What Elsevier Foundation does

The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2005 and wholly funded by Elsevier, the global information analytics company that is part of RELX Group. Headquartered at Radarweg 29 in Amsterdam, the Foundation operates with a 5-person core team (Executive Director, Partnerships Director, Partnerships Manager, Treasurer, Legal Counsel) and receives substantial in-kind support from Elsevier in the form of office space, content, data, analytics, expert networks, marketing, media outreach, and volunteer time. Its mission is to champion inclusive research and health through non-profit partnerships that incubate new approaches and catalyze change, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries and alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Foundation's programmatic offerings consist of award programs, grant programs, and long-cycle strategic partnerships rather than a unified software or technology product. Core programs include the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists (since 2013; 84 alumni across 38+ countries; $100,000/year for 2022-2026), the Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge (since 2016; 10 editions; $25,000 per winning project; 20 winners across 19 countries), the Lancet-Elsevier Foundation Evidence to Impact Awards (inaugurated 2026; $10,000 per team; three winners), Women's Impact Awards, Climate Women Grants, Falling Walls Female Science Talents, and Agents of Change Awards. Strategic partnerships are managed in 3-year cycles with a small set of flagship organizations including Concern Worldwide (Somalia health systems, $100,000/year 2024-2026), Swasti (India climate-health, $100,000/year 2026-2027), Portia/Gender Summits ($45,000/year 2024-2026), Research4Life, TWAS, Falling Walls Foundation, and others.

The Foundation is funded entirely by Elsevier and contributes over $1 million annually to non-profit partners; since 2005 cumulative grants exceed $19 million across 100+ partners in 70+ countries. Its go-to-market is partnership-driven with no open calls for proposals — new partners are sourced through established networks. Distribution channels are awareness-oriented (LinkedIn, Bluesky, annual impact reports, conferences such as Gender Summits and the Elsevier Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference) rather than commercial; the Foundation does not sell products or services. The Foundation is governed by a Board of 5 external and 6 Ex Officio (Elsevier) members serving 3-year renewable terms.

Name

Elsevier Foundation

Legal name

Elsevier Foundation

Website

https://elsevierfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate non-profit foundation funded by Elsevier that contributes over $1 million annually to non-profit partnerships advancing inclusive research and health in low- and middle-income countries through award programs, grants, and long-cycle strategic collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Corporate philanthropy
• Research grants
• Nonprofit partnerships
• Women in science
• Inclusive health funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Foundation Funding: The Elsevier Foundation is funded entirely by Elsevier, a global information analytics company specializing in science and health. Elsevier covers the Foundation's administrative costs and provides in-kind support including office space, marketing, media outreach, content, data, analytics, expert networks, and volunteer support. The Foundation contributes over $1 million annually to non-profit organizations.
2. Matching Gift Program: The Foundation supports global disaster relief and matches eligible charitable donations made by Elsevier employees, extending community engagement and impact.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate non-profit foundation that provides grant funding, award programs, and long-term partnership support to non-profit organizations advancing inclusive research and health globally. It contributes over $1 million annually to partners across the Global South through programs including the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards, Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge, Women's Impact Awards, Climate Women Grants, and the Lancet-Elsevier Foundation Evidence to Impact Awards. The Foundation is wholly funded by Elsevier and provides in-kind support including content, data, analytics, expert networks, and administrative resources.

Product overview

The Elsevier Foundation is a corporate non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation funded by Elsevier that operates as a catalyst for inclusive research and health partnerships, contributing over $1 million annually to non-profit organizations. The Foundation's offerings consist entirely of award programs, grant programs, and partnership initiatives rather than a unified software product or platform. The main programmatic offerings include: the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists (award program supporting women scientists in the developing world); the Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge (green chemistry competition); Women's Impact Awards; Climate Women Grants; Lancet-Elsevier Foundation Evidence to Impact Awards; Agents of Change Awards; and the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Program. Additionally, the Foundation manages two partnership categories: Inclusive Research Partnerships (focused on STEM diversity and Global South capacity building) and Inclusive Health Partnerships (focused on health equity for underserved populations). The Foundation does not offer a technology product, API, or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards: Annual awards program recognizing outstanding early-career women scientists from low- and middle-income countries, partnered with Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD).
• Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge
• Lancet-Elsevier Foundation Evidence to Impact Awards

