About Us

Our Mission

We fund programs and research that alleviate human suffering globally.

Guided by an Allocation Committee of accomplished development economists and practitioners, we support evidence-based, cost-effective programs and research that we believe will yield a high, risk-adjusted social return.

What We Fund

Through our rolling Request for Proposals, we support programs and research across all sectors in low-and-lower-middle-income countries.

Direct Delivery Grants

We seek to support activities that deliver evidence-based programming.

Research Grants

We seek to support research that generates evidence to directly inform programs or policies.

Catalytic Grants

We support programs and research that can unlock or strengthen larger-scale investment and implementation by governments, multilateral development banks, and other funders.

How We Evaluate Proposals

We assess proposals on the expected cost-effectiveness of the intervention.

We seek opportunities where philanthropic funding can generate substantial impact relative to its cost, particularly for work that might otherwise go unfunded. We are willing to accept greater uncertainty when the potential upside is sufficiently large.

Our Portfolio

Examples of recent work we are proud to support

Direct Delivery Grants View examples
Research Grants View examples
Catalytic Grants View examples

The WAM Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Weiss Asset Management and operates independently of any other grant-making foundation.

Learn more about Weiss Asset Management