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Obtaining Funding from Foundations and the USC Process

Learn about the process for obtaining grants from foundations and how USC Advancement's Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR) department can assist in prospecting and outreach. Discover types of foundations, fundraising strategies, and resources available.

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Obtaining Funding from Foundations and the USC Process

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  1. Obtaining Funding from Foundations and the USC Process Hossein Pourmand Sr. Executive Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations August 20, 2019

  2. Agenda • USC Advancement: Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR) • Central • School/Unit based • Foundations - Overview • Process for Obtaining Grants from Foundations • Prospecting and Outreach

  3. Organization Structure • Corporate and Foundation Relations is part of USC Advancement • ~ 35 professionals • Decentralized: Corporate and Foundations professionals in most Schools and Units • Primary point of contact for faculty and researcher • Small Central CFR • Largest Foundations • Interdisciplinary Initiatives

  4. Types of Foundations • Private Foundations: funds come from an individual, a family, a corporation or some combination of related parties • Public Foundations: funds come from multiple unrelated donors; may include individuals, private foundations as well as government grants

  5. Private Foundations • Family Foundations / Independent Foundations (~ 70,000) • Most prevalent (89%) • Fewer than 4,000 have staff and engage in strategic philanthropy • Operating Foundations • Generally operate their own programs vs. making grants

  6. Private Foundations • Corporate Foundations • Receive funds from a publicly held company • Separate legal entity than the corporation. • Arts, Community Development, Education or Human Services • Communities in which parent company has major operations or HQ

  7. Public Foundations • Community Foundations • Public charity with funding from multiple sources • 800 in the US; geographically focused • California Community Foundation • Based in LA • Arts, Civic Engagement, Health, Housing and Economic Opportunity

  8. Foundation Fundraising • Very few foundations give 7 or 8 figure gifts or grants • Mandate or Mission Driven • Priority Areas / Focus Areas • Deadlines or rolling basis • Program Officers • Gatekeepers / Influencers • Subject matter experts • Board of Directors • Final Decision Makers

  9. Foundation Fundraising Resources • The Foundation Center • Most comprehensive database of U.S. and global foundations and grantmakers

  10. Process Overview • Salesforce.com • All entities are registered • Assignments • Primary Relationship Manager • Secondary Relationship Managers • All contacts (visits, emails, calls) are logged • All proposals are entered • Centrally Managed Foundations • Presidential Foundations

  11. Process Overview • Some foundations have institutional limitations • Number of submissions per year • No additional funds until a current pledge is fully paid • Most (if not all) foundations have processes in place • Usually starts with a Letter of Interest (LOI) submitted by a USC CFR Officer • Full proposal only if invited

  12. Centrally Managed Foundations • Institutionally limited submissions per funding cycle • Institutionally limited total dollars per funding cycle • Area(s) of interest align with a strategic University initiative (ex. Convergent Bioscience) • Foundation request (ex. Ahmanson Foundation, California Endowment)

  13. Examples of Centrally Managed Foundations • Ahmanson Foundation • Keck Foundation • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation • Rockefeller Foundation • Alfred P. Sloan Foundation • Conrad N. Hilton Foundation • Ford Foundation • Schmidt Futures

  14. Presidential Foundations • 20 Foundations (and 5 corporations) • List given to School-based CFR officers • President engagements and contacts • Any contact or outreach has to be cleared with Central CFR and may only be done by a CFR officer

  15. Summary • Foundations represent an important source of funds for USC programs, initiatives and research • USC Corporate and Foundation Relations officers are well positioned to work with faculty and researchers and pursue proposals to appropriate foundations

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