Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The New York City-based Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation’s philanthropy consists of several awards and prizes for institutions of higher education, teachers and researchers in the areas of chemical sciences and engineering.
IP TAKE: This funder accepts nominations for its various annual and biennial awards programs in the areas of chemistry, chemical engineering and science education. Eligibility requirements and due dates vary by program.
PROFILE: The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation was created in 1946 by Camille Dreyfus, a chemist and innovator in the fields of plastics and textiles, to honor the memory of his brother, Henry, who was his business partner in many ventures. The brothers were born in Basel, Switzerland in the late 19th century but ran many of their businesses in the U.S. Camille died in 1956, and the foundation now serves the memory of both men. Based in New York City, this foundation aims to “advance the science of chemistry, chemical engineering, and related sciences as a means of improving human relations and circumstances throughout the world.” Its grantmaking is conducted through a series of structured awards and fellowships for institutions of higher education, professors, researchers and other professionals who are either involved in the chemical sciences and engineering or who encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in science. Most awards are limited geographically to the U.S. and its territories.
Grants for Higher Education
Dreyfus’s higher education funding works to support learning and research at chemical science and engineering programs at colleges and universities in the U.S.
The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards support young faculty in chemical science departments who have a substantial body of scholarship and exhibit strong commitment to both research and teaching. In a recent year, the foundation gave fourteen awards of $100,000 each to faculty at colleges and universities including Ohio State University, Brown University, the University of Rochester, Dartmouth College, MIT, the University of Chicago and others.
Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards go to early-stage faculty in chemical science departments that award undergraduate degrees in science. Awardees must demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and involve students in their research. The foundation gives eight awards of $75,000 each year. Faculty at Wellesley College, Haverford College, the College of William and Mary, the University of North Florida and San Jose State University have been recipients of this award.
Dreyfus also provides funding for Machine Learning in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering. Grantmaking in this area focuses on innovative projects that have the potential to “contribute new fundamental chemical insight and innovation in the field.” Recent areas of interest have included molecular synthesis, chemical theory and computation, materials applications, collaborative research projects and the development of new courses, seminars or MOOCs.
The Jean Dreyfus Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions is awarded to chemistry departments at colleges and universities that grant B.S. and/or M.S. degrees for the purpose of bringing a leading researcher to campuses for visiting lectures in relevant fields. The foundation generally awards five lectureship awards each year in amounts of $18,5000. Past recipients include the University of San Diego, Rowan University, Ursinus College and the College of New Jersey.
Grants for STEM
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation supports those who encourage underrepresented groups to pursue careers in chemical sciences. In collaboration with the American Chemical Society, the foundation endows the ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences and the ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences. These awards go to individuals from “any professional setting” and are awarded in amounts of $5,000, with an additional $10,000 to awardees’ nonprofit institutions of choice.
Grants for Science Research
The foundation awards a biennial Dreyfus Prize in Chemical Sciences to one outstanding researcher for “exceptional and original research that has advanced the field in a major way.” The prize includes $250,000, a certificate and a medal and is open to researchers in any country. Awards are not strictly limited to scientists working in academia, but most past recipients represent leading institutions including MIT, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Carnegie Mellon University and Northwestern University.
Important Grant Details:
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation gives its specific awards in set amounts. Each award has specific eligibility requirements, but funding focuses on research and learning in chemical sciences and engineering. Funding gravitates toward U.S.-based academic programs in the foundation’s scientific areas of interest, with only the Dreyfus prize open to researchers outside of the U.S.
This funder accepts applications and nominations for all of its awards. Guidelines and due dates vary by program and are posted on individual program pages. General inquiries may be directed to foundation staff via email or telephone at 212-753-1760.
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