Simons Foundation

{{Infobox organization

| name = Simons Foundation

| image =

| size =

| abbreviation =

| motto =

| formation = {{start date and age|1994}}

| type = Private foundation

| headquarters = New York City, U.S.

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = David Spergel

| key_people = {{unbulleted list

| Marlow Kee

| Marion Greenup

| Euan Robertson

}}

| revenue = $267,780,782{{cite web | url=http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990pf_pdf_archive/133/133794889/133794889_201612_990PF.pdf | title=Simons Foundation, Inc. | website=Foundation Center | access-date=September 6, 2022 }}

| revenue_year = 2021

| expenses = $307,447,716

| expenses_year = 2021

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

The Simons Foundation is an American private foundation established in 1994 by Marilyn and Jim Simons with offices in New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://autismspectrumnews.org/simons-foundation-funder-of-basic-science-research-early-mover-in-autism-science/|title=Simons Foundation: Funder of Basic Science Research, Early Mover in Autism Science|website=Autism Spectrum News|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2022}} As one of the largest charitable organizations in the United States with assets of over $5 billion in 2022,{{cite web|url=https://www.simonsfoundation.org/annual-reports/|title=Simons Foundation Annual Reports|website=simonsfoundation.org}} the foundation's mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and basic sciences. The foundation supports science by making grants to individual researchers and their projects.

In 2021, Marilyn Simons stepped down as president after 26 years at the helm, and astrophysicist David Spergel was appointed president.{{cite web|url=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/|title=The Simons Foundation Has A New President For the First Time In Its History|newspaper=Inside Philanthropy|date=August 4, 2021|last=Karon|first=Paul}}

The Flatiron Institute

In 2016, the foundation launched the Flatiron Institute, its in-house multidisciplinary research institute focused on computational science.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/science/flatiron-institute-james-simons-foundation.html|title=James Simons's Foundation Starts New Institute for Computing, Big Data|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=November 22, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=January 20, 2017}} The Flatiron Institute hosts centers for computational science in five areas:

{{bulleted list|Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) | Center for Computational Biology (CCB) | Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ) | Center for Computational Mathematics (CCM) | Center for Computational Neuroscience (CCN)}}

Funding areas

The foundation makes grants in four program areas:{{cite web|url=https://www.simonsfoundation.org/about-us/|title=About Simons Foundation|work=Simons Foundation|access-date=January 23, 2017}}{{Cite news|last=Callahan|first=David|date=August 15, 2017|url=http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/5/17/inside-the-simons-foundation-big-philanthropy-on-the-frontie.html|title=Inside the Simons Foundation: Big Philanthropy on the Frontiers of Science|newspaper=Inside Philanthropy|language=en-US|access-date=January 20, 2017}}

{{bulleted list| Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) | Life Sciences | Autism Research / Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) | Outreach, Education, and Engagement}}

Simons Investigators awardees

Among other programs, the Simons Foundation funds the Simons Investigators in MPS program[https://www.simonsfoundation.org/mathematics-physical-sciences/simons-investigators/ Simons Investigators], The Simons Foundation which provides a stable base of support for outstanding scientists, enabling them to undertake long-term study of fundamental questions.[https://www.simonsfoundation.org/mathematics-physical-sciences/simons-investigators/simons-investigators-awardees/ Simons Investigators Awardees], The Simons Foundation

Simons Collaborations

In 2012 the foundation launched a new funding model, the Simons Collaborations, which brings funded investigators — sometimes from different disciplines — together to work on an important scientific problem. To date, 25 Simons Collaborations have been launched by the foundation's Mathematics and Physical Sciences and Life Sciences divisions and by its neuroscience initiatives.[https://www.simonsfoundation.org/collaborations/ Simons Foundation Collaborations], The Simons Foundation

White House BRAIN Initiative Alliance membership

{{asof|December 2018|post=,}} the Simons Foundation is listed as a White House BRAIN Initiative Alliance Member.{{cite web|url=https://www.braininitiative.org/participants/|title=Participants|website=The BRAIN Initiative}} The Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB) is working to understand the internal processes underlying cognition.{{cite web|url=https://www.braininitiative.org/alliance/simons-foundation/|title=Simons Foundation|website=The BRAIN Initiative}}

Major gifts

In May 2022, the Simons Foundation partnered with Stony Brook University to boost diversity in STEM, with a $56 million gift.{{cite web|url=https://libn.com/2022/05/11/simons-foundation-sbu-aim-to-boost-diversity-in-stem/|title=Simons Foundation SBU Aims to Boost Diversity in Stem|newspaper=Long Island Business News|date=May 11, 2022|last=Genn|first=Adina}}

In April 2023, the Simons Foundation pledged $100 million to support “The New York Climate Exchange” (“The Exchange”) on Governors Island in New York City. The Exchange — a $700 million, 172-acre international center for developing and deploying dynamic solutions to the global climate crisis — is set to open in 2028.{{Cite news |last=Fitzsimmons |first=Emma G. |last2=Rubinstein |first2=Dana |date=2023-04-24 |title=Governors Island to Be Site of $700 Million Climate Campus |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/nyregion/climate-hub-governors-island.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |issn=0362-4331}}

In June 2023, the Simons Foundation presented Stony Brook University with a $500 million unrestricted gift, which is one of the largest gifts ever made to a U.S. university.{{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=2023-06-01 |title=Stony Brook University to Receive $500 Million, an Uncommonly Large Gift |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/nyregion/stony-brook-university-gift.html}}

The Simons Foundation is a major supporter of Math for America, which has built a community of accomplished mathematics and science teachers who make a lasting impact in their schools, their communities, and the profession at large through collaboration and continued learning.{{cite web|url=https://www.educationworld.com/a_news/math-america-retains-talented-stem-teachers-through-ecosystem-trust-1328996005|title=Math For America Retains Talented Step Teachers Through Ecosystem of Trust|newspaper=Education World|last=Conklin|first=Richard|access-date=September 6, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.the74million.org/article/15-million-to-1000-top-math-science-teachers-how-math-for-america-is-boosting-stem-in-schools/|title=15 Million to 1000 Top Math Science Teachers: How 'Math for America' Is Boosting STEM in Schools|newspaper=The 74|date=September 25, 2017|last=Thomas|first=Kei-Sygh}}

Supported institutes

{{bulleted list| Simons Center for Geometry and Physics (Stony Brook University) | Simons Center for Quantitative Biology (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) | Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing (University of California, Berkeley) | Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (University of California, Berkeley) | Simons Center for the Social Brain (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) | NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology (Northwestern University)}}

Philanthro-journalism

The foundation also funds two editorially independent online publications: Quanta Magazine and The Transmitter. Quanta reports on developments in mathematics, theoretical physics, theoretical computer science and the basic life sciences.{{cite web|url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/about/|title=About Quanta|newspaper=Quanta Magazine|access-date=September 6, 2022}} The Transmitter provides news and analysis of advancements in neuroscience research and is the successor to Spectrum, a publication focused on autism research which originated as the News & Opinion section of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative website.{{cite web|url=https://spectrumnews.org/about/|title=About Spectrum|newspaper=Spectrum News|access-date=September 6, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Oransky |first1=Ivan |title=Welcome to The Transmitter |url=https://www.thetransmitter.org/neuroscience/welcome-to-the-transmitter/ |website=The Transmitter |access-date=18 December 2023}}