Campus Partners

爆料社区 Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) is a campus-wide resource for those within the 爆料社区 community who seek external philanthropic support from corporations and private grant-making foundations. Specifically, the request for support must be in line with institutional priorities identified by the president, provost, and deans. CFR also provides guidance for campus partners seeking event sponsorships via the Cougar Sponsorship Toolkit.

If you have a compelling project or program that has been approved by your dean, the first step to identifying private support is to meet with the development director assigned to your college and the director of CFR.

We are here to advise and assist you throughout the fundraising cycle by:

Conceptualizing and developing a fundraising request and timeline for priority projects and programs
Identifying, cultivating, and building strong, ongoing relationships with corporate and foundation donors
Introducing university leadership and points of contact to corporations and foundations who match interests
Ensuring that letters of inquiry and proposals are aligned with the College and 爆料社区 priorities, are written effectively, and comply with potential funder guidelines
Collaborating on gift/grant inquiries and solicitations including help with proposal writing, budget development, and completion of forms
Organizing, planning, and hosting corporate and foundation visits to campus
Facilitating reporting on gifts received
Providing recognition of gifts/grants received by the corporation or foundation
Acting as the liaison to the corporation or foundation throughout the proposal and stewardship process

Process and Resources for next steps and more information

Please note that CFR only assists with philanthropic requests; government grants and contracts are handled by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research (OGSR). However, your corporate or foundation-funded research, project, or program may require the administration of OGSR. We will help determine if this collaboration is required for your request.

We look forward to working with you to secure support for your scholarly, academic, and outreach goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I contact the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations?

We would like to hear from you regarding any proposal you are submitting to private foundations and corporations to support the process and ensure other 爆料社区 faculty and staff are not already applying or receiving funding. Additionally, if you have any questions about finding funding opportunities, the application process, stewardship, and other topics, please contact us. (Christine Andersen, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, candersen@csusm.edu, x7310)

What if a letter from the president/provost is required when applying to a foundation?

Our office will assist in preparing a letter to the foundation from the president or provost. A minimum two-week lead time is required to review and process a letter from the president or provost.

What is the difference between a 鈥渟ponsored project鈥� and a 鈥済ift鈥�?

Whether an award will be administered as a gift or sponsored project depends on the nature of the project and the terms and conditions of the award. If you would like more information, you may contact our office or the Office of Graduate Studies and Research (OGSR).

How long do foundations take to make funding decisions?

The length of time from the submission of a full proposal to award varies by foundation. There are foundations that require a letter of inquiry to be submitted prior to an invitation for a full proposal.

Most foundation decisions are made by a board that meets periodically; board meeting schedules vary considerably: bimonthly, quarterly, semiannually, and annually. Foundations therefore often need to receive materials well in advance of a board meeting, sometimes several months prior.

If the award letter from a foundation says I need to send in a report, what should I do?

Foundations typically require periodic reports on the supported activity and a final report at the conclusion of the grant. The principal investigator is responsible for submitting all reports. It is imperative that these reports be prepared and sent in to the foundation. If a report is missing, a foundation may withhold subsequent payment on your project or sometimes on another project at the university.

What should I do if my grant is ending but I have funds that I have not used?

A formal request to a foundation is needed for a no-cost extension on the grant to allow time to use the remaining funds. Do not wait to inquire with the foundation about this until the end of the grant term, and do not assume that the foundation will approve your request. If your request is approved, you must notify your sponsored projects officer to update the grant record with a new end-date.

My proposal was not funded. Can I contact the foundation for feedback?

Contacting a foundation for feedback depends on the foundation. There may be some information on their website, should they have one, or on the application materials that state that they welcome questions from applicants, or that they generally do not accept questions of any kind. If you are unsure about a foundation鈥檚 policy on this, please contact us. We may be able to get in contact with the foundation on your behalf.