CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS

The Offices of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CR, FR) are responsible for coordinating with OSP on applications to key University development and institutional advancement prospects.

Applying to Foundations or Corporations.

Faculty and staff members interested in applying to corporations or foundations for support of sponsored projects must inform these offices and OSP prior to submitting a letter of inquiry or an application.  This allows the University to coordinate its strategic efforts for institutional advancement.  

In those instances where CR or FR takes a leadership role in applying for grant support, the application budget and narrative must be reviewed by OSP prior to submission for accuracy, completeness and compliance with University guidelines.

When the PI is informed that he or she can apply independent of CR or FR, the application must be submitted through OSP.  Confirmation that the application has been vetted by these offices is indicated on the Internal Routing and Review of Sponsored Programs form.  

Award Disposition and Management.

Award documents received in response to a proposal submitted by CR or FR are reviewed by their staff in consultation with OSP staff. Depending on the terms and any conditions, the award is processed either as a gift (see below) through Advancement Services and General Accounting or as a sponsored project through OSP and the Office of Sponsored Accounting (OSA). In cases where there is some question about the appropriate disposition, the Vice President for Research is consulted for final determination.

As outcomes-based philanthropy becomes more common, support from corporations or foundations is more frequently made as a grant award to the University, rather than as a gift.  These agreements include specific terms that the University must agree to follow as condition of accepting the award or for continuing support. Common terms and conditions may include:

  • A specified period of performance

  • Commitment of specific University resources for project implementation (i.e., match or cost share),

  • Performance of a work or project plan,

  • Timely and regular submission of progress or financial /expenditure reports,

  • Requirements of institutional assurances for specific activities (e.g. anti-terrorism, diversity, etc.).


Because OSP and its partner unit, OSA, are responsible for managing agreements with terms and conditions, grant agreements resulting from Corporate or Foundation Relations efforts are administered by OSP with OSA and expenditures will be made against a Fund 13 chart string.

All compliance needs must be met prior to corporation or foundation award set up. These compliance requirements include submission of a signed Internal Routing and Review of Sponsored Programs form, and Disclosure of Financial Conflicts of Interest for all personnel substantively involved in the project, and when applicable, human subjects Institutional Review Board approvals. When available, OSP will use the Foundation Relations authorization form in lieu of the OSP Routing and Review form for confirmation of department/unit approval of the activity, including cost-sharing.  In some cases, additional approvals may be necessary.

Gifts

On occasion, a foundation or corporation may make an outright gift to the University on behalf of a faculty member for his or her research or other scholarly or creative activities.  In contrast to grants or contracts, gifts are outright transfers of property or money to the University. Another important distinction is that the donor neither retains control over the use of the funds, nor expects to receive progress, financial or other reports or other information after the gift is made to the University. Gifts are processed by Development and Advancement Services and General Accounting. Expenditures of gift funds follow standard university financial procedures.  Gift funds (Fund 15 or 16) can often be used as cost-sharing on other sponsored projects.