[Pittsburgh Foundation](https://pittsburghfoundation.org)

March 27, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | July 24, 2026 (Full Proposal)

New Investigator: up to $150,000 over 2 years | New Initiative: up to $300,000 over 2 years

Supports fundamental research in biology, chemistry, and physics at Pennsylvania higher education institutions for both early-career and established investigators.

--- ## Description The Kaufman Foundation, administered through the Pittsburgh Foundation, provides annual research grants to support curiosity-driven, fundamental research in biology, chemistry, and physics at Pennsylvania institutions of higher education. The program is divided into two main categories: - **New Investigator Research Grants**: For early-career scientists transitioning to independence. - **New Initiative Research Grants**: For established investigators launching innovative, interdisciplinary collaborations. The Foundation aims to empower both emerging and seasoned researchers to pursue transformative ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and engage students in research. --- ## Due Dates - **March 27, 2026**: Letter of Intent deadline (LOIs due by 5 p.m. ET) - **July 24, 2026**: Full proposal deadline (by invitation only; due by 5 p.m. ET) Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to be eligible for invitation to the full proposal stage. Notification regarding LOI selection will be provided by May 15, 2026. Award notifications will be made by November 1, with funding to begin in December. --- ## Funding Amount - **New Investigator Research Grants**: Up to six awards of $150,000 each, distributed over two years ($75,000/year). - **New Initiative Research Grants**: Up to four awards of $300,000 each, distributed over two years ($150,000/year). Indirect costs are allowed up to 10% of the total budget, but total costs including indirects may not exceed the maximum award amount. Budget items not supported include tuition, student fees, construction/renovation, consultants, or PI/co-investigator salaries. --- ## Eligibility ### Institutional - All applicants must hold primary appointments at a Pennsylvania institution of higher education. ### Investigator Requirements #### New Investigator Research Grants - Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident by the LOI deadline. - Must hold a full-time tenure, tenure-track, or independent research faculty appointment. - Must not have previously received substantial independent NIH funding as a PI. - Must have obtained a terminal degree within the past 10 years (extensions possible for extenuating circumstances). - Prior New Investigator grant recipients are ineligible for a second award in this category. #### New Initiative Research Grants - At least two investigators required, each with primary appointments at Pennsylvania higher education institutions. - All investigators must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents by the LOI deadline. - Investigators must have full-time tenure, tenure-track, or independent research faculty appointments. - Teams must represent distinct disciplines or subdisciplines in biology, chemistry, or physics. - The proposed research must be a new initiative not currently funded from other sources. --- ## Application Process 1. **Letter of Intent (LOI)** - Submit by March 27, 2026, 5 p.m. ET. - LOI must include eligibility confirmation, research summary, budget outline, literature cited, and recent publications. - Only one LOI per investigator/team per category per year. 2. **Full Proposal** - By invitation only, submit by July 24, 2026, 5 p.m. ET. - Full proposal requirements include cover letter, lay summary, detailed research plan, references, detailed budget, other support, and CV/biosketch. - Two letters of support from external colleagues are required. 3. **Review and Selection** - LOIs are screened for eligibility and merit by the Scientific Advisory Board. - Selected applicants are invited to submit full proposals, which undergo further review. - Final funding decisions are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. 4. **Award Notification and Start** - Successful applicants notified by November 1. - Year one funding begins in December upon acceptance of grant terms. --- ## Additional Information - Research must be curiosity-driven, fundamental, and focused on biology, chemistry, physics, or their disciplinary boundaries. - Projects should involve training of students and, for New Initiative Grants, demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration. - High-risk, high-reward projects are encouraged. - IRB/IACUC approvals are required for applicable research before funds are released. --- ## External Links - [Kaufman Foundation Main Page](https://kaufman.pittsburghfoundation.org) - [New Investigator Research Guidelines](https://kaufman.pittsburghfoundation.org/new-investigator-research-grants) - [New Initiative Research Guidelines](https://kaufman.pittsburghfoundation.org/new-initiative-research) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://kaufman.pittsburghfoundation.org/faqs) - [Submit an LOI (JotForm)](https://pittsburghfoundation.jotform.com/240035970557054) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Details | |----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | Email | [kaufmanapps@pghfdn.org](mailto:kaufmanapps@pghfdn.org) | | Phone | 412-394-2603 | | Funder Contact Page | [Pittsburgh Foundation Contact](https://pittsburghfoundation.org/contact-us) | ---

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