Investment Strategy - William Blair Global Leaders Fund	Dec. 31, 2025
Prospectus [Line Items]
Strategy [Heading]	PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES:
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in a portfolio of equity securities, including common stocks and other forms of equity investments (e.g., securities convertible into common stocks), issued by companies of all sizes worldwide that the Adviser believes have above-average growth, profitability and quality characteristics. The Adviser seeks investment opportunities in companies at different stages of development, ranging from large, well-established companies to smaller companies at earlier stages of development, that are leaders in their country, industry or globally in terms of products, services or execution. The use of the term “global” in the Fund’s name is meant to emphasize that the Adviser looks for investment opportunities on a worldwide basis and the investment strategy is not constrained by the countries or regions in which companies are located. The Fund’s investments are normally allocated among at least five different countries. The Fund may invest in emerging markets, which include every country in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and most Western European countries.In choosing investments, the Adviser performs fundamental company analysis and focuses on stock selection. The Adviser generally seeks equity securities, including common stocks, of companies that historically have had superior growth, profitability and quality relative to local markets and relative to companies within the same industry worldwide, and that are expected to continue such performance. Such companies generally will exhibit superior business fundamentals, including leadership in their field, quality products or services, distinctive marketing and distribution, pricing flexibility and revenue from products or services consumed on a steady, recurring basis. These business characteristics should be accompanied by management that is shareholder return-oriented and that uses conservative accounting policies. Companies with above-average returns on equity, strong balance sheets and consistent, above-average earnings growth will be the primary focus. Stock selection will take into account both local and global comparisons.The Adviser will vary the Fund’s sector and geographic diversification based upon the Adviser’s ongoing evaluation of economic, market and political trends throughout the world. In making decisions regarding country allocation, the Adviser will consider such factors as the conditions and growth potential of various economies and securities markets, currency exchange rates, technological developments in the various countries and other pertinent financial, social, national and political factors.THE FUND IS NON‑DIVERSIFIED UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED, AND MAY INVEST A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN DIVERSIFIED MUTUAL FUNDS.

Investment Strategy - William Blair Global Leaders Fund

Dec. 31, 2025

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES:

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in a portfolio of equity securities, including common stocks and other forms of equity investments (e.g., securities convertible into common stocks), issued by companies of all sizes worldwide that the Adviser believes have above-average growth, profitability and quality characteristics. The Adviser seeks investment opportunities in companies at different stages of development, ranging from large, well-established companies to smaller companies at earlier stages of development, that are leaders in their country, industry or globally in terms of products, services or execution. The use of the term “global” in the Fund’s name is meant to emphasize that the Adviser looks for investment opportunities on a worldwide basis and the investment strategy is not constrained by the countries or regions in which companies are located. The Fund’s investments are normally allocated among at least five different countries. The Fund may invest in emerging markets, which include every country in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and most Western European countries.In choosing investments, the Adviser performs fundamental company analysis and focuses on stock selection. The Adviser generally seeks equity securities, including common stocks, of companies that historically have had superior growth, profitability and quality relative to local markets and relative to companies within the same industry worldwide, and that are expected to continue such performance. Such companies generally will exhibit superior business fundamentals, including leadership in their field, quality products or services, distinctive marketing and distribution, pricing flexibility and revenue from products or services consumed on a steady, recurring basis. These business characteristics should be accompanied by management that is shareholder return-oriented and that uses conservative accounting policies. Companies with above-average returns on equity, strong balance sheets and consistent, above-average earnings growth will be the primary focus. Stock selection will take into account both local and global comparisons.The Adviser will vary the Fund’s sector and geographic diversification based upon the Adviser’s ongoing evaluation of economic, market and political trends throughout the world. In making decisions regarding country allocation, the Adviser will consider such factors as the conditions and growth potential of various economies and securities markets, currency exchange rates, technological developments in the various countries and other pertinent financial, social, national and political factors.THE FUND IS NON‑DIVERSIFIED UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED, AND MAY INVEST A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN DIVERSIFIED MUTUAL FUNDS.