LeKita Scott Dawkins, Director Melissa Whipps, Associate Director Office of Foundation Relations Meghan MacBlane, Research Administrator Office of Sponsored Programs

 Foundation Relations – What We Do  Foundation Relations – What We Do for You  Foundation Relations – How You can Help Us  Understanding Foundations vs Government Funders  Why Contact Foundation Relations  Who to Contact in Foundation Relations  Defining Your Project/Program  Identifying Funders  Developing a Quality LOI or Proposal  Follow Up and Stewardship

 Learn about and advance priority projects  Build close working relationships with foundations  Facilitate linkages between the university and Foundations  Provide information to foundations  Support active stewardship for funded projects

 Assess your project’s suitability for foundations  Help target your proposals to foundation prospects  Share information about foundations  Facilitate interdisciplinary proposals by bringing together participants

 Distribute relevant foundation RFPs  Facilitate approaches to foundations  For SU institutional priority projects, help develop letters of inquiry and proposals  Assist with stewardship and follow-up  Recognition and acknowledgement of awards else

 Identify possible foundation contacts  Notify us of opportunities to cultivate relationships  Keep us “in the loop” about big ideas and upcoming projects at your school/college  Always get in touch with us before contacting a foundation

 A wide range of activities based on their mission and interests  Generally, specific programs or research projects rather than operating costs  Some foundations allow overhead in the budget, others do not  Each has its own mission, interests, programs, requirements, exclusions, and guidelines  Examples – Kress Foundation, Beckman Foundation, Central New York Community Foundation

FoundationsGovernment Funders  Have program officers with expertise in a broad funding area  Rely on boards to make funding decisions – NOT experts on proposals they are voting on  Some make decisions based on personal interests  Many have limited submission rules  Foundations play favorites; Relationships can be a significant advantage  Federal opportunities are generally for larger funding amounts and allow full F&A recovery  Can be more competitive due to higher number of applicants  Proposals often must address not only intended outcomes but also broader societal impacts  Review and selection criteria are often detailed in the RFP  Reviewers are often from the PI’s general field or discipline (still important that proposals are written clearly and for a wider audience as a reviewer may not have as high an expertise in the PI’s particular topic)

 Most likely FR and OSP because most foundation proposals require OSP approval and signature  Go through OSP to:  Make sure funds requested are allowable and consistent with SU policies and practices  Minimize cost-share commitments  Clarify that only funds awarded will be reported on  Ensure reports are generated  Work with FR staff, need to note who on IRR (remember all proposals whether they go through FR or OSP require the IRR)  Let us know of your proposal and deadline early

 Does SU have an existing relationship with the foundation?  Do we have pending or planned proposals?  Do we have an active project with the foundation?  Do we have helpful information about what the foundation does or does not fund?  We can HELP you with your approach to the foundation.

Sara Wason  Chancellor prospects/projects  School of Education  SYTE  Maxwell  Law/INSCT  Falk  Whitman/SSIC  Near East Foundation  Engagement Initiatives (Connective Corridor, NWSI, Arts Presenter)  Inclusion Initiatives  Sustainability Initiatives  Library LeKita Scott Dawkins Arts/Humanities Architecture iSchool Newhouse VPA South Side Initiative Aging Studies Inclusion Initiatives Imagining America Cold Case Justice Initiative Program Development Melissa Whipps Sciences School of Education SYTE Environment Initiatives LCSmith College of Engineering Falk STEM Initiatives Engagement Initiatives (Connective Corridor, NWSI, Arts Presenter) Burton Blatt Institute Sustainability Initiatives/Center of Excellence Institute for Veterans and Military Families

 Principal Investigator, Project Team  Project Title  Project Description  Keywords Associated with Your Project  Project Goal(s)  Anticipated Project Outcome(s)  Project Start/End Date  Total Amount Needed and Duration  Type of Funding Needed Information Form:

 Funders with whom you or colleagues have relationships/have contacted.  Resources for finding new funders…  Philanthropy News Digest  Chronicle of Philanthropy  Colleagues/competitors funding sources  Is the foundation a good fit?  Geographic focus  Funding priorities  Funding range

 Foundation Directory Online - log on through the SU Library website – use keyword Foundation in search  Visit Foundations’ websites - Review guidelines, programs, deadlines, policies and procedures, and list of recent grants  Contact Foundation Relations - discuss how best to proceed if you find a foundation that is a good fit for your work. more

 Research the foundation – use their language  Write for your audience  Be specific about project activities  Be clear about goals and outcomes  Know your budget – ensure that it meets foundation and SU guidelines  Meet the deadline

 Proposal Writing Short Course - an online guide that covers the basics of preparing a foundation proposal:  Producing Proposals That Work!

 If you were funded  Send a “Thank You” note  Know the terms and conditions of your funding  Know your reporting deadlines, work with FR, OSP and OSA to meet them  Keep the funder posted on work, send publications, articles, photos, etc.  If you were not funded  Find out if the foundation will provide feedback  If there is potential to reapply - keep the funder posted on work, send publications, articles, photos, etc.

 Sara Wason, Executive Director ,  LeKita Scott Dawkins, Director ,  Melissa Whipps, Associate Director ,  Niki Phillips, Administrative Specialist ,