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

 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.

 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  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

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 (of A&S) Architecture iSchool Newhouse VPA South Side Initiative Inclusion Initiatives Imagining America Program Development Melissa Whipps Sciences (of A&S) School of Education College of Engineering and Computer Science David B. Falk College of Sport Management and Human Performance STEM Initiatives Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives/Center of Excellence Institute for Veterans and Military Families Aging Institute

 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 ,