The London Mathematical Society

Charity Number: 252660

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £364,000 (grants awarded in 2024/25)
  • Success Rate: 80% (Research Grants), 85% (Early Career Grants)
  • Decision Time: Variable by scheme; applications not reviewed mid-April to mid-November
  • Grant Range: £200 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands

Contact Details

Website: http://www.lms.ac.uk

Email: lms@lms.ac.uk

Phone: 020 7291 9970

Address: De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS

Grant Enquiries: Queries can be addressed to the Grants Administrator or the Chair of the Research Grants Committee, who will discuss proposals informally with potential applicants and give advice on application submissions.

Overview

The London Mathematical Society was founded in 1865, making it one of the UK's oldest learned societies. Registered charity number 252660, the Society reported total income of £3.48 million and total expenditure of £3.18 million in the year ending July 31, 2024, with approximately £364,000 awarded in grants during the 2024/25 financial year. The LMS is governed by a Council of 20 trustees and supported by 16 staff and 2,000 volunteers. Its central purpose is to “promote and extend mathematical knowledge” nationally and internationally. The Society funds its grant schemes through resources from endowments, investments, and publishing activities, with all surplus income from publishing used to support mathematicians and mathematics research. Current President Professor Jens Marklof (University of Bristol) leads the organization alongside eight officers and twelve Members-at-Large who provide strategic direction.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Grants (Schemes 1-5) - Rolling applications (except mid-April to mid-November blackout)

  • Scheme 1: Conference and Workshop Grants: up to £5,500 for organizing mathematical conferences and workshops in the UK
  • Scheme 2: Visiting Speakers to the UK: up to £1,500 for bringing international mathematicians to the UK
  • Scheme 3: Joint Research Groups: up to £1,500 per academic year for collaborative research groups
  • Scheme 4: Research in Pairs/Research Reboot: up to £1,200 for collaborative research visits or restarting research after a break
  • Scheme 5: Collaborations with Developing Countries: up to £3,000 for partnerships with mathematicians in developing countries

Early Career Researcher Grants - Rolling applications

  • Scheme 8: Postgraduate Research Conference Grants: up to £600 for PhD students to organize conferences
  • Scheme 9: Celebrating New Appointments: up to £500 for new lecturers to establish research networks
  • Travel Grants: up to £500 for early career researchers to attend conferences

Diversity and Inclusion Grants

  • Emmy Noether Fellowships: £2,000 - £10,000 for mathematicians with caring responsibilities
  • Caring Supplementary Grants: up to £200 to support participation with caring responsibilities
  • Grace Chisholm Young Fellowship: up to £2,000
  • Inclusion and Diversity Fund: up to £1,000

Education Grants - Currently under review; not accepting applications

  • Small Grants for Education: up to £800 (when available)
  • Mathematics Education Conference Grants: up to £2,000 (when available)

Priority Areas

  • Mathematical research at all levels from pure to applied mathematics
  • Computer science research at the interface with mathematics
  • Conferences, workshops, and research schools that advance mathematical knowledge
  • International collaboration and knowledge exchange
  • Early career researcher development
  • Diversity and inclusion in mathematics
  • Mathematics education and public engagement
  • Research reboot opportunities for those returning after career breaks

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications from mathematicians not based in the UK, Isle of Man, or Channel Islands
  • Retrospective grants (grants cannot be awarded after events have occurred)
  • More than one grant per scheme per person per financial year (August 1 - July 31)
  • Grants for sequential or closely related events attempting to exceed scheme limits
  • Applications between mid-April and mid-November (blackout period)
  • Personal research costs unrelated to specific collaborative or travel activities
  • Conferences or workshops lacking diversity in speakers/participants
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Governance and Leadership

Officers (2025)

  • President: Professor Jens Marklof (University of Bristol)
  • Vice-Presidents: Professor Iain Gordon (University of Edinburgh), Professor Cathy Hobbs (University of Bristol)
  • Treasurer: Professor Simon Salamon (King's College London)
  • General Secretary: Dr David Barnes (Queen's University Belfast)
  • International Secretary: Professor Minhyong Kim
  • Publications Secretary: Professor Niall MacKay (University of York)
  • Education Secretary: Professor Mary McAlinden (Nottingham Trent University)
  • Member-at-Large (Women and Diversity): Professor Sara Lombardo (Heriot-Watt University)

Chief Executive

Simon Edwards serves as Chief Executive Officer, providing operational leadership.

Leadership on Funding Priorities

President Jens Marklof has emphasized the critical importance of mathematics to the UK's future, stating in relation to educational funding: "There's no AI without maths and if the government is really serious about its AI strategy they have to significantly scale up the support for maths education at all levels."

The Society's official position states that grant schemes "are one of the primary mechanisms through which the Society achieves its central purpose, namely to 'promote and extend mathematical knowledge'."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the Society's online application form available on the LMS website. Non-LMS members must have their application countersigned by an LMS member.

