Funder: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Due Dates: January 22, 2026 | April 23, 2026 | July 23, 2026 (final deadline; program ends)
Funding Amounts: $2,500–$50,000 per project; one-year duration; no indirect costs allowed
Summary: Supports early-stage, interdisciplinary projects that address the impacts of climate change on human health through new collaborations.
Key Information: Program ends July 2026; applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm EST on deadline dates.
Description
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund's Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants are designed to foster innovative, interdisciplinary collaborations that address the complex intersection of climate change and human health. The program aims to bridge basic and biomedical sciences with ecological, environmental, and population-focused disciplines, supporting projects that pilot new strategies for reducing the health sector’s environmental impact, enhance preparedness for extreme weather events, and promote public outreach and education at the climate-health interface. The grants are intended for early-stage, creative ideas that bring together new partnerships and catalyze transformative solutions.
Due Dates
- January 22, 2026: Quarterly full-application deadline
- April 23, 2026: Quarterly full-application deadline
- July 23, 2026: Final quarterly deadline (program concludes)
Applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm EST on each deadline.
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: $1 million dedicated over Fall 2023–Summer 2026.
Eligibility
- Applications must be submitted by non-profit organizations or degree-granting institutions located in the United States or Canada.
- Applicant organizations may submit multiple proposals, but an individual may only serve as PI/project director on one application per review period, and no more than twice over the program's lifetime.
- Proposals must develop new partnerships, either between institutions or across disciplines within a single institution; projects that extend existing collaborations are not competitive.
- Only collaborative teams are eligible—individual investigator projects are not supported.
- For-profit partners may be included, but only non-profits may receive BWF funds.
- Nonprofits must have a U.S. IRS determination letter; fiscal agents are not permitted.
- Current and past BWF awardees are eligible to apply.
- International (non-U.S./Canada) nonprofits are ineligible.
Application Process
- All applications must be submitted electronically via ProposalCentral.
- Required components include:
- Applicant and institution information, including proof of nonprofit status
- List of partnering organizations/institutions
- Cover sheet (template provided)
- Narrative proposal (up to five pages + references)
- Project budget and justification (one-year duration, no indirects)
- Short-form CVs for key personnel
- Institutional signing official approval (must be completed before deadline)
- Applications must be validated and submitted by 3:00 pm EST on the deadline date.
- No exceptions or extensions will be granted for late or incomplete submissions.
Additional Information
- Proposals should catalyze new, transdisciplinary collaborations.
- Projects should focus on innovative strategies or outreach, not simply extend current work.
- One no-cost extension may be allowed.
- Annual progress and financial reports are required.
- Results must acknowledge BWF support; publications and outcomes should be shared with BWF.
External Links
Contact Information