WM KECK FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$69.7M+8% YoY
Grants
260
Median Grant
$10K
Organizations Funded
275
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Foundation Overview
Mission
The W. M. Keck Foundation strives to create far-reaching benefits for humanity by supporting outstanding science, engineering & medical research, and organizations that enrich the lives of children, youth and families. Using philanthropy to boost high impact science and community projects through the Keck Effect.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$19.6 million to 17 organizations in June 2025. $7.2M to 6 medical research grants, $5.6M to 5 science & engineering research grants, $2M to 6 Southern California grants plus $4.85M for wildfire recovery. Since 1954, thousands of grants totaling billions of dollars.
How to Apply
Two-phase application process. Optional pre-application concept counseling (Jan 1-Feb 15, July 1-Aug 15). Phase I applications due May 1 at 4:30pm PT. Must be submitted by institutional liaison through foundation portal. Research program focuses on high-risk, transformative projects.
Does Not Fund
US organizations only, max 10% to foreign collaborators. No undergraduate education programs, general operations, endowments, deficit reduction. No overhead/indirect costs. No graduate student tuition, faculty salary >10% annual. No conduit organizations, fiscal sponsorship. Southern California: no ongoing program support, deficit reduction, endowments, scholarships, special events.
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$69.7M
Grants
260
Median
$10K
States
28
$64.5M
Grants
238
Median
$20K
States
26
$67.8M
Grants
259
Median
$20K
States
30
Grant Size Distribution
$10K
Typical Grant (Median)
$26
Smallest
$5K
25th Pctile
$81K
75th Pctile
$7.5M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $5K and $81K.
Largest Recent Grants
$7.5M
2024
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CA · TO ACCELERATE GROUNDBREAKING MEDICAL, CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
$4.0M
2024
CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE
CA · TO ENHANCE CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE'S INTERDICIPLINARY SCIENCE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
$4.0M
2024
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
CA · TO ENHANCE AND ELEVATE CHAPMAN UNIVERSITYS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
$2.0M
2024
THE COLBURN SCHOOL
CA · TO SUPPORT THE FOR THE NEW COLBURN CENTER AND ENDOW THE YOUTH ENSEMBLE
$2.0M
2024
MUSEUM ASSOCIATES
CA · TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO ART AND ART EDUCATION
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.