Amgen Foundation Grant FAQs

How do U.S./Puerto Rico/international nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations submit a letter of inquiry regarding an Amgen Foundation Grant?

Organizations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and across the globe can submit an inquiry through the Online Letter of Inquiry link.

How do U.S./Puerto Rico/international nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations submit a proposal for an Amgen Foundation Grant?

All organizations must first submit an Online Letter of Inquiry . Foundation staff will evaluate the inquiry and send an invitation to submit a full application if appropriate.

Which types of nonprofit organizations are eligible for an Amgen Foundation grant?

A complete list of eligibility requirements can be found in the Amgen Foundation Grant Guidelines.

Does the Amgen Foundation provide funding to international organizations?

The Amgen Foundation has established grantmaking partnerships with qualified intermediary partners to manage donations to organizations chartered outside of the United States and Puerto Rico. International organizations must first submit Online Letter of Inquiry .

What are the funding areas of the Amgen Foundation?

Amgen Foundation makes grants in two primary areas: (1) to advance science education, and (2) to invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. For more information, please review the Amgen Foundation Grants Overview.

Can I apply for a Foundation grant for sponsorship or fundraiser for an event?

No. Per the Amgen Foundation Grant Guidelines we do not fund sponsorships or events. You are welcome to submit your request to Amgen Healthcare Donations if your organization is a member of the U.S. healthcare community, or to Non-Healthcare Donations if not.

What is the relationship between the Amgen Foundation and Amgen Healthcare Donations? May I apply for grants from both sources?

The Amgen Foundation and Amgen Healthcare Donations are both funding entities of Amgen. Each grant request can be submitted to only one of Amgen's funding entities. Amgen Foundation makes grants in two primary areas: (1) to advance science education, and (2) to invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Please see the Amgen Foundation Grant Guidelines for further information. Amgen Healthcare Donations makes donations in the following categories: fellowships, endowed professorships, scholarships, public education programs, patient advocacy programs, and fundraising events. Please see the Amgen Healthcare Donations website for further information.

What are your deadlines for receipt of proposals?

We accept proposals throughout the year. The Foundation's review committees meet quarterly to make funding decisions.

How often can an organization apply for an Amgen Foundation Grant?

Organizations that have met the criteria set forth in the Amgen Foundation Grant Guidelines may submit one funding request every 12 months.

Can my organization apply for funding for more than one project at a time?

No. The Amgen Foundation will only review one request per organization every 12 months. 

Does the Amgen Foundation accept unsolicited grant requests?

No. The Amgen Foundation accepts unsolicited inquiries through the Online Letter of Inquiry Form. Foundation staff will evaluate the inquiry and solicit a full application if appropriate.

What is the average size and duration of your grants?

Amounts awarded and time periods of grants vary widely and depend upon the scope of the project. The minimum Amgen Foundation grant is $10,000.

Can you share a copy of a successful proposal?

No. The Foundation does not share proposals from individual organizations.

How do I verify whether or not my organization might qualify for an Amgen Foundation grant?

The Amgen Foundation Mission Statement and Grant Guidelines provide an overview of the Foundation's funding priorities.

My program is of local scope. Can I send it to a specific Amgen site?

All inquiries and applications must first go through the Online Letter of Inquiry process. The Amgen Foundation solicits input from review committee members at the key Amgen sites across the U.S. and Puerto Rico as well as international locations.

Does the Foundation fund requests from organizations across the globe?

The Amgen Foundation funds national and international level science education programs. Community grants are made only in the U.S. and Puerto Rico in locations where Amgen has operating sites. These currently include California, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island.

Online Grant Request Process

Can an organization submit a paper proposal for its grant request?

No, the Amgen Foundation has a standardized Online Grant Request Application process. Click here to access the letter of inquiry form.

Can I print my letter of inquiry and grant application for my records?

Yes. Just click on the printer symbol on the online letter of inquiry or grant application form. For additional direction, click on the "Need Support?" link at the bottom of every page of the grant application.

How do I find out what information is required to submit a letter of inquiry through the Amgen Foundation's Online Letter of Inquiry form?

Please use the Letter of Inquiry Checklist to see the information and documentation necessary for inquiring about an Amgen Foundation grant.

How do I find out what information is required for making a grant request on the Amgen Foundation's Online Grant Request Application?

Please use the Grant Request Checklist to see the information and documentation necessary for applying for an Amgen Foundation grant. Only organizations that are invited to submit a full grant application will go through this process.

Do I have to enter the complete grant request at once, or can I fill out my request in stages over a span of time of my choosing?

You are free to complete the letter of inquiry or application process in stages. Always remember to save the application before logging off. Once you are done, press the Submit button and you're all set. Note that you will not be able to make any changes to the grant request after it has been submitted.

My organization does not have a scanner. How can I submit our tax return, audited financials and 501(c)(3) letter (U.S. and Puerto Rico only)?

You can download your tax return at guidestar.org, save it on your desktop and add it to your grant application. Audited financials and 501(c)(3) letter can be scanned at the local library.

How can I check the status of my letter of inquiry?

Click here to login to the Online Letter of Inquiry form. You'll be able to see your inquiry and whether it's "Awaiting Review", "Under Review" or "E-mail Sent" status. Your request will stay in "Under Review" status until the Foundation leadership makes a decision to invite a full proposal. When the decision is made the status will be changed to "E-mail Sent" and you can anticipate receiving correspondence from the Foundation within two weeks.

How can I check the status of my grant request?

Login to the Online Grant Request Application. The link to the full application will be provided by invitation only. You'll be able to see your grant request, and whether it's in "Awaiting Review", "Under Review" or "E-mail Sent" status. Your request will stay in "Under Review" status until the Foundation leadership makes a funding decision. When the decision is made, the status will be changed to "E-mail Sent" and you can anticipate receiving correspondence from the Foundation within two weeks.

How will I be notified once the Foundation leadership makes a funding decision?

Once a final grant decision has been made, grant applicants will be notified via phone or e-mail.