Wellcome Leap Inc
Wellcome Leap Inc is a private foundation based in San Diego, California. It builds and funds large-scale, time-bound programs intended to deliver breakthroughs in human health, with the organization describing its programs as designed to achieve results over five to ten years.
Wellcome Leap Inc at a glance
In short: Wellcome Leap Inc gave $145.9M across 171 grants in 2025 (avg $853K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $145,907,370
- +105.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 171
- +58.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $853,259
- +29.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $687,262
- Total assets
- $731,863,839
- +190.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (15% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Wellcome Leap Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
Wellcome Leap states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website describes online abstract and proposal submissions for programs, with program-specific requirements. General proposal guidelines call for a proposal of no more than 25 pages, an Adobe PDF, and a separate cost and schedule summary in .xlsx format. The guidelines also specify sections for the project summary, proposal body, personnel and resources, commercialization or partner strategy, and project schedule and budget.
- Contact
Mailing address: 302 Washington Street 150-1384, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (916) 503-8105
Website: https://www.wellcomeleap.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wellcome Leap Inc
Who Wellcome Leap Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of California San Diego ($9.4M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $47.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
280 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 82 grants of 280 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 15% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 6% each to New York and Massachusetts, and 4% to Pennsylvania. The largest listed grants also include recipients outside the United States, such as institutions in the Netherlands and United Kingdom.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 171 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wellcome Leap Inc gives
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $481K (2023) to $145.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 171 grants totaling $145.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ribopro BV | Global Health Research | $5,582,571 |
| University of Leicester | Global Health Research | $4,266,029 |
| Centillion | Global Health Research | $3,345,047 |
| University of Birmingham | Global Health Research | $2,766,819 |
| King's College London | Global Health Research | $2,565,846 |
| University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA | Global Health Research | $2,505,590 |
| NMI University of Tubingen | Global Health Research | $2,311,175 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Global Health Research | $2,186,879 |
| University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA | Global Health Research | $2,165,821 |
| University of Oslo | Global Health Research | $2,117,048 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $731,863,839 | $623,665,756 | $142,602,658 | $145,907,370 | 171 | $170,075,389 | $658,786 | $2,599,036 |
| 2024 | $252,214,540 | $799,917 | $155,779,752 | $70,971,369 | 108 | $117,074,778 | $622,477 | $2,420,689 |
| 2023 | $403,398,604 | $3,075,446 | $158,613,185 | $480,753 | 1 | $170,271,299 | $704,665 | $1,893,691 |
| 2022 | $553,318,259 | $346,259,833 | $87,243,617 | — | — | $68,573,118 | $128,592 | $1,272,083 |
| 2021 | $293,312,682 | $457,413 | $14,428,931 | — | — | — | — | $573,895 |
| 2020 | $306,045,791 | $307,147,723 | $1,307,158 | — | — | — | $17 | $33,945 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wellcome Leap Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Wellcome Leap describes its approach as bringing basic scientists and engineers together around ambitious goals and tight timelines. Its website says programs often involve multidisciplinary teams working across organizations, with a program director actively coordinating the work.
Program areas shown on the website include antibiotic resistance, women’s cardiovascular health, maternal and infant gut microbiome resilience, heavy menstrual bleeding, addiction, healthy aging, stillbirth prevention, and mRNA biologics. The website also lists completed programs in depression, disease progression, child development, kidney function, and surgical training.
Wellcome Leap’s performers may include universities and research institutions, companies, and government or nonprofit research organizations. One 2025 grantee, Baylor College of Medicine, describes its own mission as advancing human health through patient care, research, education, and community services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Wellcome Leap reported 171 grants totaling $145,907,370. Grant amounts ranged from $907 to $5,582,571, with a median of $687,262. The largest listed awards included $5,582,571 to RIBOPRO BV, $4,266,029 to the University of Leicester, and $3,345,047 to Centillion; each was designated for global health research. Other large recipients included the University of Birmingham ($2,766,819) and the University of California San Diego ($2,505,590).
Earlier reported grantmaking was $70,971,369 across 108 grants in 2024 and $480,753 across one grant in 2023. Wellcome Leap’s 2024 filing statements describe direct charitable activities including programs on surgical training, addiction, and stillbirth prevention.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Regina Dugan as director, president, and CEO; Jay Flatley as director and chair; Judith Swain, Richard Gillingwater, John-Arne Rottingen, and Fiona Powrie as directors; and Richard Wooldridge as COO.
Wellcome Leap Inc is led by Regina Dugan, Director, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 4 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Regina Dugan
Director, President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$250K (2020) → $1.1M (2025)
Jay Flatley
Director & Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$150K (2023) → $75K (2025)
Judith Swain
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$38K (2025)
Fiona Powrie
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John-Arne Rottingen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Gillingwater
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Wooldridge
COO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $712K (2025)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Jeremy Farrar (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Ferguson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Rachel Rogers (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Ho Ching (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Kaigham Gabriel (2020–2023) — COO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.1M, to Regina Dugan (Director, President & CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wellcome Leap Inc
How much does Wellcome Leap Inc give each year?
Wellcome Leap Inc gave $145.9M across 171 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $71.0M across 108 grants.
What is Wellcome Leap Inc's typical grant size?
Wellcome Leap Inc's median grant in 2025 was $687,262, and its average grant was $853,259, across 171 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wellcome Leap Inc give grants?
Wellcome Leap Inc's top state is California, with 15% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (6%) and Massachusetts (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (11 grants), Boston, MA (8 grants), Philadelphia, PA (5 grants) and Cambridge, MA (5 grants).
Does Wellcome Leap Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 171 grants with a stated purpose on Wellcome Leap Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Global Health Research" (171 grants).
Who are Wellcome Leap Inc's largest grantees?
Wellcome Leap Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of California San Diego ($9,373,035 across 6 grants), Ribopro BV ($5,582,571) and Centillion ($5,022,907 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wellcome Leap Inc?
Wellcome Leap Inc reported $731.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $170.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wellcome Leap Inc fund?
Wellcome Leap describes its approach as bringing basic scientists and engineers together around ambitious goals and tight timelines. Its website says programs often involve multidisciplinary teams working across organizations, with a program director actively coordinating the work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wellcome Leap Inc?
Wellcome Leap states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wellcome Leap Inc's EIN?
Wellcome Leap Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-5192069. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Wellcome Leap Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wellcome Leap Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wellcome Leap Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wellcome-leap-inc-morg_6012a4989b29457ca1d28d2417193528
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_845192069_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wellcome Leap Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wellcome-leap-inc-morg_6012a4989b29457ca1d28d2417193528},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Wellcome Leap Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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