The Simons Foundation, established in 1994 by mathematician Jim Simons and his wife Marilyn, is a prominent American private foundation dedicated to advancing the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

With assets exceeding $5 billion as of 2022, the foundation is among the largest charitable organizations in the United States.

Mission and Focus Areas

The foundation's mission centers on supporting scientific research through grants to individual researchers and their projects.

Its primary program areas include:

Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS): This division funds research in areas such as mathematics, physics, and related disciplines, aiming to deepen our understanding of the universe.
Life Sciences: This program supports research in biology and related fields, fostering advancements in our comprehension of living systems.
Autism Research (SFARI): The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative focuses on all aspects of autism research, funding over $200 million to 150 different investigators since 2007.
Science, Society & Culture: This program supports interdisciplinary projects that explore the intersection of science and culture, aiming to broaden participation in science and engage the public.

Flatiron Institute

In 2016, the foundation launched the Flatiron Institute, an in-house multidisciplinary research division focused on computational science.

The institute comprises five centers:

Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA): Dedicated to computational methods in astrophysics.
Center for Computational Biology (CCB): Focuses on computational approaches to biological research.
Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ): Specializes in computational quantum physics.
Center for Computational Mathematics (CCM): Centers on mathematical research using computational techniques.
Center for Computational Neuroscience (CCN): Engages in computational studies of the brain and nervous system.

Collaborations and Initiatives

The foundation fosters large-scale scientific collaborations, such as the Simons Collaborations, which bring together funded investigators from different disciplines to work on significant scientific problems.

Additionally, the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing at the University of California, Berkeley, established in 2012 with a $60 million grant from the foundation, serves as a hub for collaborative research in theoretical computer science.

Recent Developments

In April 2023, the Simons Foundation pledged $100 million to support "The New York Climate Exchange" on Governors Island in New York City.

This $700 million, 172-acre international center aims to develop and deploy solutions to the global climate crisis and is set to open in 2028.

Headquarters and Locations

The Simons Foundation's headquarters are located in New York City, USA.

New York, NY, USA

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