Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What does the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations do?

A:  The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations is responsible for the planning, organization, and implementation of fundraising support to meet the University’s capital projects, program needs, and University initiatives.  To this end, the Office works to cultivate favorable relationships with local, regional, and national corporations and foundations.  The Office provides three primary services:  1) Guidance in finding, selecting, and approaching corporations and foundations, 2) Assistance in developing proposals and related materials, and 3) Maintenance of a tracking system to coordinate requests throughout the University.  The Office will, to the extent possible, and in accordance with the University priorities set by the President, Provost, Deans, and Board of Trustees, assist in locating funders.  All contacts with foundations and corporations must be coordinated through the Office. [ back to top ]

Q:  Who establishes priorities for fundraising and grant requests at the University?

A:  Priorities for funding requests are set by the President, the Provost, the Deans, and the Board of Trustees.  The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations does not establish priorities for obtaining funds. [ back to top ]

Q:  May I apply on my own if I know the funder?

A:  No.  The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations’ internal review process makes sure that other faculty or staff members are not already seeking a grant from the same corporation or foundation.  Also, the Office works to maintain consistency and integrity of approach through on-going relationships with funders.  It is likely that the University has approached the funder before and/or will approach the funder in the future; therefore, it is very important that all proposals are approved and submitted through the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations. [ back to top ]

Q:  What are some of the most important things for me to know?

A:  First, the funding initiative should be related to the priorities within the corresponding academic or administrative unit and by the University at large.  Second, the funding process – from initial project idea to gift awarded – ordinarily takes an extensive period of time.  Make sure that there is enough time available to spend on writing the proposal, creating a budget, obtaining approvals, editing, stewarding gifts received, and coordinating the project once funds have been secured.  Finally, develop a long-range plan for supporting the funding initiative when the initial funding is exhausted.[ back to top ]

Q:  What is the difference between a gift and a grant?

A:  A gift is exactly that – an outright donation to the University.  It may be general gift to be used at the University’s discretion, or it may be for a specific purpose (i.e., scholarships, library books, a building, athletics, etc.)  A grant is given in order to attain specific project objectives that have been proposed by the University and agreed to by the University and a grantor.  The grantor is often entitled to a something of significant value such as intellectual property rights, publication rights, data, or a final product.  All University grants are administered through the Office of Research Administration.

Q:  I have a proposal written, and I know the foundation or corporation.  Do I still need to get internal approvals from my department head, dean, etc.?

A:  Yes.  The University’s internal review process ensures that all funding requests have been approved by the appropriate parties.  The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations insures that multiple and/or ineligible requests are not submitted to the same foundation or corporation. [ back to top ]

Q:  For which funding initiatives does the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations assist in finding funding?

A:  If a funding initiative has been approved, the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations will assist in seeking funding from foundations and/or corporations.  Funding research is related to the extent to which the funding initiative is considered a priority within the corresponding school, department, or the University at large.  Foundation and corporate prospect research assistance will be limited for funding initiatives not identified as University priorities.  For more information on how to identify foundation prospects, visit the Resources section. [ back to top ]

Q:  Do I need University approval to contact a prospective funder, even though I haven’t developed a proposal?

A:  Yes.  Before contacting a prospective corporate or foundation funder (whether in person, via phone, E-mail, or any other means), the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations must be contacted.  The office will offer advise on how to proceed and may serve as the point of contact for the foundation or corporation.  There may be instances where it may be helpful or necessary for the fundraiser to contact the corporation or foundation in coordination with the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. [ back to top ]

Q:  How long does it take to receive funding?

A:  The proposal process takes an extensive period of time and is deadline driven.  It is important to consider whether the project timeline fits the potential funding timelines for each prospective foundation and corporate.  In addition, writing a proposal, developing a budget, collecting requested data, editing, obtaining approvals, and stewarding the gift if received will take a lot of effort and time.  [ back to top ]

Q:  I need a small grant of less than $10,000 for things related to my teaching and/or research.  Will you be able to help me?

A:  Due to the staffing limitations of Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, it is recommended that the appropriate department head or dean be contacted to determine whether internal funding is available for smaller teaching and research funding needs. [ back to top ]