1. Office of Foundation Relations
Kavita Munjal
Sr. Executive Director, Foundation Relations
August 2015

2. Who Gives the Gifts? (Source: Giving USA, 2015)
In 2014, American philanthropists gave over $358 billion. 2

3. Where do the Gifts Go? (Source: Giving USA, 2015)3

4. The State of Biomedical Research in the U.S.
Increased competition for reduced NIH funds
Stronger emphasis on translational research
Collaborations across academic disciplines (not just within medicine, but across professional schools)
Increased prestige of foundation support (often peer-reviewed decision making) 4

5. Case for Private Foundations vs. Federal Grants
Foundation funding can provide seed funding for projects needing more preliminary data
Serve as bridge funding between grants
Serve as a bragging point on researcher’s CV 5

6. Office of Foundation Relations – Who We Are
Kavita Munjal – Senior Executive Director
Focus: Oversees Foundation Research Institutes (Norris, Broad, Zilkha), Medical Education, Hospital, and all clinical and basic departments
Nicole Diaz-Ordaz – Director
Focus: Cancer Center, Hospital
VACANT –Associate Director
Focus: Medical Education, Preventive Medicine, Community Initiatives
MariaElena Hege—Assistant Director
Focus: Manages daily operations, and first point of contact with internal USC community
Dawn Muench – Coordinator (Part-time)
Focus: Manages data management systems and foundation research requests 6

7. OFR – What We Do
The Office of Foundation Relations advocates and secures funding for the following priority areas:
Cancer (Norris)
Stem Cell (Broad)
Brain Science (Zilkha)
Medical Education
Keck Hospital
Keck Initiatives
Preventive Medicine 7

8. OFR in FY 15
In FY 15, we reached out to/submitted proposals to 75 unique foundations on behalf of Keck Medicine
We traveled nationally to meet with foundations to advocate for our faculty
The OFR received $17 million in awards during FY 15, with another $9 million pending 8

9. Before the Award … The OFR can provide the following assistance:
Conduct in-house research on foundations
Develop strategic plans and approaches for multiple funders
Obtain “clearances” from central for foundations that have interest across schools at USC
Author, edit and submit LOIs and proposals
Cultivate relationships with Program Officers (acting as a “neutral” party, or from the Office of the Dean, can catalyze success or open doors) 9

10. After the Award … 10 The OFR will:
Coordinate stewardship letters from appropriate parties (our office, the Dean, the President, etc.)
Provide grants management for awards determined to be grants
Track progress report deadlines and send reminders to PIs
Discuss any changes with program officers at the foundation
Coordinate press releases, obtain quotes and approvals from foundation leadership
Ensure appropriate USC publicity
Serve as one more office advocating on behalf of the program with internal and external leadership / stakeholders 10

11. Office of Foundation Relations
Collaborative Efforts with the Office of Research Advancement and Dept. of Contracts & Grants
The Office of Research Advancement coordinates research activities across the school, integrating with university-level management offices. The OFR works closely with Research Advancement as a means of building productive relationships with foundations.
The Department of Contracts and Grants oversees the internal approvals process for awards designated as grants. About 40% of OFR awards are now grants.
As part of the OFR’s grants management role, we:
Forward agreements to Jeri Muniz for gift/grant decision
Work with academic depts. to initiate KC proposals
Inform Gift Services so that awards are booked
Communicate with Sponsored Research office (SPA) to obtain copies of award letters and checks received
Ensure appropriate stewardship from the OFR, the Dean, and the President
Serve as central liaison for program with external funder
Office of Foundation Relations
Research Advancement
Contracts and Grants 11

12. Questions? Kavita Munjal Sr. Executive Director, Foundation Relations
Keith Administration Building, 3rd floor