Call № 001 / Open
$10,000* for the best way to make the case for ME/CFS philanthropy.
* Up to $10,000. Projects with smaller budgets are welcome to apply.
If you can make ME/CFS impossible for philanthropists to ignore, this grant is for you.
Amount
$10,000
Deadline
30 Sep 2026
Decision
31 Oct 2026
Status
Open
01
The brief
Create the best possible communication resource to help philanthropists understand why ME/CFS is one of today's most urgent and compelling opportunities for high-impact giving, and why investing in research through the WE&ME Foundation and the broader ME/CFS ecosystem could have extraordinary impact.
We are looking for an exceptional synthesis of uncompromising empirical rigor and bold creative thinking. Transform the best available data and evidence into exceptional storytelling and world-class design, creating a resource that is both intellectually compelling and impossible to ignore.
The format is open: a website, an interactive experience, a digital campaign, a beautifully designed report, a short documentary, or any other format you believe would be most effective.
02
Who can apply
Any individual or team, anywhere in the world. No institutional affiliation required.
A strong proposal combines three strengths: data fluency, visual craft, and an understanding of philanthropy. Whether these live in one person or a small team is up to you.
We encourage involving a person with ME/CFS, whether as a team member or as a source of feedback, though it is not required. Their role should scale to whatever their health allows, with the rest of the team carrying delivery when needed. If you'd like to involve a patient but don't know one, contact us. We may be able to connect you.
03
What to submit
A concept proposal of no more than three pages, including your proposed deliverables, timeline, and budget, and, optionally, a curated portfolio.
04
How we evaluate
Scientific rigor, communication and design quality, creativity, feasibility, and potential real-world impact.
The final funding decision is made by Christoph Ströck, informed by the non-binding recommendations of a small, anonymous expert panel convened for this call.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to a brief video call with a team member (not Christoph Ströck). Out of respect for everyone's time, we are only able to follow up with shortlisted applicants and the selected recipient.
05
Distribution
The completed work is donated to the WE&ME Foundation for use in their philanthropic outreach, and after a 12-month exclusivity period may be released as a free, openly licensed resource for the wider ME/CFS advocacy community to use and build on.
06
Grant amount
This grant is designed to cover all project costs. The maximum grant is $10,000. Projects with smaller budgets are welcome to apply.
For proposals that require substantial production costs, such as renting a film camera and crew for a short documentary, commissioning original illustration or data visualisation, licensing footage, or building a more ambitious interactive experience, outline any such costs in your budget and the rationale will be assessed alongside the proposal.
07
Timeline & payment
Payment is split: typically 40% when the grant is awarded and 60% on delivery and acceptance of the final work, adjusted to the project's production costs. The advance means you're not financing the project out of pocket.
08
Legal & licensing
Open to applicants worldwide, subject to applicable sanctions law. The recipient is credited as the author. Upon delivery, Christoph Ströck receives an exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable licence to use the work created by the recipient in all currently known and future forms of exploitation.
This licence applies without any restrictions as to time, subject matter, or territory, in particular to reproduce, distribute, rent, and lend the work; to transmit or broadcast it wirelessly or via wire; to recite, perform, and present it; and to make it available; as well as to transfer all rights to the work for consideration or free of charge to third parties or to grant sublicences, whereby the third parties may use the work to the same extent. Christoph Ströck is further entitled to adapt the work himself or through third parties and to exploit the adaptation to the same extent or to transfer it to third parties. The recipient warrants that they own or have obtained all rights necessary to grant this licence, including for any third-party materials.
The grant is paid in USD by bank transfer; the recipient is responsible for any local taxes.
The grant agreement is governed by and construed under the laws of Austria, without giving effect to its conflict of law rules and excluding the UN Sales Convention. For consumers, this choice of law applies only to the extent that the consumer is not deprived of the protection granted by the mandatory provisions of the law of the country of the consumer's usual residence. The recipient agrees that the competent court in Vienna has exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising out of or in connection with the grant agreement and the legal relationship, and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. For consumers with their place of residence, usual domicile, or place of employment in Austria, the legal venue for all disputes arising in connection with the contract is a court of the district where the consumer has their place of residence, usual domicile, or place of employment. For consumers not resident in Austria at the time of signing, the mandatory legal place of jurisdiction applies.
Full terms of the grant agreement are shared with the selected recipient.
With thanks to LEGALITE for pro bono legal counsel.