Key Requirements:

  • Applications should be self-contained; do not append substantial irrelevant documents or rely on website links for key information
  • CVs limited to two sides of A4
  • Clear, well-argued proposals with cost-effective budgets
  • Applications must be submitted well in advance of planned events
  • Only one application per scheme per person per financial year

Decision Timeline

Review Period: Applications are not considered between mid-April and mid-November. Plan submissions accordingly.

Processing: Applications are reviewed by the relevant committee (Research Grants Committee for Schemes 1-5, Early Career Research Committee for Schemes 8-9). Specific decision timeframes vary by scheme but applicants should submit well in advance of their proposed activity.

Grant Validity: The life of an LMS grant is two financial years (August 1 - July 31). All awarded grants must be claimed by July 31 in the second year.

Success Rates

2024/25 Financial Year Performance:

Research Grants (Schemes 1-5): 80% overall success rate

  • Scheme 1 (Conferences): 60% (38 of 63 applications funded)
  • Scheme 2 (Visiting Speakers): 100% (all applications funded)
  • Scheme 3 (Joint Research Groups): 92% (35 of 38 applications funded)
  • Scheme 4 (Research in Pairs): 81% (47 of 58 applications funded)
  • Scheme 5 (Developing Countries): 93% (28 of 30 applications funded)

Early Career Researcher Grants: 85% overall success rate

  • Scheme 8 (Postgraduate Conference): 54% (6 of 11 applications funded)
  • Scheme 9 (New Appointments): 100% (18 of 18 applications funded)
  • Travel Grants: 86% (54 of 63 applications funded)

Reapplication Policy

The LMS does not explicitly state a reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. However, the Society notes it “does not like to receive sequential applications for grants to support the same or closely related events.” Applicants are advised to contact the Grants Administrator or committee chairs for guidance on resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Critical Assessment Criteria

The LMS evaluates applications using a comprehensive checklist:

  1. Mathematical Quality: Strong mathematical merit and clear articulation of the mathematical component
  2. Well-Argued Proposal: Self-contained, clearly written applications with specific objectives
  3. Cost-Effective Budget: Realistic, justified costs restricted to allowable expenses
  4. Grant Impact: Clear demonstration of how the LMS grant makes the project viable or significantly enhances it
  5. Diverse Participation: Active inclusion of women and underrepresented groups
  6. Benefit to UK Mathematics: Clear advantages for the UK mathematical community
  7. Track Record: Satisfactory reports on any previous LMS grants

Diversity Requirements (Critical)

The LMS explicitly states: “The Society considers a lack of invited women speakers (for conferences) and a lack of invited women participants (for workshops) to be a very real problem, and a failure to include women speakers/participants are grounds for refusal for funding.”

Applicants must:

  • Comply with LMS policy on Women in Mathematics
  • Demonstrate active efforts to ensure diverse participation
  • Follow diversity guidelines for conferences and seminars

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Lack of women speakers or participants
  • Insufficient mathematical justification
  • Incomplete or poorly argued proposals
  • Exceeding funding limits through artificial subdivision of applications
  • Unsatisfactory reports on previous grants
  • Applications outside the review period (mid-April to mid-November)

Tips for Standing Out

  • Seek Pre-Application Advice: The Grants Administrator and committee chairs welcome informal discussions about proposals
  • Be Self-Contained: Ensure your application can be fully assessed without external references
  • Demonstrate Impact: Clearly articulate what difference the grant makes to your project's viability
  • Show Cost-Effectiveness: Identify appropriate balance of funding from LMS and other sources
  • Prioritize Diversity: Proactively address speaker and participant diversity in your planning
  • Provide Context: Explain how your project benefits UK mathematics and the broader mathematical community

Recent Funded Activities

In 2024/25, the LMS awarded:

  • £156,469 to 38 conferences and workshops (Scheme 1)
  • £51,176 to 35 joint research groups (Scheme 3)
  • £48,262 to 47 research in pairs/reboot projects (Scheme 4)
  • £59,705 to 28 developing country collaborations (Scheme 5)
  • £25,079 to 54 early career travel grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Exceptional Success Rates: With 80-85% success rates, LMS grants are highly accessible compared to most funders—well-prepared applications have excellent chances of success.
  1. Diversity is Non-Negotiable: Failure to include women speakers/participants is explicit grounds for rejection. Address diversity proactively in your application.
  1. Time Your Application: Avoid the mid-April to mid-November blackout period. Submit well in advance of your planned activity.
  1. Keep It Self-Contained: Applications should be fully assessable without external links or excessive supplementary materials. CVs maximum two pages.
  1. Use Pre-Application Support: Take advantage of the Grants Administrator and committee chairs' willingness to discuss proposals informally before submission.
  1. Non-Members Need Support: If you're not an LMS member, secure an LMS member to countersign your application early in the process.
  1. Track Record Matters: Ensure satisfactory reporting on any previous LMS grants, as this influences future applications.
  1. One Grant Per Scheme Per Year: You can only receive one grant from each scheme per financial year (August-July), so choose your timing carefully.

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References