William Blair Funds

01/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/26/2026 10:10

Post-Effective Amendment to Post-Effective Amendment by Investment Company (Form 485BXT)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about January 26, 2026

Registration No. 033-17463 and 811-05344

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
Post-Effective Amendment No. 157

and

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 158

WILLIAM BLAIR FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

150 North Riverside Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60606

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (312) 364-8000

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Lisa Rusch

William Blair Investment Management, LLC

150 North Riverside Plaza

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Copy to:

Allison M. Fumai, Esq.

Stephanie A. Capistron, Esq.

Dechert LLP

One International Place, 40th Floor

100 Oliver Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

on February 26, 2026, pursuant to paragraph (b)

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

on     , pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

on     , pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the registration statement

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The purpose of this filing is to delay the effectiveness of the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 156 to its Registration Statement until February 26, 2026. Parts A, B, and C of Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 156 under the Securities Act of 1933 and No. 157 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, filed on November 28, 2025, are incorporated by reference herein.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and that it has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 26th day of January, 2026.

WILLIAM BLAIR FUNDS
By: /s/ Lisa Rusch
 Lisa Rusch, President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity indicated on the 26th day of January, 2026.

Signature

   Title

/s/ Cissie Citardi*

Cissie Citardi

Trustee

/s/ Vann A. Avedisian*

Vann A. Avedisian

Trustee

/s/ Kathleen T. Barr*

Kathleen T. Barr

Trustee

/s/ Michelle E. Borré Massick*

Michelle E. Borré Massick

Trustee

/s/ Daniel N. Leib*

Daniel N. Leib

Trustee

/s/ Dorri C. McWhorter*

Dorri C. McWhorter

Trustee

/s/ Steven R. Zenz*

Steven R. Zenz

Trustee

/s/ John M. Raczek

John M. Raczek

Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer)

*By:

/s/ Lisa Rusch

Lisa Rusch, Attorney-in-Fact

* Lisa Rusch signs this document pursuant to powers of attorney filed as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 156.

William Blair Funds published this content on January 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via EDGAR on January 26, 2026 at 16:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]