The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Improving Global Health Program focuses on working on solutions to urgent health challenges in the developing world.

In general, they accept LOIs in the following areas, however, there are specific instances when they will only accept RFPs.

Priority Diseases and Conditions

• Acute diarrheal illness
• Acute lower respiratory infections
• Child health
• HIV/AIDS
• Malaria
• Malnutrition and undernutrition
• Reproductive and Maternal Health
• Tuberculosis
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases

The foundation also supports efforts to address diseases that have a lower overall burden than those noted above, but still have a disproportionate impact in the developing world.

• Helminthic Infections: Lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, cysticercosis, Guinea worm, and intestinal nematodes.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections: Gonorrhea, syphilis, and Chlamydia
• Kinetoplastid Diseases: Human African trypanosomiasis, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas Disease.
• Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus
• Other diseases: Meningitis, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and trachoma.

To apply for a grant from the Gates Foundation you must first complete their online LOI. You will be asked to attach a 4 page narrative form. You will be notified of a decision in approximately six weeks. LOIs are reviewed on a continuous basis throughout the year.

Grant Narrative Form (doc)
For more information about Gates Foundation Grants click here