[The Welch Foundation](https://welch1.org)

April 30, 2026 (Full application submission deadline; annual)

Up to $5,000,000 per award over five years; up to two awards annually

Supports Texas-based research teams addressing major challenges in fundamental chemical research with large, flexible grants.

Applications by invitation only; lead institution must be in Texas with a substantial chemical research program.

--- ## Description This program accelerates progress in fundamental chemical research by supporting research teams in Texas that are tackling significant, cutting-edge problems in chemistry and allied fields. The Catalyst Grants provide up to two substantial awards per year, each offering up to $5 million over five years. The goal is to advance transformative research by reducing administrative burden and providing recipients with flexibility in experimentation and project design. The grants are intended for ambitious, collaborative projects that have the potential to make significant contributions to the field of chemistry and benefit humankind. --- ## Due Dates - April 30, 2026: Full application submission deadline (annual; applications must be submitted by 12:00 PM CST; submission window April 1–April 30) - Previous annual deadlines: April 30, 2025; April 30, 2024 Awards are typically announced in late July, with funded projects beginning August 1. --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $5,000,000 per award, distributed over five years (recommended budget: $1,000,000/year) - Up to two grants awarded annually - Budgets may include: - Permanent scientific equipment (up to $500,000 total) - Faculty salary & benefits (up to $200,000 annually) - Research personnel, supplies, travel (up to $50,000/year), and publication costs (up to $20,000/year) - No indirect costs (overhead) allowed --- ## Eligibility - **Institutional Eligibility:** Only Texas-based universities with substantial chemical research programs are eligible (criteria include significant external chemistry funding, existing Welch grants/endowed chairs, and PhD programs in chemistry or related fields). - **Applicant Eligibility:** - Program Director (PD) must be a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty member at the eligible Texas institution. - Up to four additional tenured or tenure-track co-investigators may participate. - Existing Welch grant holders are eligible. - **Invitation Required:** Proposals are accepted by invitation only; invitations are issued annually in January to eligible institutions. --- ## Application Process - **Submission Portal:** All applications must be submitted via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com) during the window April 1–April 30 (deadline: April 30, 12:00 PM CST). - **Required Materials:** - Title page and program abstract - Detailed program description (up to 18 pages + references) - Biosketches (NIH-style) for PD and all co-investigators - Tenure/tenure-track confirmation letters for PD and co-investigators - Five-year budget and justification - High-resolution images (if applicable) - Active and pending support documentation - **Review Process:** Multi-stage review by the Scientific Advisory Board, including videoconference interviews for finalists and a final programmatic assessment. - **Award Notification:** Decisions announced in July; project start date is August 1. --- ## Additional Information - Research focus must be on fundamental chemical research (all subfields of chemistry and allied fields such as chemical engineering, materials science, nanoscience, biochemistry, etc.). - Medical/clinical research, general biology, and non-chemistry fields are not eligible, though relevant technologies from these areas can be used if the goal is to advance chemistry. - No indirect costs (overhead) or student tuition may be charged. - Annual progress reports and expenditure reports are required. --- ## External Links - [Program Overview and Application Details](https://welch1.org/grants-programs/catalyst-grants) - [Guidelines and Application Instructions (PDF)](https://welch-main.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Catalyst-for-Discovery-Guidelines-2025.pdf) - [Important Dates and Deadlines](https://welch1.org/grants-programs/important-dates-and-deadlines) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Information | |------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Welch Foundation general | +1 (713) 961-9884 | | ProposalCentral support | 1-800-875-2562 (US/Canada); pcsupport@altum.com | ---

Catalyst Grants

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