The Burroughs Wellcome Fund appears to operate as a concentrated biomedical and scientific research funder based in Durham, NC, making a small number of very large awards rather than many modest grants. The available record (three grants totaling roughly $106M, all recorded under an aggregate attachment) suggests support for major research programs, institutional initiatives, or long‑term fellowships in the life sciences rather than broad, community‑level giving.
Concentrated, high‑dollar giving: few (three) very large grants totaling over $100M, likely multi‑year commitments to a small set of core research programs or institutions rather than many small one‑off awards.
Notable grantees: SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT (aggregate listing; 3 grants)
Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s recent record is defined by three very large awards, including a 2025 grant of $37,721,546 and two grants above $34 million in 2024 and 2023. That pattern points to a funder that works through a small number of substantial commitments rather than a broad portfolio of modest awards. The available record also shows that its grantmaking is built around biomedical and scientific research, with support for major research programs, investigator awards, long-term fellowships, and institutional initiatives. The funder’s portfolio extends beyond research infrastructure into science workforce development and education. Its active programs include support for graduate enrichment in North Carolina, K-12 STEM enrichment, and science and mathematics education initiatives, alongside climate-change-and-human-health programs that connect researchers, practitioners, educators, and communicators. In the recent grant record, the same high-dollar pattern appears across awards recorded in Durham and Research Triangle Park, both in North Carolina. Burroughs Wellcome Fund also shows a strong institutional orientation. The program descriptions emphasize grants to universities, research centers, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, with some initiatives structured as targeted programs and others as open opportunities for eligible applicants.
In science education, Burroughs Wellcome Fund supports several distinct stages of the pipeline. The Student STEM Enrichment Program is designed for primary and secondary students in North Carolina, while the Graduate Diversity Enrichment Program supports PhD students enrolled in North Carolina institutions. The funder also lists Science Education Grants and a Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics program, both tied to education and curriculum-focused work. Climate change and health is another visible theme. The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants are small awards meant to build new connections among scholars, practitioners, educators, and communicators, and the Climate + Health Excellence Centers support interdisciplinary centers working on the relationship between climate change and human health. A separate Climate and Health Interdisciplinary Awards program is marked as sunset. The funder also supports career development for trainees through its Career Guidance for Trainees program, underscoring a continued interest in scientific workforce development.
$37.7M
$848M
$70.5M
$45.5M
Most grants fall between $34.1M and $36M, with a median of $34.2M.
25th Percentile
$34.1M
Median
$34.2M
75th Percentile
$36M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NC.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
The grant-size distribution is extremely concentrated: p25 is $34,114,438, median is $34,200,360, and p75 is $35,960,953. That aligns with a model built around a few large awards rather than many smaller ones. The available recent-grant record shows three grants, all in North Carolina, and all to U.S. recipients. The structure also points to institutional grantmaking rather than individual support: the funder does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The active portfolio includes both unsolicited and non-unsolicited programs, with examples of each across education and climate-health work. The record suggests continuing support across years, with large awards appearing in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Grantmaking is local and entirely concentrated in North Carolina recipients in the available record. The recent grants land in Durham and Research Triangle Park, both of which appear in the top awards list. The recipient country distribution is fully U.S.-based, with no non-U.S. grants shown. Program descriptions also reinforce a North Carolina focus through graduate enrichment, K-12 STEM enrichment, and mathematics education initiatives tied to the state.
Its active programs include graduate enrichment for PhD students in North Carolina, K-12 STEM and science education initiatives, climate change and human health seed grants, climate-health excellence centers, career guidance for trainees, and science and mathematics education programs.
The grant-size distribution is very large and tightly clustered: p25 is $34,114,438, median is $34,200,360, and p75 is $35,960,953.
No. The funder is listed as not funding individuals, and the available record points instead to institutional and programmatic grants.
Its giving is local and concentrated in North Carolina. The recent grant record shows recipients in Durham and Research Triangle Park, and 100% of the grants in the provided data went to U.S. recipients.
The active climate-and-health offerings include Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants and Climate + Health Excellence Centers. A related Climate and Health Interdisciplinary Awards program is marked as sunset.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT | DURHAM, NC | $37,721,546 | 2025 | SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT |
| SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT | RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC | $34,200,360 | 2024 | SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT |
| SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT | RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC | $34,028,517 | 2023 | SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT |
SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT
$37,721,546SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT
SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT
$34,200,360SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT
SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT
$34,028,517SEE GRANTS PAID ATTACHMENT
Current and upcoming funding from Burroughs Wellcome Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Faculty, institutions, K-12 education applicants, postdoctoral fellows, and teachers as listed in the program page; quarterly review process.
Deadline: Rolling application deadline; quarterly review
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
