Funding search · EIN 133794889 · New York, NY

The Simons Foundation

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

5,303
grants reported
$846.7M
total given
2022–2024
filing years
$72,495
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20222024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

simonstheoryinvestigatorautismresearchgeometrybraincollaboration

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Autism genetics, sex differences, and ASD mechanism research
  • Fundamental mathematics, theoretical physics, and theory of computing
  • Marine microbial ecology, plankton biogeography, ocean 'omics
  • Computational and quantitative biology centers, often NSF-Simons cofunded
  • STEM education pipelines, scholars programs, and science outreach
  • Institutional capital and matching gifts, heavily Stony Brook and NYC

Typical grant

Median grant is about $72,000, with the middle half running $8,400 to $160,804, so most of the file is small: fellowships, travel, individual investigator supplements, and pieces of larger collaborations. The big checks, $1M to $20M, go to institutional infrastructure and named centers (New York Genome Center, Stony Brook matching gifts, Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, NSF-Simons centers) rather than to single projects. Giving repeats hard: the same universities and the same collaboration titles reappear year over year in multi-site, multi-project structures.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • SIMONS COLLABORATION ON
  • SIMONS JUNIOR FACULTY FELLOWS
  • NSF-SIMONS CENTER
  • PRINCIPLES OF MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS
  • AUTISM SEX DIFFERENCES
  • SIMONS INVESTIGATOR

Positioning adjacent work

  • Frame work as one project or core within a multi-site collaboration, the structure they already fund repeatedly.
  • For autism-adjacent work, connect to sex differences, somatic variants, or SPARK/Simons VIP cohort data.
  • Ask in the $400K to $900K range for a single-lab project; that matches their per-site awards.
  • Emphasize theory, computation, and open data tools; they fund arXiv modernization and big-data pipelines.

Worth knowing: Money concentrates in NY, CA, and MA, with Stony Brook receiving repeated eight-figure institutional and matching support tied to the founders' history there. A large share flows to a stable set of elite institutions inside named Simons collaborations, so entry usually comes through joining an existing collaboration or being recruited as an investigator rather than arriving cold.

15 grants matching “chemicals · $2.9M

  • $332,668

    Woods Hole Oceanographic · Woods Hole, MA · 2024

    Dom2: chemical characterization of acylated polysaccharides in dissolved organic matter and marine microbes

  • $309,805

    University College London · 2024

    The chemical root of biocatalyst and biosynthetic logic

  • $200,000

    Ucsd · La Jolla, CA · 2024

    Biological and chemical connections within phytoplankton microbiomes

  • $160,416

    Ivan Franko National University · 2024

    Modern chemical research at lviv university

  • $324,151

    Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst · Woods Hole, MA · 2023

    Dom2: chemical characterization of acylated polysaccharides in dissolved organic matter and marine microbes

  • $200,000

    Uc San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2023

    Biological and chemical connections within phytoplankton microbiomes

  • $175,075

    Uc Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    Evolutionary and chemical activity landscapes of rna

  • $103,268

    University College London · 2023

    The chemical root of biocatalyst and biosynthetic logic

  • $5,000

    Gordon Research Conferences · East Greenwich, RI · 2023

    Grc chemical oceanography: "tracers in the sea"

  • $357,405

    Uc Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    Evolutionary and chemical activity landscapes of rna

  • $251,606

    Radboud Univ Nijmegen Medical Ctr · 2022

    Design and exploration of chemical reaction networks

  • $157,238

    Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst · Woods Hole, MA · 2022

    Dom2: chemical characterization of acylated polysaccharides in dissolved organic matter and marine microbes

  • $100,000

    University of California San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2022

    Biological and chemical connections within phytoplankton microbiomes

  • $92,011

    Univ of Georgia Research Foundation · Athens, GA · 2022

    Genetic and chemical basis of bacterial community assembly in phycospheres

  • $90,000

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2022

    The role of chemical signaling in governing bacterial colonization dynamics on marine particulate organic matter

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • New York Genome Center6 grants · $40.9M
  • University of California San Diego38 grants · $34.1M
  • MIT141 grants · $30.2M
  • Stony Brook Foundation19 grants · $28.4M
  • Columbia University142 grants · $22.5M
  • New York University89 grants · $20.9M
  • New York Genome Center3 grants · $20.5M
  • Uc San Diego43 grants · $20.4M
  • Princeton University111 grants · $19.5M
  • Math for America1 grant · $19.0M

Giving over time

$300.9M
2022
$283.8M
2023
$261.9M
2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 5,303 grants.

