Whitehall Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Whitehall Foundation supports researchers that work in life sciences with an emphasis on neurobiology and brain research work as it relates to mechanisms of behavior. The foundation does not award grants for specific diseases or treatments.
IP TAKE: While Whitehall is an approachable funder that accepts unsolicited LOIs, grantseekers should not look to the foundation for major support. However, Whitehall is a good resource for those having trouble securing funding from other sources.
PROFILE: The Whitehall Foundation was founded in 1937 by George Monroe Moffett, a food science researcher at CPC International Inc. The foundation works to “assist those dynamic areas of basic biological research that are not heavily supported by Federal Agencies or other foundations with specialized missions.” The foundation awards grants to researchers working in the life sciences, and to principal investigators and researchers not currently receiving substantial support from federal government agencies. While Whitehall supports scientists at various stages of their careers, it prioritizes researchers in early career and “productive senior scientists” transitioning into a new field of study. Whitehall has two Grant Programs, supporting broad research goals and underfunded scientists.
Grants for Science Research, and Brain and Cell Research
Whitehall funds basic research in neurobiology, specifically, "investigations of neural mechanisms involved in sensory, motor, and other complex functions of the whole organism as these relate to behavior.” The foundation does not support research in which disease is the primary focus unless that work offers new insights into “normal functioning.”
Whitehall’s Research Grants support “established scientists of all ages working at accredited institutions in the United States.” Grant amounts range from $30,000 to $100,000 annually for up to three years. Grantseekers “must hold no less than the position of assistant professor, or equivalent,” to be considered. Note that the grant “will not be awarded to investigators who have already received, or expect to receive, substantial support from other sources.” Whitehall also has a Grants-in-Aid program for investigators at the assistant professor level “who experience difficulty in competing for research funds because they have not yet become firmly established.” It offers grants up to $30,000 for one year. To learn more about the type of research Whitehall supports, check out its latest Grant Recipients page.
Important Grant Details:
Scientists who have or are expecting substantial support from other sources are not eligible for a Whitehall research grant. Whitehall defines “substantial” as $200,000 per year including direct and indirect expenses and the Principal Investigator’s salary.
The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry three times per year with deadlines falling on January 15, April 15, and October 1. Be sure to read over the entire application procedure before submitting a proposal. Note that investigators can only submit one LOI per year.
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