Foundation Relations

The University of Rochester Foundation Relations office partners with faculty and staff to identify, pursue, and steward charitable gifts and grants from private foundations.

Our Work

The URochester Foundation Relations office provides strategic prospect analysis and stakeholder coordination, while assisting with proposal development. From concept papers and letters of inquiry to grant applications and reports, we help advance competitive, mission-aligned funding proposals. Whether you are exploring new funding opportunities or managing an existing foundation relationship, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Identifying opportunities

We maintain in-depth research on foundation funding to discover top prospects for URochester priorities and programs.
We cultivate relationships with private foundations and serve as a liaison to help advance the university’s interests and gain support.
We engage with interested faculty to determine if their work might be competitive for foundation support.
We identify research, programs, and projects that may be of interest to private foundations and proactively reach out to leadership and faculty to discuss potential and develop a strategy.

Supporting opportunities

We provide background and context on funder interests, the history of support, and other relevant information.
We work with key stakeholders to ensure foundation applications align with university policies and procedures.
We track opportunities and deadlines and proactively disseminate foundation funding opportunities to leadership and faculty.
We assist with the development of materials, letters of inquiry, and proposals.

Partner with Foundation Relations

Resources

Guidance to help you determine if exploring private foundation funding is right for your project or program.

FAQs

What Is a Private Foundation?

A private foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization, typically established by an individual, family, or corporation to support charitable activities. Key characteristics include:

Required by law to distribute at least 5% of the average fair market value of its non-charitable-use assets annually.
Highly diverse — ranging from small funds to professionally-staffed large foundations like the Gates Foundation.
Give in accordance with their specific goals and guidelines
Many of the largest U.S. foundations give primarily to pre-selected organizations.
Private foundation opportunities tend to be highly competitive and seek work that is novel, transformational, and impactful.

When should I contact Foundation Relations?

Please contact us when:

You’ve got a novel idea that requires funding support
You’re authentically engaging local partners in the development of a new community initiative
You’re an early-career researcher looking to gather data to leverage for future government funding applications
You have an existing relationship with a private foundation and want to grow your portfolio
You’re an established investigator applying an innovative approach to an existing problem

When should I contact the Office of Research and Project Administration or the Office of the Vice President for Research instead of Foundation Relations?

Please contact the Office of Research and Project Administration (https://www.rochester.edu/ORPA/), or the Office of the Vice President for Research (https://www.rochester.edu/university-research/) when:

You’re looking to fund a clinical trial;
You’re interested in a “prize” opportunity (funding goes to the investigator directly rather than to the institution);
You’re looking for federal/state funding support;
You’re interested in corporate philanthropy opportunities (please contact Erin L. Moyer, Associate Vice President of Advancement, at erin.moyer@rochester.edu); or
You wish to join the OVPR’s university-wide listserv for funding opportunity announcements (see below).

What is a limited submission opportunity?

Some foundations restrict the number of proposals an institution may submit for a particular funding opportunity. When this occurs, the university conducts a proactive internal review and selection process to identify the strongest proposal(s) for submission. Limited submission opportunities are announced through the Office of the Vice President for Research’s listserv and funding portal, where faculty can review eligibility requirements, deadlines, and internal application guidelines. Selected applicants receive support from Foundation Relations in developing a competitive proposal for submission to the foundation.

To view current limited submission opportunities and join the announcement listserv, please visit the Office of the Vice President for Research at https://www.rochester.edu/university-research/awards/internal-funding/limited-submission-opportunities/

Can I contact a foundation directly?

Please do not contact a foundation directly. Some foundations require you to approach them through our office; some limit the number of proposals a university can submit and ask our office to coordinate. Please reach out to Foundation Relations to discuss a foundation/opportunity before approaching the funder.

Is Foundation Relations a grant writing service?

Foundation Relations’ staff provide a critical and strategic review of private foundation grant applications written by faculty/clinicians/staff. We offer expert feedback to encourage the most competitive submissions.

Impact stories

Foundation partnerships are helping University of Rochester researchers and faculty make a difference in our community and the world.

Illustration of a light-matter state called a polariton

URochester awarded Keck Foundation funding to tackle chemistry grand challenge

The cutting-edge project aims to harness quantum light to unlock new chemical processes.

University of Rochester receives Mellon Foundation grant to hire Black studies faculty

The $3M in funding will help advance innovative and strategic faculty hiring in the Department of Black Studies.

Heather Paessler-Chesterton teaches next to a whiteboard in a psychiatric NP class.

Patrick P. Lee Foundation Extends Scholarship Support for Psychiatric Mental Health NP Program

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation has extended its support of the University of Rochester School of Nursing for another four years.

Stroke unit team stand in front of a MCU

When Minutes Matter: URochester Medicine Doubles Down on Mobile Stroke Care

University of Rochester Medicine has acquired a second Mobile Stroke Unit.

Contact

To partner with Foundation Relations, please contact Christine Decker, Development Program Assistant, at (585) 273-5113 or christine.decker@rochester.edu.

Meet the Team

Foundation Relations Office | Phone: (585) 273-5113