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Foundations are nonprofit corporations or charitable trusts that make gifts/grants to organizations, institutions or individuals for
charitable purposes, including scientific research, public health promotion, and education.
Some foundations, such as the American Heart Association, operate much like the NIH - there are no limits to the number of submissions and
applications accepted and proposals are reviewed by scientific experts. However, many foundations are distinctly different from public
funding sources, and different from one another. It's important to understand how foundations fund programs, research, and other interest areas.
Please see Resources for Securing Grants from Private Foundations for additional information
about preparing a strong grant proposal.
- Most research grants are funded by a single source (NIH, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, etc.). In
contrast, most foundations do NOT like to be the sole source of support for a project and prefer projects to be funded from multiple sources.
- Foundations generally do not want to pay for indirect or operating costs. They want to fund programs and projects that have a
defined end, and they want applicants to have strong sustainability plans. Thus, foundation funding is good for initiating a new program
or for expanding capacity, but it is a poor choice if you are looking to fund a project previously supported by your department but is
no longer carrying the budget to do so. For example, if you lose a program coordinator position due to budget constraints, a foundation
will generally not want to pay for that position. If, however, you create a new program that happens to need a program coordinator, a
foundation might support a portion of the salary for that position. Nearly all foundations would want to see a plan for sustaining the
project or position over time, and that plan should not rely heavily on indefinite grant support.
- Foundations are very interested in the impact a program will have. It is important to explicitly state the difference
your project will make over the long term.
- Tangible results are also very important. You will need to show evidence of the impact of your proposed project.
While the government and NIH also care about the results of your research, foundations are more program- or project-oriented when
evaluating results of proposed project.
- Foundations fund their own priorities. While the NIH offers investigator-initiated research support, foundations tend to have set
standards for funding programs within their particular interest areas. Typically, investigators respond to a request for proposal from a
foundation, meaning the foundation is looking to fund programs that meet specific criteria. You might have a comprehensive research plan
to study a certain molecule, but a foundation may only have interest in one aspect of your research. Therefore, it is not uncommon for
one project to be funded through many sources - the foundation funds the aspect of your project that is of interest to it.
- Relationships. Foundation funding decisions are usually directed by a group of family members or a designated review board.
Personal relationships with board members and program officers tend to weigh heavily on funding decisions. It is often recommended
to make contact with a foundation prior to submitting a letter of inquiry or proposal to ensure your project aligns with its funding
interests. This also helps you to establish a relationship with the foundation. Relationship-building with foundations is one reason
OHSU has processes in place around applying to private foundations for funding.
Receiving clearance from the OHSU
Foundation to approach a funder is necessary because not all foundations want multiple people from the same institution contacting them.
- Evaluate your program. A program evaluation piece is nearly always a part of a foundation and government/NIH proposal - you
will need to be able to measure the results of your work.
- Make your case clear. Both foundations and federal funders alike want to read proposals that are clearly written. Consider the
reviewers point of view. Reveiwsers are also busy people that have lives, families, etc. They must read many proposals quickly so make
sure your proposal flows well and is easy to understand. Avoid using jargon and terms only known to specialists in your field.
- Timing is key when submitting a request for funding to a private foundation. It is important to follow the stated deadlines for
letters of inquiry and full proposals. Additionally, each foundation has its own time line for responding to funding requests: some make
awards within one month of receiving proposals, while others may take up to nine months to respond. Please be patient when seeking funding
from private foundations, as the review process typically takes several months.
- Good relationships are essential. The first thing you should consider is the purpose of an award from a foundation-not what
you intend, but what they want you to use the money for-whether your proposal falls within their areas of interest, or whether they fund
programs, research, equipment, or capital projects. When considering submitting to a foundation, focus on the foundations interests and
understand the objective the foundation is trying to achieve through its request for proposals. Be sure your project falls within the
foundation's areas of interest and determine what types of projects the foundation typically funds. A reason many proposals are declined
by foundations is that they do not appeal to foundation's areas of interest or that there is not a clear link in the proposal demonstrating
how the project fits within the interest areas of the foundation. It is also important to pay attention to eligibility criteria and
deadlines when preparing a proposal. You may want to consider ways to appropriately acknowledge the foundation for its gifts, as
foundations are typically receptive to public recognition of its award.
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