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Welch Foundation

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OVERVIEW: This Houston-based funder supports chemistry research and education in the state of Texas.

IP TAKE: The Welch Foundation accepts applications and nominations for research grants, fellowships, scholarships, endowed chairs and other awards, although its giving stays in Texas. Access, however, depends on the program. Eligible Texas faculty can apply directly for Research Grants, and recent Phds worldwide can compete for fellowships that place them in Texas labs. Departmental, Equipment and Catalyst grants are invitation-only, while Endowed Chair proposals are considered case by case. WelchX uses a competitive retreat application before selected participants can seek $100,000 collaborative pilot grants.

This is a transparent and approachable source for chemistry and chemistry education programs in the state. As of now, requirements and guidelines are program specific, so start with the exact program page rather than a general inquiry, and contact Welch’s grant staff when fit is unclear.

PROFILE:  Founded from the estate of Robert A. Welch following his death in 1952, the Welch Foundation carries on the legacy of Robert Welch, an oil and mineral tycoon who believed that chemistry could make the world a better place. Welch funds research grants, departmental grants, endowed chairs, fellowships and other awards for chemistry research and education.

Grants for Science Research and STEM Education

The Welch Foundation runs the following grant and award programs:

  • Research Grants are awarded to tenured or tenure-track faculty members for chemistry research at Texas institutions. Multi-year funding is available, with annual grants typically awarded in amounts of $117,000 per year, or $351,000 over the grant period. Funding may be used for “fellowships, scholarships, permanent scientific equipment, expendable scientific items, services, equipment maintenance, publication expenses, and travel” related to research.
  • Departmental Grants are invite-only, but they tend to support chemistry departments and faculty at small and midsize schools. Their primary purpose is to stimulate interest in science careers among students by providing them “scholarships, lab equipment and chemicals as well as travel to industry meetings and conferences.”
  • Equipment Grants are supplements to Departmental Grants and specifically fund the purchase of equipment to “to support laboratory research” and ” give faculty and students a richer laboratory experience.” Welch describes these as awards of $75,000 for one year, with possible institutional matching funds.
  • Each year, the foundation awards up to two Catalyst Grants of up to $5 million each to support “fundamental chemical research” in current areas of interest and import in the field.
  • The Postdoctoral Fellows program offers three-year fellowships to “recent Ph.D. graduates” from anywhere in the world who wish to develop careers in Texas.
  • The WelchX Retreat and Pilot Grants program is an annual summer retreat for “[e]arly-to mid-career tenured faculty” that encourages researchers “to ideate on challenging issues of our time.” Participation in this program is by competitive entry, and the event’s theme changes from year to year. Proposals developed at the retreat are eligible for pilot funding of up to $100,000.
  • Universities in Texas that offer Ph.D. programs in chemistry can establish Endowed Chairs to support “faculty positions for outstanding, active, research scientists who will advance basic scientific research in chemistry and allied sciences in Texas.” There is no annual open round; the foundation says it accepts proposals on a case-by-case basis and directs inquiries to grants@welch1.org.
  • The TILF Scholarship program is run in collaboration with the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation. As many as 20 scholarships are awarded each year in amounts of up to $20,000 for students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering. Please note that new scholars haven’t been selected since 2024.
  • The Welch Summer Scholar Program provides high school students with hands-on laboratory research experiences in chemistry.
  • The Welch-Hagler Fellows Program is a program at Texas A&M University’s Hagler Institute for Advanced Study that brings “top researchers” in chemistry to the school in an effort to “foster an innovative research culture that will position the university to be at the forefront of chemistry.” Applications/nominations run through Texas A&M.
  • The Welch Award in Chemistry recognizes major contributions in chemistry research “for the benefit of human kind.” This is a $500,000 that is not limited to researchers in the state of Texas.
  • The Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research is named for the foundation’s former Scientific Advisory Board Chair. The award recognizes the work of early-career, Texas-based chemical scientists whose work has the potential to “increase[…] our fundamental understanding of chemistry.” This award offers $100,000.
  • The Welch Conference is an annual event held in Texas that brings researchers from around the world to discuss and explore ” state-of-the-art research in various areas of chemistry.”
  • In 2020, the foundation donated $100 million to Rice University to establish the Welch Institute “to accelerate discovery, design and manufacture of new materials for the benefit of all.” Grantseekers should expect to see some grantmaking related to this project in the coming years in order to raise the institute’s visibility and attract researchers from around the world.

Important Grant Details:

Welch’s grants, fellowships and scholarships are awarded in ranges set by each program. In a recent year, this funder gave $28.4 million in total grants.

  • With the exception of the Welch Award, all grantmaking stays in the state of Texas.
  • The foundation accepts applications and/or nominations for all of its programs, but eligibility, guidelines and due dates vary by program. Check each program page for the most up-to-date information.
  • When applicable, information about recipients and recipient organizations is provided on program pages. Additional information can be found in the foundation’s annual reports.
  • Submit questions to the Welch Foundation to info@welch1.org or by telephone at (713) 961-9884.

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