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

April 30, 2026 (Full application submission deadline, 12:00 PM CST)

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

Flexible, large-scale grants supporting fundamental chemical research at Texas institutions to address major scientific challenges.

--- ## Description The Catalyst for Discovery Program Grants, funded by The Welch Foundation, are designed to support groundbreaking, fundamental chemical research at Texas-based institutions. The program seeks to accelerate progress on significant scientific problems that benefit humankind by providing substantial, flexible funding and minimizing administrative burdens. All subfields of chemistry and allied disciplines—including biochemistry, chemical biology, chemical physics, chemical engineering, materials science, and nanoscience—are eligible, provided the research advances fundamental chemical principles. The program is intended for collaborative research teams and emphasizes innovation and bold experimentation. --- ## Due Dates - April 30, 2026: Full application submission deadline (applications must be submitted by 12:00 PM CST on April 30) --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $5,000,000 per grant, distributed over a five-year period. - Typically, up to two grants are awarded annually. - Budget should be structured as $1,000,000 per year for five years. - Funding supports direct research costs, including personnel, equipment (up to $500,000 total), expendable scientific items, publication expenses (up to $20,000/year), and travel (up to $50,000/year). - No indirect costs, tuition, general office expenses, or consultant fees are allowed. --- ## Eligibility - Applications are restricted to eligible universities located in Texas, as determined by The Welch Foundation. - Invitations to apply are issued annually to institutions with substantial chemical research programs (criteria include external research funding, existing Welch grants, endowed chairs, and PhD programs). - The Program Director (PD) must be a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty member; up to four additional tenured or tenure-track faculty may participate as Co-Investigators. - Each eligible institution may submit a limited number of applications, as specified in the annual invitation. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted via the [ProposalCentral online portal](https://proposalcentral.com/). - The application window is April 1–April 30; all materials must be submitted by 12:00 PM CST on April 30. - Required application components include: - Program title and abstract - Five-year detailed budget - Program description (up to 18 pages, plus references) - NIH-style biosketches for PD and Co-Is - Tenure/tenure-track verification letters for all faculty participants - Electronic signatures from both the PD and an authorized university official are required. - Proposals are reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board, with funding decisions announced by August. --- ## Additional Information - Grantee institutions maintain exclusive control over research conduct and supervision. - Annual progress and expenditure reports are required. - Publications and patents resulting from the grant must acknowledge The Welch Foundation. - No-cost extensions of up to 12 months may be requested before grant expiration. - Grants may be terminated for lack of progress or non-compliance. --- ## External Links - [Program Guidelines (PDF)](https://welch-main.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Catalyst-for-Discovery-Guidelines-2024.pdf) - [Catalyst Grants Program Page](https://welch1.org/grants-programs/catalyst-grants) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/) - [Important Dates and Deadlines](https://welch1.org/grants-programs/important-dates-and-deadlines) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |---------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Foundation Address | 1717 West Loop S, Ste 1661, Houston, TX 77027, US | | Foundation Phone | +1 (713) 961-9884 | | ProposalCentral Support | 1-800-875-2562 (8:30am–5:00pm ET, Mon–Fri)
[pcsupport@altum.com](mailto:pcsupport@altum.com) | ---

Catalyst for Discovery Program Grants

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