The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation Grant Program

The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation is a private funder dedicated to advancing fundamental scientific research with transformative potential to improve human health. Its mission centers on supporting early-stage, basic research that lays the groundwork for future breakthroughs in medicine. The foundation emphasizes innovation and impact, focusing on funding projects at the discovery stage across a wide range of biological and biomedical sciences. The Mathers Grant Awards Program is a competitive opportunity intended for U.S.-based, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) institutions. It specifically targets independent research institutions and educational universities that support investigators operating in fully equipped laboratories. Eligible applicants include principal investigators at all levels of professorship who are conducting research in designated fields. Funding is available for collaborative projects, provided all collaborators are based in the United States and affiliated with eligible organizations. In contrast, institutions outside the U.S., organizations that do not directly employ researchers, and foundations or intermediaries that regrant funds are not eligible. Additionally, the foundation does not fund grants to individuals. Applicants must first secure an institutional nomination before accessing the portal to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The process includes a multi-step progression from registration and nomination to formal proposal submission by invitation only. All portal access and submission steps must be managed through the foundation's online system. For each cycle, institutional nominations and registrations are due at least two weeks before the LOI deadline. Each institution may submit up to three LOIs per grant cycle. LOI submissions must include a project title (matching the nomination record), a summary accessible to both lay and scientific reviewers, and a preliminary budget that does not exceed $700,000 over three years, inclusive of 10% indirect costs. The budget should cover personnel, supplies, and other major expenses but exclude tuition, student fees, and equipment costs over $5,000. The LOI must also describe experimental aims, proof of concept, and previous relevant work. Supporting documents must include C.V.s or NIH biosketches for team members dedicating 30% or more of their time, as well as optional supplementary files like budget justifications, references, or letters of support. If an LOI is accepted, the applicant is invited to submit a full proposal, which is restricted to seven pages and must include detailed scientific aims and an updated budget justification. The full proposal must align with the original LOI in scope and funding limits. Submissions are evaluated without feedback on declined LOIs, and awards are typically made within five to six months after LOI submission. The foundation operates on a biannual schedule, with deadlines fixed each year. For Fall 2025, institutional nominations and portal registrations are due by September 19, LOIs are due by October 3, and invited formal proposals are due by December 12. For Spring 2025, the corresponding dates are February 28, March 14, and May 23, respectively. The foundation discourages late applications and strongly recommends using Chrome or Safari for portal access. Applicants with questions about eligibility or application procedures are encouraged to consult the FAQs or email grants@mathersfoundation.org. The foundation’s offices are located at 800 Westchester Avenue, Suite N-503, Rye Brook, New York 10573.

LOI titles must match nominations; budget justifications and collaborator roles should be clear; write for scientific and lay audiences.