Phase I application per grant cycle to each of the applicable research areas: one (1) proposal to Science and Engineering Research and one (1) to Medical Research.

Application Information:  For this opportunity only, please submit a one-page Concept Paper with the following subsections: 

• Overview of proposed research emphasizing unique aspects and pilot studies
• Brief description of key personnel and methodology
• Brief justification of need for Keck support
• Estimated budget broken down by major categories.

Merit Review Criteria: Internal white papers will be reviewed based on the criteria detailed in the solicitation.