The Simons Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $291 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Highly competitive (varies by program; Summer Research Program: 5%)
• Decision Time: 2 months for LOI; 3-6 months for full proposals (program-dependent)
• Grant Range: $3,000 - $12 million per year (program-dependent)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily U.S., Canada, UK, and Ireland; some international programs

Contact Details

Website: https://www.simonsfoundation.org Phone: 212-524-6860 Email: info@simonsfoundation.org Grants Management System: Simons Award Manager (SAM) at sam.simonsfoundation.org Address: New York, NY

Overview

The Simons Foundation is a leading American private foundation established in 1994 by mathematician-investor Jim Simons and his wife Marilyn Simons. With assets exceeding $5 billion, the foundation's mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. The foundation operates through four main divisions: Mathematics & Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Autism & Neuroscience (including SFARI), and Science, Society & Culture. In 2023, the foundation awarded $291 million across 1,904 grants, supporting groundbreaking research in theoretical mathematics, physics, astrophysics, computer science, life sciences, and autism research. Under President David Spergel's leadership since 2021, the foundation continues its founders' vision of taking a long-term view on basic science research without requiring immediate practical applications. Recent major commitments include $500 million to Stony Brook University and $100 million to the New York Climate Exchange.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Simons Investigators Program

• Amount: Up to $192,000/year ($150,000 research support + $10,000 departmental support + 20% indirect costs)
• Duration: 5 years (renewable for additional 5 years)
• Focus: Theoretical mathematics, physics, astrophysics, computer science
• Method: Institutional nomination required; rolling deadlines

Simons Fellows Program

• Mathematics Fellows: Up to $125,000 salary replacement + $10,000 expenses + 20% overhead
• Theoretical Physics Fellows: Similar structure
• Duration: Full academic year sabbatical support
• Method: Direct application

Simons Collaborations

• Amount: $5-12 million per year
• Duration: 10 years (with 5-year review)
• Focus: Multidisciplinary teams addressing major scientific problems
• Method: Vision statements followed by full proposals; highly selective (3-20 collaborations funded per cycle)

SFARI (Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative)

• Annual Budget: Over $100 million
• Programs:
  • Research Awards: For established investigators with preliminary data
  • Pilot Awards: Up to $330,000 for 2 years (early-stage experiments)
  • Bridge to Independence Awards: Early-career transition support
  • Explorer Awards: One-time focused experiments
  • SEED Awards: Diversity supplements for existing grants
• Method: Online application through SFARI portal

Fellows-to-Faculty Awards

• Amount: $600,000 over 3 years
• Focus: Early career scientists transitioning to tenure-track positions
• Method: Application via proposalCENTRAL

Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences

• Amount: Flexible (no set amount)
• Duration: Up to 5 years
• Focus: High-risk theoretical projects of exceptional promise
• Method: Rolling LOI submissions; 2-month review period

AMS-Simons Grants

• Research Grants for PUI Faculty: Up to $3,000 annually for mathematicians at primarily undergraduate institutions
• Travel Grants: Support for early-career mathematicians (U.S. institutions only)

Targeted Grants to Institutes Worldwide

• Amount: Flexible
• Duration: Up to 5 years
• Focus: Support for established research institutes in mathematics, theoretical physics, and theoretical computer science

Priority Areas

1. Mathematics: Pure mathematics, theoretical mathematics, computational mathematics
2. Physical Sciences: Theoretical physics, astrophysics, cosmology, quantum physics, computational physics
3. Computer Science: Theoretical computer science, algorithms, computational theory
4. Life Sciences:
   • Microbial ecology and evolution
   • Marine biology
   • Computational biology
   • Mathematical modeling of living systems
5. Autism & Neuroscience:
   • Basic science of autism spectrum disorders
   • Neurodevelopmental disorders
   • Brain function and sensorimotor interactions
   • Computational neuroscience
6. Emerging Areas:
   • Artificial intelligence in astronomical sciences
   • Climate science (Solar Radiation Management program)
   • Deep learning foundations

What They Don't Fund

Research Limitations:

• Applied research without strong theoretical foundation
• Primarily educational research (mathematics education research explicitly excluded)
• Support for large experimental facilities
• Translational research focused on immediate commercial applications

Eligibility Exclusions:

• Scientists holding primary positions at for-profit organizations
• Individuals holding administrative positions that significantly reduce research time (department chairs, institute directors)
• Scientists with positions outside U.S., Canada, UK, or Ireland (for most programs)
• Early-career researchers with substantial existing external funding (for travel/collaboration grants)

Budget Restrictions:

• Salary support for sabbaticals or teaching relief (for Investigator grants)
• Funds to reduce university salary costs
• Funds to reduce teaching loads below departmental norms
• Multiple simultaneous Simons awards (cannot hold Investigator + Fellowship concurrently)

Application Process:

• Unsolicited applications outside specific RFAs are not accepted
• Simons Foundation International does not accept unsolicited funding requests

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Marilyn Simons, Chair - Co-founder of the foundation; committed to continuing Jim and Marilyn's vision in perpetuity. She stated: "Jim and I both envision the foundation carrying on in perpetuity, and I feel like this is part of the building process."