Products and services

• OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World Annual awards recognizing five outstanding early-career women scientists from low-and-middle-income countries, celebrating research excellence alongside meaningful impact within local institutions and communities. Since 2013, the awards have championed 84 women scientists from over 38 countries. Funded at $100,000 per year (2022-2026).
• Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge Annual challenge providing USD 25,000 funding for two winning projects implementing green and sustainable chemistry solutions in the Global South, advancing climate action and gender equity. Now in its tenth edition, supporting 20 winning projects across 19 countries.
• Women's Impact Awards Joint initiative with the Falling Walls Foundation recognizing women who combine outstanding research with societal impact, celebrating scientific excellence with purpose-led contributions to a more equitable future.
• Climate Women Grants Project grants awarded to teams of 2-5 women for scientific projects with potential to produce tangible strategies for addressing climate change, with a total value of USD 25,000 over three years.
• Agents of Change Awards Jointly funded by Materials Today journals and the Elsevier Foundation, providing two grants of up to $10,000 bi-annually to initiatives fostering a more inclusive research environment in the materials science community. Expanded in 2023 to include a dedicated ceremony and gala dinner.
• Falling Walls Female Science Talents Program Year-long programme supporting 20 outstanding early-career women in science from all disciplines through skill-enhancement workshops, mentoring, and participation in high-level events in Berlin. Part of the Falling Walls Global Call for Science Breakthroughs.
• Lancet-Elsevier Foundation Evidence to Impact Awards Award dedicated to supporting research projects addressing pressing health challenges worldwide, emphasizing implementation science to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and practical application, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Three winning projects each receive $10,000.
• Inclusive Research Partnerships Partnerships supporting equity in research and scientific capacity building, promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields with a focus on Global South countries. Partners include OWSD, Portia, Falling Walls Foundation, RIKEN, TWAS, and Research4Life.
• Inclusive Health Partnerships Partnerships advancing the delivery of health equity for vulnerable populations, addressing health challenges and improving health outcomes in underserved communities around the world. Partners include Concern Worldwide, Swasti, Aidsfonds, BBRI, World Patients Alliance, and Global Health Corps.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31% reduction in inpatient mortality in Tanzania following Essential Emergency and Critical Care implementation (EECCiT project)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SwasticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Climate Care Champions Program (CCCP) building climate-resilient health systems in India. Focuses on equipping frontline health workers in Andhra Pradesh with skills to prevent, identify, and respond to heat-related illness. Budget: $50,000 (2025 pilot), $100,000/year (2026-2027). Targets Ananthapuramu, Guntur, and Bapatla Districts.
• The LancetflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Evidence to Impact Awards partnership recognizing research teams that translate health evidence into real-world impact through implementation science. Inaugural awards in 2026 gave $10,000 to three winning teams. Winners showcased in The Lancet Global Health.
• Global Health CorpsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Emerging Leaders for Climate & Health partnership supporting emerging leaders addressing climate change and health inequities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• AidsfondsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Tanya Marlo campaign addressing HIV prevention among young people in Indonesia, where 32,000 new HIV infections are registered annually and more than half are among 15-24 year olds.
• BBRI (Brown-Bag Research Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Implementation Science Fellowship Program advancing the translation of medical research into prevention and treatment practices, supporting health improvements in low- and middle-income countries.
• World Patients AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Doctor Safety Children Books partnership focused on patient safety education for children, addressing one of the top global concerns in public health.
• Concern WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to strengthen health systems in Somalia, specifically supporting data improvement and management at Banadir Hospital Stabilization Centre for treatment of children suffering from malnutrition. Budget: $50,000 pilot (2023), $100,000/year (2024-2026). Focuses on Mogadishu, Banadir, and Gedo Regions.
• RIKENminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Envisioning Futures partnership addressing the rising percentage of female researchers in Japan (from 16.9% to 22% per Elsevier's Gender Reports), supporting women's advancement in research careers.
