Grant Acceptance Policy

Last Revised: 24 November 2025

1. Policy and Purposes

This Grant Acceptance Policy (this “Policy”) governs the solicitation and acceptance of gifts, grants, contributions, donations and similar funding (collectively “Grants”) by the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science. (“IBBIS”). The purpose of this Policy is to provide guidance for IBBIS’ Foundation Council, officers and staff with respect to their responsibilities concerning Grants to IBBIS. The provisions of this Policy apply to all Grants received by IBBIS. IBBIS reserves the right to revise or revoke this Policy at any time, and to make exceptions to this Policy.

2. About IBBIS

IBBIS is a non-profit foundation established in Geneva, Switzerland. We want to see a world in which bioscience and biotechnology can flourish, safely and responsibly. IBBIS works collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. We undertake this work to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology.

3. General Policy Regarding Grants

3.1 General Policy; Factors

The primary consideration for the solicitation or acceptance of Grants will be the impact of the Grant on IBBIS and its mission, values and objectives. When considering whether to solicit or accept a Grant, IBBIS should evaluate the following factors:

  1. Mission and Core Values. Whether the acceptance of the Grant is consistent with or compromises the mission or any of the core values of IBBIS;
  2. Compatibility between IBBIS and the Donor. Whether there is compatibility between the intent of the donor with this grant and IBBIS’ use of the Grant;
  3. Reputation and Public Relationships. Whether acceptance of the Grant could support or damage the reputation of IBBIS;
  4. Relationships with Artificial Intelligence, Synthetic Biology, or other Biotechnology or Pharmaceutical Companies. Whether the donor has any current (i) employment, advisory, fiduciary or other working relationship with, (ii) ownership, investment, equity interest or other financial interest in, or (iii) compensation arrangement or other financial relationship with, any for-profit company whose business includes the development of artificial intelligence technology, synthetic biology, biotechnology, or pharmaceuticals and whether those interests could present a conflict of interest with IBBIS’ mission, values and objectives;
  5. Primary Benefit of the Grant. Whether the primary benefit of the Grant is to IBBIS or the donor;
  6. Consistency and Prior Practice. Whether acceptance of the Grant is consistent with prior practice;
  7. Form of Grant. Whether the Grant is offered in a form that IBBIS can use without incurring substantial expense, risk or difficulty; and
  8. Effect on Future Giving. Whether the Grant will encourage or discourage future Grants from other donors.

3.2 Grounds for Refusing Grants

IBBIS will not accept Grants that:

  1. Violate the terms of IBBIS’ organizational documents or policies;
  2. Would jeopardize IBBIS’ status as a non-profit foundation;
  3. Are too difficult, risky or expensive to administer;
  4. Are inconsistent with or contrary to IBBIS’ mission or core objectives or are for purposes that do not further IBBIS’ objectives;
  5. Could damage the reputation of IBBIS; or
  6. Are associated with any illegal activity.

3.3 Review and Approval of Grants

All final decisions on the acceptance or refusal of a Grant will be made by IBBIS in accordance with the requirements and guidelines set forth in this Policy. The Foundation Council may delegate the authority and responsibility for reviewing and approving Grants to any committee, officer, staff or team within IBBIS, and such authority may be general or may be confined to specific instances.

3.4 Grants and Pledge Agreements

IBBIS may enter into grant, gift, pledge and similar agreements with donors for particular Grants, provided that the terms of such agreements are consistent with the requirements and guidelines described in this Policy. IBBIS should strive to include provisions in grant agreements that give IBBIS the right to terminate a particular grant agreement and/or return a particular Grant to a donor if such action is necessary or appropriate to protect the mission or reputation of IBBIS. No donor will be allowed to exercise control or influence over IBBIS’ use of a Grant.

In general, IBBIS will seek to solicit and accept Grants from donors that are unrestricted in nature. If, however, a donor wishes to make a restricted Grant to IBBIS, IBBIS will review the terms of the Grants and the nature of the proposed restrictions to ensure they are consistent with IBBIS’ mission, values and objectives and are otherwise consistent with the requirements and guidelines of this Policy. While IBBIS may agree to appropriate restrictions on a particular Grant, such as using a Grant for a particular purpose or program or reporting to a donor on IBBIS’ use of a Grant, IBBIS will not allow donors to direct, control or influence how IBBIS applies and uses a particular Grant. All such restrictions on a particular Grant must be consistent with IBBIS’s mission and should be described in a written grant agreement between IBBIS and the relevant donor.

3.5 Attestation by Donors

IBBIS may ask donors to attest that they do not have any relationships, interests or activities that are inconsistent with or in violation of IBBIS’ mission, values or core objectives or any requirements of IBBIS’ policies, including this Policy. For example, IBBIS may ask donors to certify that they do not have any relationships with or financial interests in any frontier artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical companies that would be inconsistent with IBBIS’ mission or core objectives, or any other relationships, interests or activities that would violate or be inconsistent with this Policy.

4. Procedures for Vetting Donors

4.1 Review of Donors

IBBIS may ask donors to attest that they do not have any relationships, interests or activities that are inconsistent with or in violation of IBBIS’ mission, values or core objectives or any requirements of IBBIS’ policies, including this Policy. For example, IBBIS may ask donors to certify that they do not have any relationships with or financial interests in any frontier artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical companies that would be inconsistent with IBBIS’ mission or core objectives, or any other relationships, interests or activities that would violate or be inconsistent with this Policy.