Executive Leadership:

• David Spergel, Ph.D., President (since July 2021) - Former Princeton astrophysicist and cosmologist. On his vision: "The guiding principle is enabling transformative science. My long-term goal is to have the Simons Foundation enable innovative science. An important criterion for all of our investments is focus on areas where the Simons Foundation is uniquely positioned to have significant impacts." He emphasized the foundation will "stay true to its mission of supporting basic science but will continue to evolve and address new questions."

Executive Vice Presidents:

• Joy Bergelson, Ph.D. - Executive Vice President, Life Sciences
• Marian Carlson, Ph.D. - Executive Vice President, Life Sciences
• Kelsey C. Martin, M.D., Ph.D. - Executive Vice President, SFARI and Neuroscience Collaborations

Senior Management:

• Brett Dakin - Senior Vice President and General Counsel
• Ivvet Modinou, M.Sc. - Senior Vice President, Science, Society and Culture
• Geycel Best - Human Resources Director

Foundation Size: Approximately 506 employees as of January 2025

Foundational Philosophy: Jim and Marilyn Simons built the foundation on the belief that there was "an opportunity to take a long view and support research that didn't have an easily identifiable or immediate benefit." This emphasis on basic science without requiring immediate practical applications distinguishes the foundation's approach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Simons Award Manager (SAM):

• Primary grants management system: sam.simonsfoundation.org
• Used for most foundation grant applications
• Online submission and tracking

proposalCENTRAL:

• Still used for some programs
• Electronic grants submission process

Program-Specific Portals:

• SFARI has its own application system at sfari.org/funding-opportunities
• Each program has specific RFA (Request for Applications)

Typical Process:

1. Letter of Intent (LOI): For most major programs (e.g., Targeted Grants)
   • Submit through SAM
   • Rolling deadlines for many programs
   • Decision within 2 months
2. Invitation to Full Proposal: If LOI approved
   • Deadline typically 3+ months from LOI approval
   • Detailed scientific narrative required
   • Comprehensive budget and justification
3. Review Process: External peer review with foundation assessment
4. Award Notification: Varies by program complexity

Institutional Nomination: Required for Simons Investigators; typically one nomination per institution per cycle

Decision Timeline

Fast Track (Targeted Grants LOI): 2 months from submission

Standard Process: 3-6 months from full proposal submission

Major Collaborations: 6-12 months (multiple review stages)

Program-Specific Examples:

• SFARI grants: Typically 3-4 months
• Fellows programs: 3-6 months
• Investigators: 6-8 months (after nomination)

Notification Methods: Email through grants management system; formal award letters issued

Success Rates

Highly Competitive Overall: Specific rates vary significantly by program

Known Rates:

• Simons Summer Research Program (high school): 5% acceptance rate
• SFARI supports 300+ investigators globally from thousands of applications
• Simons Collaborations: Expect 10-20 spokesperson PIs invited to full proposal stage, with 3-5 ultimately funded

2023 Statistics: 1,904 awards made from the foundation's total grant pool

Investigator Programs: Extremely selective; institutional nomination limits competition

Reapplication Policy

General Policy: Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent cycles

Specific Restrictions:

• AMS-Simons Travel Grant: No person may receive more than once
• Investigators: Scientists who previously held Investigator awards cannot be renominated
• Fellows: Cannot simultaneously hold multiple Simons awards

Encouraged: Foundation welcomes revised and strengthened proposals based on reviewer feedback when provided

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Basic Science Mission: The foundation prioritizes fundamental research over applied work. As President Spergel emphasized, focus on "areas where the Simons Foundation is uniquely positioned to have significant impacts." Projects should advance theoretical understanding rather than immediate practical applications.

Scientific Excellence and Innovation:

• Demonstrate exceptional scientific quality and potential for transformative impact
• High-risk, high-reward research is explicitly encouraged (especially in Targeted Grants)
• Show how your work addresses fundamental questions in your field

Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Approaches: The foundation launched Simons Collaborations specifically to bring investigators "sometimes from different disciplines together to work on an important scientific problem." Proposals that bridge disciplines or create novel collaborative frameworks are valued.

Early Career Support and Diversity:

• Multiple programs target early-career researchers (Fellows-to-Faculty, Bridge to Independence)
• SEED Awards specifically support recruiting underrepresented minorities
• Foundation expects proposals to "include junior investigators and investigators from a diversity of academic disciplines, genders, races and ethnicities"

Open Science Commitment: Investigators in Simons Collaborations "are expected to openly share data, code, analysis pipelines, protocols, and reagents." Demonstrate commitment to open science practices.

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

• $8 million grant to Vanderbilt for black holes and strong gravity research (4 years)
• $80 million Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE) - sensorimotor interactions
• $75 million to CUNY for computational science and AI research center
• $500 million unrestricted endowment to Stony Brook University
• $100 million to New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island

Strong Preliminary Data: For Research Awards and full proposals, demonstrated preliminary results strengthen applications significantly.