  • $26.5M

    University of California San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2022

    Simons observatory

  • $20.0M

    New York Genome Center · New York, NY · 2024

    New york genome center 2018 "new gift"

  • $20.0M

    New York Genome Center · New York, NY · 2023

    New york genome center 2018 "new gift"

  • $20.0M

    New York Genome Center · New York, NY · 2022

    New york genome center 2018 "new gift"

  • $19.0M

    Math for America · New York, NY · 2022

    Mfa new pledge

  • $12.8M

    Uc San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2023

    Simons observatory

  • $7.9M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2022

    Presidential innovation and excellence fund matching gift

  • $6.7M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2024

    Simons infinity investment matching gift

  • $5.6M

    University of Edinburgh · 2023

    A major programme of fundamental and clinical autism research

  • $5.1M

    University of Edinburgh · 2024

    A major programme of fundamental and clinical autism research

  • $4.8M

    University of Edinburgh · 2022

    A major programme of fundamental and clinical autism research

  • $4.5M

    Uc Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · 2023

    Simons institute for the theory of computing

  • $4.4M

    New York University · New York, NY · 2024

    Simons center for computational physical chemistry

  • $4.4M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2023

    Presidential innovation and excellence fund matching gift

  • $4.2M

    Clinical Research Associates · New York, NY · 2024

    Autism research

  • $4.1M

    Northwestern University · Chicago, IL · 2024

    National institute for theory and mathematics in biology

  • $4.0M

    National Museum of Mathematics · New York, NY · 2023

    Momath capital campaign matching pledge

  • $3.9M

    University of California Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · 2022

    Simons institute for the theory of computing

  • $3.8M

    Uc Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · 2024

    Simons institute for the theory of computing

  • $3.5M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2024

    Simons math/physics operating fund

  • $3.4M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2024

    Applications of genomics to breast cancer detection, risk assessment and treatment response

  • $3.3M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2023

    Applications of genomics to breast cancer detection, risk assessment and treatment response

  • $3.2M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2022

    Applications of genomics to breast cancer detection, risk assessment and treatment response

  • $3.2M

    Clinical Research Associates · New York, NY · 2022

    Autism research

  • $3.1M

    Clinical Research Associates · New York, NY · 2023

    Autism research

  • $3.1M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2024

    Presidential innovation and excellence fund matching gift

  • $3.0M

    Institute for Advanced Study · Princeton, NJ · 2022

    Institute for advanced study (ias) unrestricted gift

  • $2.9M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2023

    Simons math/physics operating fund

  • $2.9M

    Ucsf · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Anatomical, molecular, and systems approaches to elucidate the mechanism of sex bias in the asd

  • $2.6M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2022

    Simons math/physics operating fund

  • $2.6M

    University of California San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2022

    Array project 3

  • $2.5M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2023

    Scgp current use fund

  • $2.5M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2022

    Scgp current use fund

  • $2.2M

    Hautes Etudes Scientifiques · 2024

    Operating support

  • $2.1M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2022

    Genetic contribution to autism

  • $2.1M

    University of Washington · Seattle, WA · 2023

    Scope-uw operations support

  • $2.0M

    University of Cambridge · 2022

    The autism prenatal sex differences (apex) program

  • $2.0M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2024

    Genetic contribution to autism

  • $2.0M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2023

    Genetic contribution to autism

  • $1.9M

    Northwestern University · Chicago, IL · 2023

    National institute for theory and mathematics in biology

  • $1.8M

    Uc San Diego · La Jolla, CA · 2023

    Array project 3

  • $1.7M

    New York University · New York, NY · 2022

    Simons center for computational physical chemistry

  • $1.5M

    Cornell University · Ithaca, NY · 2024

    Support for arxiv mmodernization

  • $1.5M

    Northwestern University · Chicago, IL · 2024

    Nsf-simons center for quantitative biology

  • $1.5M

    Univ of California San Francisco · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    Anatomical, molecular, and systems approaches to elucidate the mechanism of sex bias in the asd

  • $1.5M

    Research Foundation of the Cuny · New York City, NY · 2024

    Cuny masters in astrophysics bridge program

  • $1.4M

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2022

    The new simons center for the social brain

  • $1.3M

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Computational biogeochemical modeling of marine ecosystems

  • $1.3M

    Eth Zurich · 2024

    Prime - principles of microbial ecosystems

  • $1.3M

    Esther & Joseph Klingenstein Fund · New York, NY · 2023

    Klingenstein-simons fellowship awards in the neurosciences

  • $1.3M

    Esther & Joseph Klingenstein Fund · New York, NY · 2022

    Klingenstein-simons fellowship awards in the neurosciences

  • $1.3M

    Harvard University · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Nsf-simons center for mathematical and statistical analysis of biology

  • $1.3M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2024

    Scgp current use fund

  • $1.3M

    California Institute of Technology · Pasadena, CA · 2023

    Planetary context of habitability and exobiology

  • $1.3M

    Institut Des Hautes Etudes Scient · 2022

    Operating support

  • $1.2M

    University of Hawaii · Honolulu, HI · 2022

    Scope-uh operations support

  • $1.2M

    Boston Children'S Hospital · Boston, MA · 2023

    Identification and impact of somatic mutations in regulatory regions in autism brain

