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Type: News

Announcement: Two Freelance Journalists Awarded $100,000 Each for Elevating Stories of Underrepresented Communities in the U.S.

Kavitha Cardoza and Oliver Whang have been named the recipients of the 2026 American Mosaic Journalism Prize® The Heising-Simons Foundation announced today that freelance journalists Kavitha Cardoza and Oliver Whang are the recipients of the 2026 American Mosaic Journalism Prize®, which includes an unrestricted cash prize of $100,000 for each recipient. This is one of …

New Fellowship Supports Scientists Accelerating Progress in Astronomical Instrumentation

The Heising-Simons Foundation establishes the Astronova Fellowship to support novel instrumentation development in astronomy LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA (January 13, 2026)—The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program is launching a new multi-year fellowship to support postdoctoral scientists who are developing instrumentation to shape the future of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and planetary science. The Astronomical Innovation (Astronova) Fellowship will …

Human Rights as Our Common Compass: Celebrating International Human Rights Day 2025

Each year on December 10, human rights leaders, advocates, and champions worldwide celebrate International Human Rights Day, honoring the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. To commemorate the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in San Francisco, California, the Heising-Simons Foundation …

[Press Release] Heising-Simons Foundation Hosts Global Leaders at Annual International Human Rights Day Convening

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and Human Rights Trailblazers Call on Shared Human Rights Values as Moral Compass to Navigate Current Challenges  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SAN FRANCISCO (December 11, 2025) — On December 10, more than 300 global leaders, human rights advocates, and philanthropic partners gathered in San Francisco for the Heising-Simons Foundation’s International Human Rights …

Groundbreaking Research Collaboration Will Reveal Science of Fog Dynamics and Interactions

The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program has awarded approximately $3.7 million over five years to support a multi-university research project that will uncover crucial insights into fog dynamics, water resources, and impacts resulting from future changes to fog composition in the Pacific Coast. One of the Science program’s core areas of funding is dedicated to supporting …

Heising-Simons Foundation Appoints Brian Eule as President and Chief Executive Officer

Seasoned philanthropic executive and FRONTLINE Managing Director returns to lead family foundation advancing early education, science, climate and clean energy, human rights, journalism. Los Altos, Calif. (September 17, 2025) — The Board of Directors of the Heising-Simons Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Eule as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January …

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Opens Access to the Largest 3D Map of the Universe

For as long as humans have gazed at the sky, they have longed to attain a deeper understanding of our universe: When did it begin? How has it evolved? What are its properties? In March 2025, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) released the largest dataset of its kind, with information on 4 million stars, 13.1 million galaxies, and 1.6 million quasars. With this new data, DESI has achieved the remarkable feat of building the largest 3D map of our universe to date.

Eight Post-Doctoral Scientists Awarded 51 Pegasi b Fellowship

The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program is pleased to announce a new class of 51 Pegasi b Fellows, comprised of eight outstanding early career scientists focused on advancing our understanding of exoplanets, solar system science, planet formation and evolution, planetary atmospheres, protoplanetary disks, and other closely related research areas. “This year’s fellows join a community of …

Announcing our Director of Climate and Clean Energy

I am pleased to share that Devra Wang will be returning to the Heising-Simons Foundation as director of the Climate and Clean Energy program. Ms. Wang served as the Foundation’s inaugural Climate and Clean Energy program director from 2016 to 2021, guiding more than $125 million in philanthropic support for leading organizations advancing climate and …