W.M. Keck Foundation: Call for Concept Papers
*** Please share this award opportunity with your faculty.***
W.M. Keck Foundation
Dear Colleagues,
The Health Sciences Development Office is currently seeking requests for proposals for The W.M. Keck
Foundation (Advance ID 339071). If you would like to submit a concept paper for a research project in
science, engineering or medical research that have the potential to meet the funding interests of the
Foundation, please submit electronically a one-page concept paper (See guidelines below) outlining the
research to be considered by no later than Friday, May 22, 2015.
Additionally, the Development Office will be hosting an Information Session / Panel Discussion on
Monday, May 11, 2015 from 3-4pm in the Union Den. If you are planning on submitting a concept
paper, we encourage you to attend this – please see attached for details.
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Funding notes:
There are three categories that are eligible for funding:
1. Science/Engineering Research
2. Medical Research
Grants range from $500,000 to $5 million (typically $2 million or less)
Eligibility and priorities: http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research/eligibility-and-priorities
3. Undergraduate Education
Grants range from $200,000 to $1 million (typically under $500,000)
Eligibility and priorities: http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/undergraduate-program
Keck is looking for projects that will have a “transformative” effect on their fields or create new fields.
The Foundation strives to fund endeavors that are distinctive and novel in their approach.
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Keck is not interested in projects that are on the path to drug development or commercial
application.
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Projects should fall outside the mission of public funding agencies. If your project is selected for
submission, the Foundation asks that you submit comments from NSF/NIH submissions. They are
looking for research that is solid science, but too “edgy” for Federal agencies.
Questions to consider before applying: How is this different in the field and transformative compared to
what others are doing? What are practitioners saying (potentially saying) about the implication of this
research? Does or can this qualify for NSF/NIH Funding?
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RESEARCH AND UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION CONCEPT PAPER GUIDELINES:
Papers must be single-paged concepts for the Research Program and should be in 12 point font with 1
inch margins and should include:
1) an overview of the proposed project emphasizing any unique aspects and pilot studies (indicate area of
emphasis- medical research or science and engineering research);
2) a brief description of the key personnel and methodologies;
3) a brief justification of the need for Keck support; and
4) an estimated budget broken down, if possible, by major areas, e.g., personnel, equipment, consumable
supplies, etc. (Budgets can be rough approximations at this stage.)
If there is room, the authors are free to add other details (e.g., background to put the research into
perspective, description of the institution’s prominence in the field, etc.). Avoid illustrations in these
single-pagers – the researchers will need all the room for text. If a reference is necessary, abbreviate it as
(Science, 323, 45, ‘11). DO NOT USE (Jones et al., 2011). Do not include illustrations in the concept
paper.
Because the University is only allowed to submit a limited number of concepts papers, these will first be
reviewed internally before a decision is made to forward it to the foundation. The following timeline has
been established:
May, 22, 2015
Deadline to submit concept papers
June 2015
Corporate and Foundation Relations / Vice President for Research
Office – select concept
July 2015
Pre-application advising session with Keck
August 17, 2015
Areas (Faculty) Notified of Paper Status
October 2015
Phase I Application Due Internally
November 1, 2015
Phase I Application Due to Foundation
To learn more about The W.M. Keck Foundation and their current funding interests and past grant
abstracts, please visit their website http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/grant-programs We strongly
advise you review the website for additional information – particularly the FAQ and Grantee
Responsibility sections. Please feel free to give call with any questions.
One-page concept papers, in the described format are due via email to the Health Sciences
Development Office (prospectmanagement@hsc.utah.edu) by no later than 5pm on Friday, May
22nd. If you have any questions, please contact me at 5-0222 or Amanda at 5-7352.
Thank you,
Gracey White
Information Coordinator
University of Utah Health Sciences Development
Main: 801.581.4401 Direct: 801.585.0222
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What Are the Foundation’s Funding Priorities?
The Foundation strives to fund endeavors that are distinctive and novel in their approach. It encourages
projects that are high-risk with the potential for transformative impact. "High-risk" comprises a number of
factors, including questions that push the edge of the field, present unconventional approaches to
intractable problems, or challenge the prevailing paradigm. In all our programs, "transformative" may
mean creation of a new field of research, development of new instrumentation enabling observations not
previously possible, or discovery of knowledge that challenges prevailing perspectives. Applicants may
find it helpful to look over the abstracts of recent grants for understanding funding priorities. Grant
abstracts may be found on our website within the particular program of interest.
What does the Foundation NOT Fund?
 Routine institutional or general operating expenses, general endowments, deficit reduction, or general or
administrative overhead expenses
 General and federated campaigns, including fundraising events, dinners, or mass mailings
 Support for conduit organizations, unified funds, or organizations that use grant funds from donors to
support other organizations or individuals
 Clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development
 Sponsorship of conferences or seminars, publication of books or the production of films or theater, and
public policy research or activities of any kind
 Student tuition or fees
The Foundations does not support grants for Capital Projects, General Operating Support,
Sponsor Events / Dinners, Scholarship and Fellowships.
The average size and duration of grants varies by project and program area. Research grants range
from $500,000 to $5 million, and are typically $2 million or less. Undergraduate Education grants
range from $200,000 to $1 million, but are typically under $500,000. Duration of grants ranges from
one to five years.
TIP: Specific and concrete information is better rather than objectives and justification. Focus on the
What and the How, rather than the Why in relation to the details of your research.