Funder: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Due Dates: January 22, 2026 | April 23, 2026 | July 23, 2026
Funding Amounts: $2,500–$50,000 per project; one-year duration; no indirect costs allowed
Summary: Supports early-stage, interdisciplinary projects connecting climate change and human health through new collaborations and innovative approaches.
Key Information: Final deadline is July 23, 2026; program ends after this cycle.
Description
This seed grant program from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund is designed to foster innovative, early-stage projects that bridge climate change and human health. The initiative encourages collaborations across biomedical sciences, ecology, environmental science, public health, demography, economics, urban planning, and related fields. Projects may address sustainable health systems, preparedness for extreme weather, and public outreach or education at the climate-health interface. The program specifically seeks to catalyze new partnerships and creative approaches rather than fund ongoing or already-connected work.
Due Dates
- January 22, 2026: Full application deadline (quarterly deadline)
- April 23, 2026: Full application deadline (quarterly deadline)
- July 23, 2026: Final full application deadline (quarterly deadline; program ends with this deadline)
All applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Funding Amount
- Awards range from $2,500 to $50,000 per project.
- Projects are expected to be completed within one year.
- No indirect costs or overhead are allowed.
- Total program funding is $1 million over three years (Fall 2023–Summer 2026).
Eligibility
- Applications must be submitted by non-profit organizations or degree-granting institutions in the United States or Canada.
- For-profit entities may participate as partners, but only non-profits can receive funds.
- An individual may serve as principal investigator/project director on only one application per review period and a maximum of two funded projects over time.
- Proposals must involve new or non-traditional partnerships; single-institution projects must demonstrate new collaboration.
- This program does not support individual investigator-initiated biomedical research; collaborative, interdisciplinary teams are required.
- Organizations may submit multiple proposals, but each must have a distinct PI.
- Nonprofits must have an IRS determination letter (U.S.) or equivalent (Canada).
- Fiscal agents are not permitted.
Application Process
- Applications are submitted via the ProposalCentral online portal.
- Required components:
- Applicant and institution information
- List of partnering organizations/institutions
- Cover sheet (template provided)
- Narrative proposal (up to 5 pages + references)
- Project budget and justification (no indirect costs)
- Short-form CVs for key personnel
- Proof of nonprofit status (IRS letter or equivalent)
- Institutional signing official approval (must be obtained before submission)
- All attachments must be in PDF format.
- Both the applicant and institutional signing official must sign the application before submission.
- No supplemental materials or letters of collaboration are allowed.
- Proposals are reviewed quarterly; incomplete or late applications will be held for the next cycle.
Additional Information
- Progress and financial reports are required.
- Only work that catalyzes new transdisciplinary efforts will be competitive.
- Community-based organizations and non-traditional applicants are encouraged.
- Past recipients include a wide range of academic, nonprofit, and outreach organizations.
- No critiques are provided for unfunded proposals.
- No phone or email inquiries will be accepted after April 30, 2025; information sessions will be held via Zoom.
External Links
Contact Information
For general program information after April 30, 2025, refer to scheduled Zoom Q&A sessions as listed on the program page.