The Simons Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1994 and based in New York City. The foundation advances the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5B
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$272.0M
-6.7% YoY
Grant Count
1,727
-12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$157K
+6.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Simons Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $203.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.
Primary funding areas include:
- Mathematics
- Physical and Earth Sciences (astronomy, physics, marine science)
- Computer Science
- Technology
- Brain and Nervous System Disorders
- Autism Research
- Health and Disease Research
The foundation also supports diverse communities including Middle Eastern/North African, Asian, Black/African, White/Caucasian/European, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, and multi-racial/multi-ethnic populations.
Grantmaking
Recent grant announcements include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. states and internationally, with a presence in locations including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, and additional states and territories.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $4.48 billion
- Annual Revenue: $171 million
- Annual Expenses: $365 million
- Total Liabilities: $768 million
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Annual Expenses: approximately $565 million
- Annual Revenue: approximately $124 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,482,291,699 | $4,587,102,476 | $4,912,204,674 |
| Revenue | $171,400,960 | $124,058,660 | $373,367,640 |
| Expenses | $364,993,487 | $565,004,000 | $523,078,723 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $505,551,912 | $503,448,267 | $499,676,040 |
| Net Investment Income | $165,978,684 | $119,155,614 | $476,018,207 |
| Distributable Amount | $203,319,907 | $211,263,537 | $224,929,264 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
26 open opportunities from The Simons Foundation Inc
Autism Rat Models Consortium 2.0 RFA - Collaboration Track
THE SIMONS FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Autism Rat Models Consortium 2.0 RFA - Explorer Track
THE SIMONS FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Centers of Excellence in Ukraine Grant
THE SIMONS FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $600,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baylor College of Medicine ($550,732), Abdus Salam Int Centre ($485,767), American Mathematical Society ($334,800).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABDUS SALAM INT CENTRE | JUNIOR SCIENTISTS WORKSHOP ON RECENT ADVANCES IN THEORETICAL NEUROSCIENCE | $10,000 |
| ABDUS SALAM INT CENTRE | ABDUS SALAM INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR THEORETICAL PHYSICS | $485,767 |
| ACHUCARRO BASQUE CENTER | BOOSTING MYELINATION AS A THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY IN AUTISM | $141,029 |
| ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER NEW YORK, NY | SIMONS INVESTIGATOR IN PHYSICS | $96,000 |
| ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER NEW YORK, NY | SIMONS SOCIETY OF FELLOWS - JUNIOR FELLOW | $157,853 |
| AIP FOUNDATION COLLEGE PARK, MD | GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION SUPPORT GIFT | $9,000 |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BRONX, NY | OLIGODENDROCYTE DYSFUNCTION IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS | $150,000 |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BRONX, NY | ROSE F. KENNEDY CENTER SPARK | $4,989 |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BRONX, NY | COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NEURAL POPULATIONS: CIRCUITS, CODING, AND BEHAVIOR | $218,200 |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE BRONX, NY | NEURO-OSCILLATORY FUNCTION AND NETWORK COMMUNICATION IN ASD AND UNAFFECTED SIBLINGS | $257,209 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Simons — Founder and former CEO of Renaissance Technologies; Co-Chair of the Board
- Marilyn Simons — Co-Founder; Co-Chair of the Board
- David Spergel — President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARILYN SIMONS | CO-CHAIR OF THE BOARD | 16 | — |
| JAMES SIMONS | CO-CHAIR (THRU 5/2024) | 16 | — |
| DAVID EISENBUD | TRUSTEE | 1 | $18,000 |
| EMERY N BROWN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $20,000 |
| PETER LITTLEWOOD | TRUSTEE | 1 | $20,000 |
| ANDREW GOLDEN | TRUSTEE (AS OF 6/2024) | 1 | — |
| SHIRLEY M TILGHMAN | TRUSTEE/VICE CHAIR | 1 | $18,000 |
| WILLIAM H PRESS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $17,000 |
| CORNELIA BARGMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $19,000 |
| JILL PIPHER | TRUSTEE (AS OF 10/2024) | 1 | — |
| INGRID DAUBECHIES | TRUSTEE | 1 | $15,000 |
| BILL FORD | TRUSTEE (AS OF 6/2024) | 1 | — |
| DAVID SPERGEL | PRESIDENT | 40 | $928,564 |
| EUAN ROBERTSON | COO | 40 | $629,645 |
| MARLOW KEE | CFO/TREASURER | 40 | $510,428 |
| BRETT DAKIN | GEN. COUNSEL/SEC./CHIEF COMPL. OFF. | 40 | $455,750 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Simons Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Primary funding areas include: • **Mathematics** • **Physical and Earth Sciences** (astronomy, physics, marine science) • **Computer Science** • **Technology** • **Brain and Nervous System Disorders** • **Autism Research** • **Health and Disease Research** The foundation also supports diverse communities including Middle Eastern/North African, Asian, Black/African, White/Caucasian/European, H…
How do I apply for a grant from The Simons Foundation Inc?
Recent grant announcements include: • **2025 Targeted Grants to Institutes and Targeted Grants in MPS** (Mathematics and Physical Sciences) • **Simons Collaboration on New Frontiers in Superconductivity** (announced July 2024) • **Simons Dissertation Fellowship in Mathematics** (announced June 2024) • **Targeted Grants in MPS** awarded to the Muon Collider Project and Research Internship Program (May 2025) • **Simons Center for Computational Geophysical Flows** at NYU (launched February 2026)
Where does The Simons Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. states and internationally, with a presence in locations including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, and additional states and territories.
What size grants does The Simons Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Simons Foundation Inc awarded 1,727 grants totaling $272.0M — an average of about $157K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Simons Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Simons Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $203.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Simons Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Simons Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3794889. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Simons Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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