  • $1.2M

    University of Hawaii · Honolulu, HI · 2023

    Scope-uh operations support

  • $1.1M

    Columbia University · New York, NY · 2024

    Simons junior faculty fellows

  • $1.1M

    Harvard University · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Ultra-quantum matter

  • $1.1M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2023

    Stony brook simons stem scholars program

  • $1.1M

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Arithmetic geometry, number theory, and computation

  • $1.1M

    Washington University in St Louis · St Louis, MO · 2024

    Analysis of mechanisms underlying sex epistasis in autism - core

  • $1.0M

    University of Washington · Seattle, WA · 2024

    Data and tools to define the biogeography of marine phytoplankton

  • $1.0M

    Georgia Tech Research Corporation · Atlanta, GA · 2023

    Nsf-simons southeast center for mathematics and biology

  • $1.0M

    Harvard University · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Nsf-simons center for mathematical and statistical analysis of biology

  • $1.0M

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory · Pasadena, CA · 2024

    Planetary context of habitability and exobiology

  • $1.0M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2024

    Nyce matching grant

  • $1.0M

    Uc Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · 2024

    Collaboration on the theoretical foundations of deep learning

  • $1.0M

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2023

    New york climate exchange fund matching pledge

  • $1.0M

    Uc Berkeley · Berkeley, CA · 2023

    Collaboration on the theoretical foundations of deep learning

  • $1.0M

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · Cold Spring Harbor, NY · 2022

    Cshl cancer research gift

  • $1.0M

    Ecole Nationale Des Ponts Et Chaus · New York, NY · 2022

    Computational oncology program

  • $999,342

    Georgia Tech Research Corporation · Atlanta, GA · 2023

    Nsf-simons southeast center for mathematics and biology

  • $998,293

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2022

    Arithmetic geometry, number theory, and computation

  • $988,360

    Cornell University · Ithaca, NY · 2022

    Arxiv operating grant

  • $976,985

    Uc San Francisco · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    Anatomical, molecular, and systems approaches to elucidate the mechanism of sex bias in the asd

  • $958,610

    Research Foundation of Cuny · New York, NY · 2023

    Cuny masters in astrophysics bridge program

  • $953,149

    University of Washington · Seattle, WA · 2023

    Data and tools to define the biogeography of marine phytoplankton

  • $948,145

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Arithmetic geometry, number theory, and computation

  • $937,500

    Rutgers State University of Nj · Piscataway, NJ · 2023

    Simons junior faculty fellows

  • $914,085

    University of Kwazulu-Natal Durban · 2023

    The hydrogen intensity and real-time analysis experiment (hirax)

  • $914,008

    Boston Children'S Hospital · Boston, MA · 2024

    Identification and impact of somatic mutations in regulatory regions in autism brain

  • $900,675

    Institute for Advanced Study · Princeton, NJ · 2022

    Simons bridge for postdoctoral fellowships at ias

  • $890,169

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Computational biogeochemical modeling of marine ecosystems

  • $884,750

    Life Sciences Research Foundation · Charlotte, NC · 2022

    Life sciences research foundation fellowships

  • $880,262

    Ucsd · La Jolla, CA · 2024

    Array project 3

  • $856,641

    Geisinger Clinic · Danville, PA · 2024

    Simons variation in individuals project (vip) recruitment core and phase 2 coordination site

  • $846,293

    Washington University in Stlouis · St Louis, MO · 2023

    Analysis of mechanisms underlying sex epistasis in autism - core

  • $830,226

    Uc Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    Topology of cortical and thalamic gene expression in asd

  • $825,000

    University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA · 2024

    Collaborative research: transferable, hierarchical, expressive, optimal, robust, interpretable networks (theorinet)

  • $810,000

    MIT · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    The new simons center for the social brain

  • $808,494

    University of Texas Southwestern · Dallas, TX · 2023

    Cellular resolution multi-omics of white matter tracts in asd

  • $794,685

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2024

    Stony brook simons stem scholars program

  • $772,090

    Cornell University · Ithaca, NY · 2023

    Support for arxiv mmodernization

  • $770,284

    New York University · New York, NY · 2024

    Simons-nyu science explorations program

  • $750,146

    Stony Brook Foundation · Stony Brook, NY · 2023

    Simons junior faculty fellows

  • $750,000

    Columbia University · New York, NY · 2024

    Sex-specific differences in cognitive and brain aging; spi murphy: conserved regulatory pathways in age-related loss of plasticity and cognitive function

  • $750,000

    Smithsonian Institution · Washington, DC · 2024

    The role of microbiomes in shaping the ecology and evolution of tropical forest ecosystems

  • $750,000

    Uc Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA · 2023

    The simons fund for visiting scientists at the kavli institute of theoretical physics

View all 5,303 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.