Simons Foundation

Effective immediately (as of 2/18/20), the Simons Foundation has added the following Code of Conduct to its Policies and Procedures. The foundation expects principal investigators and institution administrators to share this policy with anyone working on a grant which the foundation funds.

Code of Conduct

The Simons Foundation is committed to the conduct of science in an environment that conforms to the highest ethical standards.

This includes maintaining an environment free from any form of harassment, bullying, discrimination and retaliation related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, religious (or nonreligious) affiliation, politics, or any other personal characteristics.

Simons Foundation grantee institutions are expected to implement policies and practices that:

  1. foster a harassment-free environment;

  2. actively promote professional codes of conduct;

  3. ensure employees are fully aware and regularly reminded of applicable laws, regulations, policies and codes of conduct;

  4. provide an accessible, effective and easy process to report misconduct, with protection from retaliation;

  5. respond promptly to allegations, protect the safety of all involved, investigate the allegations, and, if appropriate, impose sanctions.

Principal investigators and all other persons working on a grant funded by the Simons Foundation are expected to comply with institutional policy and with this code of ethics.

Notification of Allegation
The Simons Foundation requires grantee institutions to submit notice within 10 days of any ALLEGATION involving a person working on a grant which the foundation funds, including:

  1. alleged breach of grantee policies or codes of conduct;

  2. alleged breach of statutes, regulations or executive orders including those relating to sexual harassment or assault;

  3. any other alleged forms of harassment or misconduct.

Notification of Actions Taken
The Simons Foundation requires grantee institutions to submit notice within 3 days of any ACTION involving a person working on a grant which the foundation funds, including:

  1. placement of that person on administrative leave;

  2. imposition of an administrative action or sanction against that person;

  3. referral of the matter to an external investigative body (e.g., law enforcement);

  4. exoneration of that person.


Notifications should be sent to [email protected].

Review of Grant Status Following Notification
The Simons Foundation, in reviewing each notification, will consider the safety and security of personnel funded by the award and whether the grantee institution can ensure the continued progress of the funded award.

To view our complete policies and procedures document go to:

https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding-opportunities/policies-and-procedures.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Richard McFarland at  [email protected].