• Falling Walls Foundation (Women's Impact Awards)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Women's Impact Award recognizing women who combine outstanding research with societal impact. Joint initiative by Falling Walls Foundation and Elsevier Foundation as part of Falling Walls Global Call for Science Breakthroughs. 2025 winners include researchers from Germany, Canada, and Egypt.
• TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Women in Climate Action project grants supporting knowledge application in real-life scenarios in the Global South. Helps accelerate tangible improvements by supporting women scientists in applying research to climate challenges.
• Materials Today Family of JournalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Agents of Change (MTAOC) awards program providing two grants of up to $10,000 bi-annually to initiatives fostering a more inclusive research environment in materials science. Expanded in 2023 to include a dedicated ceremony and gala dinner.
• Falling Walls FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Female Science Talents Intensive Track program supporting 20 outstanding early-career women in science annually. Includes skill-enhancement workshops, mentoring, and participation in high-level events in Berlin. Part of the Falling Walls Global Call for Science Breakthroughs.
• Elsevier Chemistry Journals TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership delivering the Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge, providing $25,000 for 2 winning projects per year implementing green and sustainable chemistry solutions in the Global South. Now in its 10th edition with 20 winners across 19 countries.
• Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Long-standing partnership delivering the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World. Since 2013, the program has championed 84 women scientists from 38+ countries. Budget: $100,000/year (2022-2026). Awards are administered by OWSD through an open call and rigorous peer-review process.
• Portia (Gender Summits)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Since 2011, the Gender Summits have brought together researchers, policymakers, funders and practitioners to examine how gender influences research systems. Elsevier Foundation support enables hybrid summit formats combining global online audiences with regional in-person discussions. Budget: $45,000/year (2024-2026).
• Research4LifeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002UN-publisher partnership providing researchers at more than 11,500 institutions in over 125 low- and middle-income countries with free or low-cost online access to up to 203,000 leading journals. Ylann Schemm served as Chair of Research4Life's Executive Council (June 2020 – June 2022). The Elsevier Foundation also supports the Country Connectors program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: Large independent foundation funding science research and global health initiatives. Highly comparable as a science/health-focused grantmaking entity, though much larger and independent (endowment-backed) rather than corporate-funded.
• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI): Philanthropic vehicle of Meta's founder funding biomedical research and education. Comparable as a tech/publishing-adjacent foundation supporting scientific research with a focus on inclusion and capacity building.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI): Major biomedical research organization supporting scientists and science education. Comparable as a research-funding institution with inclusion in STEM and early-career scientist support programs.
• Rockefeller Foundation: Historic foundation focused on global health, equity, and sustainability. Comparable mission overlap (health equity, climate resilience, inclusion) though much larger and independently endowed.
• Gates Foundation: Largest global health and development foundation. Comparable through its Global South health and development grants, though operates at vastly larger scale and with broader scope.
• RELX (Elsevier parent) CSR Programs: Elsevier's parent company operates broader CSR programs beyond the Foundation. Comparable as adjacent corporate responsibility programs operating in the same ecosystem.

Direct peers

• TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences): UNESCO-affiliated organization promoting science in developing countries; Foundation is a partner of TWAS on Climate Women grants. Closely comparable as a science-capacity-building funder for Global South researchers, especially women.
• OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World): Core strategic partner running the flagship OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards program. Highly comparable as a science-capacity funder focused on women in the Global South, with the Foundation serving as co-funder and co-programmer.
• Springer Nature Foundation: Corporate foundation of competing academic publisher Springer Nature. Direct peer as a publishing-industry corporate foundation funding research access and science diversity programs.
• Wiley Foundation: Corporate foundation of academic publisher John Wiley & Sons. Comparable as publishing-industry philanthropy supporting scientific research access and recognition programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elsevierfoundation
• Xx.com/ElsFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheElsevierFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Elsevier Foundation