Institutional Support: For Investigator nominations, strong institutional backing and strategic positioning of candidate demonstrates commitment.

Clear Long-Term Vision: Especially for multi-year programs like Collaborations and Investigators, articulate how the research will evolve and maintain momentum over the funding period.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Focus on Fundamental Science: The Simons Foundation is unequivocally committed to basic science without requiring immediate applications. Emphasize theoretical advances and fundamental understanding over practical outcomes. This is their core differentiator from other funders.

2. Match Your Career Stage to the Right Program: The foundation has carefully structured programs for different career stages—don't apply for Investigators if you're truly early career; Fellows-to-Faculty and Bridge to Independence awards are designed specifically for transitions. Investigators are for "midcareer (typically, early-stage tenured full professors)."

3. Embrace High-Risk Approaches: Unlike many funders, Simons explicitly seeks "high-risk theoretical mathematics, physics and computer science projects of exceptional promise." Don't oversell certainty; instead, articulate why the potential payoff justifies the uncertainty.

4. Think Collaboratively and Cross-Disciplinarily: With 25+ Collaborations launched, the foundation clearly values bringing diverse expertise together. Even for individual investigator grants, showing how your work connects to broader scientific conversations strengthens applications.

5. Start with the LOI: For Targeted Grants and many programs, the Letter of Intent is your first impression. With 2-month turnaround, this is relatively quick feedback. Use this process strategically to test fit before investing in full proposals.

6. Commit to Open Science: Data sharing, code availability, and open protocols are expected, particularly for larger collaborative grants. Build this into your project design from the start, not as an afterthought.

7. Leverage SFARI for Autism Research: With over $100 million annual budget dedicated specifically to autism research, SFARI is one of the world's largest funders in this space. If your neuroscience work touches autism or neurodevelopmental disorders, this should be a priority application.

References

1. Simons Foundation Official Website - Funding Opportunities. https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding-opportunities/ (Accessed November 2024)

2. Simons Foundation - About. https://www.simonsfoundation.org/about/ (Accessed November 2024)

3. Simons Foundation - Leadership. https://www.simonsfoundation.org/leadership/ (Accessed November 2024)

4. Simons Foundation - Policies and Procedures. https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding-opportunities/policies-and-procedures/ (Accessed November 2024)

5. Simons Foundation 2024 Annual Report. https://annualreports.simonsfoundation.org/2024/ (Accessed November 2024)

6. "Jim and Marilyn Simons' Enduring Vision for the Simons Foundation." Simons Foundation 2024 Annual Report. https://annualreports.simonsfoundation.org/2024/jim-and-marilyn-simons-enduring-vision-for-the-simons-foundation/

7. "David Spergel Takes the Helm as President of the Simons Foundation." Simons Foundation, July 1, 2021. https://www.simonsfoundation.org/2021/07/01/david-spergel-takes-the-helm-as-president-of-the-simons-foundation/

8. "The Simons Foundation Has a New President for the First Time in Its History. Where's It Headed Next?" Inside Philanthropy, August 4, 2021. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2021-8-4-the-simons-foundation-has-a-new-president-for-the-first-time-in-its-history-wheres-it-headed-next

9. Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). https://www.sfari.org/ (Accessed November 2024)

10. SFARI Funding Opportunities. https://www.sfari.org/funding-opportunities/ (Accessed November 2024)

11. "Simons Foundation launches $80 million neuroscience research effort." Philanthropy News Digest, 2025. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/simons-foundation-launches-80-million-neuroscience-research-effort

12. Simons Foundation - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simons_Foundation (Accessed November 2024)

13. "Jim Simons, mathematician, investor, philanthropist, dies at 86." Philanthropy News Digest. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/jim-simons-mathematician-investor-philanthropist-dies-at-86

14. Simons Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133794889 (Accessed November 2024)

15. Simons Foundation | Inside Philanthropy. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-s/simons-foundation (Accessed November 2024)

16. "Simons Foundation Investigators Program: call guidance." University of Oxford Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/research-funding/coordinated-bids/simons-foundation-investigators-programme/simons-foundation-investigators-program-call-guidance

17. Mathematics & Physical Sciences Programs. https://www.simonsfoundation.org/mathematics-physical-sciences/funding/programs/ (Accessed November 2024)

18. AMS-Simons Research Grants for PUI Faculty. American Mathematical Society. https://www.ams.org/grants-awards/ams-simons-pui-research (Accessed November 2024)

19. "Simons Foundation awards $8 million grant to uncover secrets of black holes and strong gravity." Vanderbilt University College of Arts & Science News, 2025. https://as.vanderbilt.edu/news/2025/08/12/simons-foundation-awards-8-million-grant-to-uncover-secrets-of-black-holes-and-strong-gravity/

20. Simons Award Manager (SAM). https://sam.simonsfoundation.org/ (Accessed November 2024)