FAQ | Survival and Flourishing Fund

Last updated: April 9th, 2026

Eligibility

Who does SFF recommend funding to?

In terms of eligibility, SFF can only recommend grants to registered non-profit/charity organizations and for-profit entities in select countries. SFF can only recommend funding to for-profits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. SFF can recommend funding to non-profits in most countries, but not in nations declared as foreign adversaries of the US.

SFF may be able to recommend funding to for-profits outside the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. However, in order to do so, stricter commitments to open-source development, or other legal restrictions, to ensure responsible expenditure of funds from the perspective of US charity laws and norms is likely.

SFF doesn’t target a specific type of organization. The S-Process utilizes hits-based giving to delegate to Recommenders’ judgment, so the outcome of each round varies based on who reviews it. For a sense of what SFF has recommended historically, check out the past recommendations page.

I am an individual/independent researcher without a fiscal sponsor. Can SFF recommend funding to me?

No. SFF cannot recommend funding to individuals/independent researchers who do not have a fiscal sponsor. If you are an individual/independent researcher, you must have an agreement with a fiscal sponsor prior to submitting an application.

If SFF can’t recommend funding to me, can you give me a suggestion of an organization that will?

We do not provide individualized guidance, or advisory support for direction on alternative funders.

Can multiple applications come from a single university or large organization?

Yes. Large organizations and universities may submit multiple applications, provided that each application is from a distinct lab/project with a unique plan for impact.

Applying

How do I submit a funding request or application?

Application instructions can be found on our website. Any proposals, project descriptions, or funding requests submitted by email or outside of the above pathway will not be reviewed.

Will SFF recommend funding to “x” idea/project?

We do not provide answers/guidance to questions of this nature. Please feel free to apply to a grant round if you wish to do so. To get an idea of previous recommendations made by Recommenders, please view the past recommendations that have been announced.

What are the reporting requirements for any funding that is recommended by SFF?

Since SFF is not the grantmaking entity, there are no reporting requirements or follow-ups needed by SFF once a recommendation is made. Any specific reporting requirements/follow-ups will be communicated to you by the grantmaking entity that disburses the funding. In general, SFF does not track grantee activity after a grant.

Can SFF provide feedback on my application?

SFF offers feedback only to grantees who have been recommended funding in an S-Process Grant Round. SFF does not provide feedback of any kind to applicants who have not been recommended funding.

I need money quickly! Does SFF have a process for that?

Yes. SFF Speculation Grants are expedited grants organized outside of the S-Process Grant Round timeline, with applications reviewed and funding recommended on a rolling basis. Detailed information and how to apply can be found by reviewing our Speculation Grants program details.

If I have received S-Process funding in the past, do I still need to fill out a new SFF Funding Rolling Application for the current round?

Yes. Past funding from the S-Process is not an indicator that an applicant will definitely get a recommendation from a current round, so it is necessary to submit a new application.

Additionally, Recommenders change for each S-Process Grant Round and we frequently introduce changes to the process that alter how each round operates. So applying in a different round means you will likely be seen by different people who may have different opinions on your application.

If I received a Speculation Grant from a previous round, do I still need to receive one for the request I submit with my S-Process application this round?

Yes. You must submit a Speculation Grant request in tandem with an S-Process application, regardless of whether you have been approved for a Speculation Grant in a past round.

However, if you requested and were approved for a Speculation Grant before the announcement of a current round, but after the application deadline of the prior round, you do not need to request or be approved for a new Speculation Grant.

After You’ve Applied

It’s been “x” amount of time, and I haven’t heard back whether my Speculation Grant request was approved or not. When can I expect to hear back?

Speculation Grant requests are approved on a rolling basis, so in general there is no set timeline for being notified.

That said, most approved requests receive their approval either within a month of being submitted, or up to two weeks after the application deadline for an S-Process Grant Round.

After it’s been at least two weeks since the application deadline, we notify any applicants whose requests have not yet been approved. Being approved by this point is what makes an application guaranteed eligible for the current grant round.

Speculators can still approve requests after this point, though this is relatively rare. Reapplying after the current round is over can help ensure your request gets fresh visibility with the Speculators reviewing applications.

When will I hear back regarding a decision on my S-Process application?

S-Process Grant Rounds generally take around six to eight months to complete from announcement launch to recommendation announcement.

The general cadence of an S-Process Grant Round is:

S-Process Grant Round Timeline

Announcement Launch

Open application period

~2 months

Application Deadline

Speculation window

2 weeks

Speculation Grant Deadline

S-Process evaluation

3–4 months

Recommendation Announcement

Disbursement processing

1–3 months

Funding Disbursed

You will be contacted regarding the outcome of your application once the recommendations for that round have been announced. An estimate of when recommendations are expected to be announced is included in the round’s announcement.

My Speculation Grant was approved. When will I receive the funds?

After approval, SFF admin will contact you with next steps. For grants to charities/non-profits, funds are typically disbursed within ~20 business days, though DAF due diligence can extend this upwards by 1–3 months.

For for-profit grants, disbursement follows a due diligence process that can take 1–3 months.

Where can I find my application ID?

Applicants receive a confirmation email from Google Forms upon submitting the S-Process Grant Round rolling application that contains an application ID.

Can I make changes to my application?

Yes. The confirmation email you receive from Google Forms after submitting your application includes a link that allows you to make any necessary edits or updates to your application.

I didn’t get funding this round… should I even bother to apply again in a different round?

Yes! We incorporate new Recommenders into each annual S-Process Grant Round, with different viewpoints and perspectives from the last. Applying again in a different round means you’ll likely be seen by different people, and could have a chance at a recommendation. We also frequently introduce new opportunities or changes to the process that alter how each round operates. Meaning, a future round could potentially contain better-suited opportunities for your organization.

When is an appropriate time to apply for the next round?

Since applications are accepted on a rolling basis, you may submit another application at any time after the Speculation Grant deadline for the most recent round, since at that point your application will be considered for a possible future round. Please note that only one distinct application per org each round is permitted.

SFF Basics

When will another S-Process Grant Round be announced?

Upcoming S-Process Grant Rounds are announced on the website and via the SFF newsletter. If you would like to be notified of when a new grant round is announced, please consider signing up for the newsletter.

What is the relationship between SFF and SFC?

SFF is a website that facilitates and organizes materials for donations to organizations concerned with the survival and flourishing of humanity and other sentient beings. SFF is not a grantmaking entity; it publishes recommendations from S-Process Grant Rounds, but it does not distribute any grants.

SFC is a Public Benefit Corporation engaged in philanthropy to support the survival and flourishing of humanity and other sentient beings, with the primary client being Jaan Tallinn. SFC distributes non-dilutive grants to for-profit companies based on recommendations from SFF’s S-Process and Speculation Grants program. SFC also employs the team that administers S-Process grant rounds and other SFF programs, and builds the software tooling that supports them.