4.2 Factors to Consider

In reviewing prospective donors and Grants, IBBIS should look for any information that raises a concern about IBBIS accepting the Grant. Review of prospective Grants should include, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. Whether the conduct, activities, statements or business of the donor, or companies and organizations associated with the donor, are in conflict with IBBIS’s mission, purposes, values or objectives;
  2. Whether the donor, or companies or organizations associated with the donor, have been associated with any controversy that could damage the reputation of IBBIS;
  3. Whether the Grant, by virtue of the donor’s relationship to IBBIS or the terms of the Grant, may provide a substantial benefit to the donor, present a potential conflict of interest, and/or violate any other IBBIS policies;
  4. Whether the donor, or any companies or organizations associated with the donor, have engaged, or are alleged to have engaged, in any illegal or unethical activities, including any investigations, inquiries, subpoenas, lawsuits, or criminal prosecutions relating to any such activities;
  5. Whether the donor, or any companies or organizations associated with the donor, are listed on any sanctions list maintained by relevant governments;
  6. Any possibility that the Grant is, or is alleged to be, associated with any illegal activities by the donor or anyone else, including fraud, theft, kickbacks, bribery, money laundering, terrorist financing or sanctions; and
  7. What is the source of the donor’s Grant, and are there any legal, reputational or ethical risks associated with such source.

4.3 Scope of Review

If appropriate, IBBIS may perform a review of individuals, companies and/or organizations associated with the donor. If the donor is a company or organization, IBBIS may review the company’s or organization’s founders, board of directors and executive staff. If the donor is an individual, IBBIS may review immediate family members of the donor, as well as businesses, companies, nonprofit organizations and other entities controlled by or associated with the donor. It is important for IBBIS to consider whether the donor, and individuals, companies, organizations and entities associated with the donor, are aligned with IBBIS’ mission.

4.4 Sources for Review

IBBIS may use any appropriate and reliable sources to perform its review of the prospective donor and Grant. These sources may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Internet searches and use of news databases;
  2. Publications, annual reports, statements and other materials issued by a donor;
  3. Documents and information made available through litigation involving a donor or companies, organizations or entities associated with a donor;
  4. Reports issued by government agencies, watchdog groups, academic institutions and other reputable organizations;
  5. Filings, reports or returns that are filed with local, state or national regulators. For nonprofit organizations, this may include tax returns and reports filed with nonprofit regulators. For publicly traded companies, this may include filings with the relevant authorities;
  6. Sanctions lists maintained by relevant governments,
  7. Consultations with IBBIS’s networks and trusted advisors, supporters, collaborators and partners.

4.5 Assessment of Risk

After performing its review, IBBIS will determine if the risk to IBBIS in accepting the Grant is low, medium or high. If IBBIS determines that the risk is medium or high, IBBIS should consult with the Foundation Council prior to deciding whether to accept the Grant. If IBBIS determines that the risk is low, IBBIS may accept the Grant without first consulting with the Foundation Council.

4.6 Confidentiality of Donors; Grants from Anonymous Sources

IBBIS will consider on a case-by-case basis a donor’s request to treat the identity of a donor and/or the terms of a donor’s Grant as confidential. IBBIS will weigh such a request against other important factors, including the importance of transparency in IBBIS’s operations. If IBBIS agrees to such a request, any donor that requests anonymity for a particular Grant will not be publicly identified in IBBIS’s materials, communications, programs or events, to the extent permitted by law. IBBIS requires that all donors identify themselves when making a Grant to IBBIS, and IBBIS will not accept Grants from anonymous sources. IBBIS will provide information about its donors and Grants to government authorities as required by law.

5. Donor Recognition for Grants

IBBIS recognizes that providing donors with recognition and naming opportunities at IBBIS can be an important part of encouraging Grants to IBBIS and thanking donors for their generosity. At the same time, IBBIS recognizes that donor recognition and naming opportunities at IBBIS must be implemented in a manner that best supports the mission and protects the reputation of IBBIS.

IBBIS should consider the following guiding principles in its review of proposed Grants to IBBIS and associated donor recognition and naming opportunities at IBBIS:

  1. Mission and Reputation of IBBIS. IBBIS should consider the potential impact of a particular Grant or donor recognition or naming opportunity on the mission and reputation of IBBIS. IBBIS should not accept any Grant and should not agree to any donor recognition or naming opportunity that is likely to generate significant controversy or negatively impact IBBIS’ mission or reputation.
  2. Size and Nature of the Grant. The donor recognition or naming opportunity for a particular Grant should be commensurate with the size and nature of the donor’s Grant. IBBIS should strive to implement donor recognition and naming opportunities that are reasonably consistent across Grants of a similar size or nature.
  3. No Endorsement of Particular Companies, Products, or Services. IBBIS may accept Grants from and provide donor recognition and naming opportunities for companies that manufacture commercial products or provide commercial services, including Grants from their affiliated entities, such as corporate foundations, subject to the requirements described in this Policy. However, no donor naming or recognition opportunity will be approved that implies endorsement by IBBIS of a particular company or its products or services.
  4. No Endorsement of Partisan Political Positions. No donor naming or recognition opportunity will be approved that implies endorsement by IBBIS of a partisan political position.
  5. Duration of Donor Recognition or Naming Commitments. IBBIS will consider on a case-by-case basis a donor’s request that IBBIS provide donor recognition or naming commitments for a particular or minimum period of time. If IBBIS approves such a request, IBBIS should strive to include an option that gives IBBIS the right to terminate a Grant or a donor recognition or naming commitment if such action is necessary or appropriate to protect the mission or reputation of IBBIS.

IBBIS may approve donor recognition and naming opportunities for particular donors and Grants to IBBIS provided that such donor recognition is consistent with the requirements and guidelines described in this Policy.

The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS)
Route de Frontenex 41A
1207 Geneva, Switzerland
IBBIS is a registered Swiss non-profit foundation (UID CHE-182.748.080)
IBBIS 2025