Targeted Grants to Institutes – 2027 Request for Applications

The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division invites applications for the Targeted Grants to Institutes program.

Deadline for Application Submission: September 30, 2026, 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern time.

The Targeted Grants to Institutes program is intended to support established institutes or centers in the mathematics and theoretical basic physical sciences through funding to help strengthen contacts within the international scientific community. Our aim is to enable institutes to extend and enhance their missions; this program will not provide primary support for operating or establishing an institute. This program will also not support initiatives, consortiums or organizations that do not have a physical space.

• Award Amount: Up to $750,000 USD, inclusive of 20 percent indirect costs (see grant policies); annual budgets should be around $250,000 per year, although the foundation would allow the annual budget to vary from $250,000 as long as the total three-year budget is no more than $750,000.
• Award Duration: Three years; awards can begin no earlier than June 1, 2027, and must begin no later than September 1, 2027.
• Number of Awards: The foundation expects to award up to ten grants each year.
• Future Funding: Awards will not be considered for renewal. Awardees can reapply to the program for new funding for a period after their current award ends.

The funding provided is relatively flexible and based on the type of support requested by the institute in the proposal. Please see the Simons Foundation’s grant policies for further guidelines.

These expenses could include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Salary support and related benefits for visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows and research associates, and/or graduate students.
• Support for visitors, including domestic and international travel, meals and lodging expenses.
• Conferences, workshops, summer schools and scientific meetings, including meals, travel, lodging, and facility fees.
• Other expenses related to the support and administration of the supported institute activities (e.g., administrative professional staff)

NOTE: PI summer salary for administrative support of programs is not allowed. Administrative salary should be paid by the existing institutional structure.

Applications may be submitted by established U.S. and foreign public and private educational and nonprofit institutes and research centers. The program is not intended to support institutes or centers whose main purpose is to provide a focal point for research of faculty at a specific university. This program will not support national labs, or the equivalent, with a primary focus on experiments.

SF and SFI do not provide funding to institutions in China or to fiscal sponsors or agents of institutions in China. This includes funding to support subcontracts at institutions in China or consultants residing or working for institutions in China.

Simons Foundation employees who receive a W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from the Simons Foundation, including employees of the Flatiron Institute, may not apply as a principal investigator (PI) to any Simons Foundation or Simons Foundation International requests for applications (RFAs) released by the Simons Foundation. PIs and any project personnel listed on the application who will receive funding for salary, travel, support for students, postdocs or research staff, lab equipment, computing time or other individual expenses may not be employees of the Simons Foundation, which includes the Flatiron Institute.

Applications must be completed electronically and submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM), https://sam.simonsfoundation.org/ by September 30, 2026, 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern time.

Please refer to the How to Apply tab for further instructions. Full proposals will be reviewed by Simons Foundation scientific staff, the MPS Scientific Advisory Board and an expert external review committee.

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, The Simons Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation” or “SF”) reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (“SFI”) for consideration and funding. SFI and SF have entered into an agreement pursuant to which SF provides program operations and grant administration services, including payment processing, to SFI. SFI grant recipients are subject to SF policies and procedures.

Additional award terms may be included in the official award notification. Grantees are subject to the conditions outlined in their official award notification.

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.

The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants for funding without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.