Deadline:
Sep 11, 2026Foundation Background and Mission:
The Weiss Asset Management Foundation (WAM Foundation) is a philanthropic organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, with a mission to reduce human suffering globally. The Foundation was launched by Andrew Weiss, founder of Weiss Asset Management, in response to employees' interest in more direct involvement in allocating resources to alleviating suffering, with approximately 10 percent of Weiss Asset Management profits donated annually to the WAM Foundation and other charitable organizations. The Foundation supports evidence-based, highly cost-effective programs and research that are expected to yield a high, risk-adjusted social return on investment. Its Allocation Committee is composed of leading development economists and practitioners and is chaired by 2019 Nobel Laureate in Economics Michael Kremer. In its first grant round, the Foundation awarded more than USD 15.1 million across 17 grants, supporting a diverse range of initiatives in global health, nutrition, and disaster resilience. Examples of prior grants include support for evidence-based nutrition programming for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, policy-oriented research to reduce barriers to vaccination programs, and technical assistance for government water-purification efforts. The Foundation's grant portfolio has positively impacted millions of lives to date.
Funding Philosophy:
WAM Foundation seeks to support organizations that deliver evidence-based programming, researchers that generate rigorous evidence to directly inform programs or policies, and entities that leverage efforts to improve how governments, organizations, and programs operate. The Foundation aims to maximize the impact of its resources on reducing suffering and judges proposals on the expected return per dollar of the grant. Expected value is assessed as the probability of success multiplied by the consequences if successful, relative to the counterfactual — meaning what would happen without the Foundation's funding. The Foundation encourages applicants to limit the amount of funds they request, as doing so may increase the probability of approval. WAM Foundation also weighs the likelihood that other funders would support the proposal, seeking to enable work that otherwise would not take place. The Foundation is willing to fund risky projects that other donors would not support, as long as the expected value is sufficiently high. For applicants seeking general support, the committee looks favorably on proposals that demonstrate a plausible pathway to sustained funding. The Foundation's review committee has expressed particular interest in three priority areas: road safety, mental health, and nutrition.
Eligibility Requirements:
The Foundation accepts proposals from U.S. and non-U.S. applicants that are researchers, research institutes, non-governmental organizations, or governmental entities. All proposed activities must be secular in nature. Graduate students are eligible only if they are partnering with a faculty Principal Investigator. The Foundation does not accept proposals from for-profit entities, political entities, or lobbying entities. Proposals must focus on highly cost-effective work to alleviate human suffering in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The Foundation welcomes all proposals related to its goal of reducing human suffering globally, with most grants expected to fall into two categories: project-based support for specific initiatives (including research with high potential policy impact, technical assistance, operational innovations, and support for proven cost-effective programs facing funding gaps) and general support for highly cost-effective organizations or programs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities:
The Foundation does not fund indirect costs for universities and colleges — it funds only those costs that are directly attributed to eligible activities, are necessary for the project's success, and are itemized in the proposed budget. The Foundation does not fund medical trials with the primary objective of developing new drugs or treatments or advancing basic natural or physical science, though it will consider applied research with a substantial implementation science or program delivery element and certain nutrition-related studies. The Foundation does not fund lobbying activities or any efforts to influence legislation in the United States or other countries. If any part of the applicant's activity includes legislative advocacy, the proposal must identify those efforts and specify the precise nature of and budget for those efforts.
Grant Structure and Duration:
Grants range from approximately USD 50,000 to USD 1,500,000, with no lower bound, and in exceptional circumstances grants may exceed USD 1.5 million. Grants may last for up to three years (36 months). The Foundation does not renew grant support after the funding period concludes. Applicants should not expect ongoing support and should articulate a forward-looking plan for continued funding beyond the grant period. Priority is given to projects with a plausible path to scale and proposals that have been referred within the Foundation's networks.
Application and Submission Process:
Applicants must submit proposals using the online Proposal Submission Form provided on the WAM Foundation website. All proposals must be in English. The submission form requires detailed responses to seven sections covering basic information, executive summary, issue background, activities and strategic plan (including goals, theory of change, evidence base, possible outcomes, and risks), team and organization details, impact measurement and cost-effectiveness (including outcomes, projected impact, measurement plan, and cost-effectiveness analysis), and budget information. Required attachments include a detailed budget using the WAM Foundation Budget Form Template (both Excel and PDF versions), operating budgets from the previous two fiscal years (for non-university organizations), resumes of key personnel or principal investigators, and a full Research Proposal for research-focused applications. Due to the Foundation's small team size, they are unable to respond to questions or otherwise discuss proposals prior to submission. Upon submission, applicants receive a confirmation email and should not resubmit. By submitting, applicants agree that proposal materials may be shared with the Foundation's reviewers and with other donors.
Review Process:
Review of proposals begins shortly after submission. The Foundation expects to select a number of proposals for further review by external reviewers with specialized expertise, including both academic researchers and international development practitioners. Shortlisted US-based organizations will be required to submit their two most recent tax returns filed with the IRS and their current IRS determination letter showing tax-exempt status. Shortlisted organizations more than three years old must also submit their most recent Audited Financial Statements including the auditor's letter. The Foundation anticipates one or more rounds of additional questions for certain applicants before making funding decisions. All applicants will be notified of the final decision status, though individualized feedback may not be provided to every applicant. The Foundation reviews proposals in batches grouped by sector, region, or other categories, and review may be staggered accordingly.
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